New-York tribune., 1906-07-01

II seems that we give forth an extremely dis
agreeable odOr. By I'VE" mean the white races
OF America ana oe Europe. According TO the
japanese this cdor is not only ''piquant" but
also rancid" The japanese. like all other
Crisnfals and like our red Indians find our
perfume very offensive. much so that when
one OF the leges of the AIikadO resides sufi-
clentiy long in America or Europe TO become
isnpsegnated Herewith it is considered sufficient
10 exempt him from that military service which
IS obligatory upon every japanese citizen. In
fact, a Jap contaminated by Our-well, let US
call it-perfume is regarded as unfit for associf =
tSOn with his fellow countrymen. precisely as if
he were afflicted with leprosy. II is considered
unfair that they should be compelled 70 exist
in the same atmosphere as one so disagreeably
odoriferOus, and not only does the European
perfume constitute disqualification for service
sn the army and in the navy OF Japan, but it
actually. according TO japanese law. constitutes
a valid reason for divorce. Until now the white
gaces have always fondly imagined that they
were regarded by the yellow people Of Asia, by
the blacks OF Africa, by the Esqumaus, by the
redskins and by the Indians Of South America
in the light OF superior beings. almost as deHi-
gods, and we have prated to our hearts content
about prestige" 1t is rather disconcerting,
not to say humiliating TO discover that instead
Of exciting respect and even reverence we create
by our dusky brethren. owing TO our offensive
perfume.
This is not a joke, as some OF the readers Of
The Tribune might be disposed at first sight to
Imagine. II our perfume is sufficiently strong
20 be condemned by the government of Japan
as bar TO military and naval service and re-
garded as a valid cause for divorce it must
really be extremely Objectionable, and goes far
20 account for the look CT disdain and contempt
that sometimes fits across the features Of even
the lowliest Chinese coolies when brought into
contact with Dean Swift, when he wrote his
remarkable story OF Gulliver's visit to the land
OF the Houyhnhnms, where horses reigned su-
preme. laid particular stress on the difficulty
which the hero's equine friends found in sup
porting his smell, which they declared to be only
slightly less abhorrent to them than that of the
disgusting Yahoos. We used TO look upon that
story as merely one of the amusing satres of the
witty and sarcastic Dean of st. Patrick's But
our japanese friends whom we have been accus-
toned until now To patronize in a sort Of indul-
gent manner, have brought home to US the fact
that the famous Irish prelate was perfectly
serious when he spoke about our disagreeable
Odor, which IS calculated to cause even Negroes
60 sniff at Us with disgust.
OF course. We are equally sensitive TO the
perfume Of the 5usky races. The Chinese in par
ticular have perfume sui generis It is smell
20 which defy any European or American ever
20 become accustomed During my frequent
stays in China I have sometimes endeavored TO
analyze this smell, with which the natives are
saturated and which seems TO contaminate and
to give taste and peculiar Odor to everything
they touch. For a lcng time / at a loss
to account for the reason of this perfume, which,
though neither very strong pungent, is
nevertheless, to the noses of white people Of an
exceedingly sickening nature. It could not be
cue 70 any lack Of soap and water for the
Chinese bathe frequently. and are. moreover.
extraordinarily particular on the subject of the
Immaculate cleanliness of their garments, diff
Gering in this respect from the japanese. My
doubts, however. came TO end when recalled
to mind that the Chinese consider extremely
stale eggs infinitely greater delicacy than
fresh ones; that aged and spoiled oysters and
Dther shellfsh cause them to smack their lips
with satisfaction, and that they prefer their
ash very gamy and high Under the circum-
stances. it is hardly surprising that the perfume