The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-05
WIFE OF OYAMA 4 BRILLIANT WOMAN Marchioness is Social Leader
 of Japan SHE STUDIED IN AMERICA Led Her Classes at vassar and Grad. uated With Honors-says Jap- anese Women Are to Be
 Americanized.
SHE STUDIED IN AMERICA
BY YoNE NoeucHI.


 Tokio, February 2e.-when asked the wife of Field Marshal Oyama if she sometimes heard from her husband when he was at the front she replied:
 T should be very sorry if he is think ing of his own family at this time and not wholly of the country. His soul and body are not mine while he is at the front but the Emperors and the coun- try's. He carries a great responsibility upon his shoulders and he is completely devoted to his country. l may say that hear from him occasionally, but 1 never complain if he does not write me at all l pray only that he may make a safe re- turn and bring much glory to Japanl"
 What more eloquently expresses the spirit of the women of Japan than this utterance of the wife of her greatest sol dier?
 The Marchioness Oyama is the leading figure among the Japanese women today Having been educated in America-at Vassar-she speaks English fiuently, and French and German as we'll She is cor dial in manner and sweet in nature hav- ing lost none of the genuine Japanese temperament in the process of her Amer icanization, if it might be so spoken of She is an expert horsewoman and good swimmer.
 The Marchioness is fond of scientific studies, and has made a speciality more or less of botany and zoology. well as languages. Shakespeare is her eternal companion Aside from her high social DOSiTiOu hp wife af ai1r fapnottc fatd marshal, her own family is a most distin- guished one. Her brother. Kenjro Yam akawa, is the president of the Imperial university Her eldest brother was the late Major-General Yamakawa One sis ter is the superintendent of the Higher Normal School for W omen, one is the wife of Judge Yamagawa and two are officers in the imperial household depart ment.
 The Marchioness Oyama is the intel lectual and social leader of Tol1io and that means Japan Her drawing room is famous salon, often spoken of as the veritable ''pilgrims shrne,a where cour- teous homage must first be offered before any foreigner can be admitted into the polite society of Tokio. An Introduction to the marchioness, and from the mar chioness, is an essential.
 The Oyama residence is situated in that
 
 as Aoyama Green HID. It is a moderate sized house, perfectly American in every detail and appointment. There is nothing greatly luxurious or lordly in it's furnish Ing but good breeding is apparent at first breath.
 Afternoon Tea Delightful.
 Afternoon tea there is a delightful hour The young daughter of the house always graciously assists her mother in the en- tertainment of the many guests She is a Charming young woman, tall, for d Japanese girl, very white and fair of complexion, and she has a most entrance ing smile and quite a dancing sense of humor. She is keen in mind-almost as clever as her mother. The marchioness has herself superintended her daughters education, selected her books and greatly discriminated among her friends for her daughter. As English is the language of the field marshals home, the daughter is a fine English scholar.
 l had been admitted to the sitting room on the second floor of this agreeab ble household, where the marchioness and her daughter were receiving Mime. de Freitas had just left. The marchioness was seated comfortably upon a sofa--an American sofa. CThere is such a furniture in JapanD We laughingly referred to "Americanization.'
 T daresay l must have some American blood in me" exclaimed the raarchioness, T am so fond of America and American ways. How l wish to visit there aoainl But perhaps that dream may never he realized. The American cities. New York and Boston and Chicago, how they must have changed! Why, when l left Amer lea, Forty-second street in New York there where I once lived where the great cfa remote place, and I am told that the center of New York is moving far up town. It Is tremendous country, that Americar'
 Do you think that the Japanese wo men will be speedily Americanized?" I asked her
 Yes l believe so,'' the marchioness replied, in the true meaning. As you know the government tried to adopt Americanism. but it failed somehow Many women actually thought that American dress and American food were ell that was necessary to be American 1zedi They did not understand that they could be fully Americanized under the fJapanese kimono and wearing the wooden clogsi true understanding Is coming slowly and as American women are in my opinion. the best in the world. their eraces will be surely appreciated as they
 
 whole thing. and it will take some lime yet to be truly Americanized"
 The daughter handed me cup of tea American tea-to my surprise, and the Marchioness. passing into other channels of conversation, said:
 Women's War Also.
 This Russia-Japan war is not only the mems war, it is the women's as well Think what a sacrifice nearly every Japanese woman is making at this time and the suffering she is undergoing. What patience and what patriotic devotion, Yes it is our war, too. The Japanese men can fight leaving HIS behind
 'We have to be as brave as the men at the front, and our hearts and souls are turned equeally to our country's glory and success. We are Samurai in a diff ferent form-the Samurai. fighters and patriots. Look at the mothers who send their boys off to the war with a smile upon their face without tears Look at