The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-02-04

times called the japanese Solomon, who
lived three centuries ago, a case in
which the release of a young woman
from a house of ilI-fame was the CEN
! trail feature. The report of the judges
decree shows a discriminating mind as
Well as devotion TO justice. Incidental
~ the record reveals the fact that there
were Shylocks in those days VINO loaned
on short time at high rates, and ex-
acted the pound Of flesh. In this case
the usurerr compelled the sale OF the
daughter in eXtinguishment Of debt
of Is yen, which by rapidly accumulat-
ing interest had reached the, to them,
enormous sum of 80 yen Tor $3.50. Tht
righteous judge confiscated the house
of the extortioner and with the pro-
CeedS redeemed the woman. BY thu
aid of missionaries, under the leader
ship of Rev. Murphy, Of Nagoya, legis-
latiOn has been secured making 1T I'M
lawful for q girl to be retained in one
of these houses against her will, and
many have already been rescued. AS
the taking of a concubine is a matter
of record, it is possible for the news
papers to acquaint themselves with do
mestiC relations of prOmiT ent men, and
some Of the papers have assisted in
creating q public opinion against con-
cubines. This custom is certain to give
way before the advance of western
ideas.
One Of the foremost leaders in the
elevation of woman was Yukichi Fuku-
zawa. one of the greatest as well as
one of the most influential of the men
who have appeared in Japan. He was
a journalist, an educator, an orator and
a philosopher He refused TO accept
any titles or decorations, and was
called THE Great CommCner" He
founded a college, the Keio-Gijuku, to
which many Of the public men trace
their ideals and their interest in ma
tional questions and social problems.
He delivered the first public speech
made in japan, fer, strange as 1t may
seem. the habit of public speaking does
rot reach farther back tnan twenty
eight years. Until constitutional gov
eminent was formed there was no place
for the forum. Shortly before his death
Mr.. Fukuzawa reduced his philosophy
to the form of a code of morals, which
has made a profound impression upon
the thought of his country. He pre-
scented independence and self-respect, A"
as he defined them, as the cardinal
tenet of personal morals and living
He insisted upon the care of the body,
the training of the mind and the cult
walton Of the moral nature. He was
one Of the first to raise his voice against
hara-kiri. and I'm his code OF morals he
says: ITO complete the natural span
Of life is to discharge a duty incum-
bent on man. Therefore, any person
who. be the cause what it may. or the
circumstances what they may, deprives
himself by violence Of his own life,
must be said to be guilty of an act in
excusable and cowardly. as we'll as
mean, and entirely opposed to the prin-
ciple of independence and self-respect"
Concerning wouan his code of morals
says: THE custom Of regarding wo-
men as the interiors Of men is vicious
relic of barbariSm. Men and women
of any enlightened country must treat
and love each other on a basis of equal
ity, so that each may develop his or her
own independence and self-respect"
When this great man died in 1901 his
widow was in receipt of letters from
many women expressing their appreci-
alton Of his laborS in behalf of the wo-
man of Japan. Some of these are re-
produced IN a lifeS4of, Mr.. sFukuzawa,
IrecentIy issued, and show 1.-The deep