The log cabin Democrat., 1907-06-27

rationallsts declare that the students must have some religious motive for the desired morality.
 Even the daily papers are wrestling with the subject of student immorali- ty-a contradiction of the statement made by some leaders that the recen. shocking revelations have not caused ripple of interest in Japan. The immortality has centered largely about the dormitories and student boarding houses, the latter especially. It has been shown that hundreds, If not thousands, of girl students purchase their education at price that would seem incredible to western ears. For instance, it is admitted that nearly all of the 1,500 Chinese students here af- ford homes to Japanese girl students, or pseudo students. The Chinese stu dents-most of whom, by the way, have wives at home-are not neces- sarily more immoral than the Japa- nese, but they are possessed of more money. The average expenses of Japanese college man, including tui- stion, board, books, clothes, etc, are less than 15 yen month which is seven dollars and half The average expenses of a Chinese student in TOkiO are estimated at a minimum of 30 yen. The expenses of girl stu dent are less than those of man.
 The terrible situation here with re- spect to school girls is not, as has been carefully explained to me over and over, because Japanese girls do not prize virtue; but because they prize other things, an education, and fealty to parents far more. Girls are sent into TOkio from the country to get an education who have no idea where they are going to board or to attend school, and lack the money to do either.
 In all this it is to be remembered that the attitude of the Japanese toward the relation of the sexes is very different from that of the occi- dent. The social evil is licensed, (though by no means confined to those holding licenses) and 1t is com. mon for parent to sell his daughter into life of shame. Ninety eight per cent. of the prostitutes in the empire are secured in this manner. Sale" is not the word employed here; the keeper lends money to the father, to be repaid out of the daughters earn ings. The former takes good care that the debt is not wiped out until he is ready to let the girl go. The lat ter never thinks of rebelling, for filal obedience is the first article of the Japanese creed. Yet it is significant that no swords, knives or sharp weapons are allowed in the "Yoshi wara," which is the name of the dis trict set apart for this purpose, lest the unhappy girls make away with themselves. It is said that the aver age number of visitors to this quarter of Tokio is no less than quarter of a million a month.
 I can believe this, because of what I have seen. The night l visited the Yoshiwara, in company with a mis- sionary, the streets were so crowded that policemen stood in the center of the road, holding aloft lanterns to di- vide the traffic, which is entirely pedestrian.
 Two inexpressibly shocking aspects of that nights experience especially impressed me- One was the number of boys and young men, thousands of them in student dress, who openly ire uuent the Yoshiwara. The crowd was like that which lines the down town streets of an American city on the night of a presidential election. Not only were there myriads of men on the streets, but women and children also were out enjoying the life. These would, unabashed, chat with the girls in the cages, and the latter Seemed to have no feelings of dis grace.
 An Anglo-Saxon does not relish the sight of human beings displayed Tn cages. Yet hundreds of these line the streets of the Yoshiwara, each con- taining from a dozen girls upward, True the cages are beautifully gllded and lacquered, some of the rear panels heinz real works of art; and the girls are deliberately dressed in gaudy gowns each seated before toilet box where she perfects her painting and powdering in public. The cages are cages, and the poor painted creatures within are human beings. thus onered for public inspection and sale.
 One hour in the Yoshiwara IS sur fcient to turn any white man forever against the licensing of the social eVii Adjoining the Yoshiwara and pa'I of if is the hospital for derellctI' Everything is minutely regulated by special department of the government rho latest official statistics show more than 50 1000 licensed prostitutes in the on,n;re with more than 30,O0O geisha qirls in addition. Taking all classes of prostitutes. there are said to be, ac- cordine to the latest publication on tha subiect How the Social Evil Is s less than Z,-