The San Francisco call., 1909-10-10

81 IS: s. :. y = '''' ''''''' =
q saw him in the hall as l came into
this room"
How were you able to recognize him among
uany?"
4 have his picture"
DO you wish ask him any questions to satisfy
yourself that you have made mistaken"
NO"
The foregoing conversation recently took place at
the port of San Francisco between government Of
fetal and dinutive Japanese girl Is years old, who
had just completed 4,50o mile journey, entirely
accompanied from her home in the interior of Japan
and across the Pacific to meet her future lord and
master.
She had never seen her future husband before that
day, knew nothing of MS history had had no acquain-
ance with his people IN Japan. Under the marriage
laws of that country, however, she had already
been legally united in marriage to the whose
photograph she carried. and whether she would
more firmly cement the compact by marriage accord
ing to American usages depended upon the
amining officials, who, after weighing every circum-
IN her case pass upon her admissibility
into the United States
To watch this tiny representative of womanhood,
without friend or adviser, walk down the gang
plank of the great ocean liner and take her place in
the waiting room already crowded with girls of her
own race whose migration to the United States
in many instances in circumstances such
rounded her case to observe the composure with
which she every requirement of the law, and the
entire absence of doubt fear when in the presence
of the examining officers, she looked into the face of
her future husband for the first time only bespoke
the confidence which this little daughter of Nippon
have had in mankind in general but also served
to arouse in the native American breast emotions
difficult to describe
Can we imagine any American girl of the same age,
in like circumstances, starting similar journey
with corresponding object in view?
Some six months previous, the bridegroom, pros
porous merchant in southern California, had notified
his father in Japan that he wished take him
self wife According to Japanese custom it then
devoved upon the father look about for suitable
consort for his The son in explaining how he
obtained his wife offered the following:
You see, my fathers brother knew man who
knew this girls father and they made the necessary
arrangements Then my father sent me this photo
graph OF my fancee which ] have shown here, after
which It necessary for to have my friends in
California call upon the Japanese consul general at
San Francisco to ask that he make such representa-
tions to his home government would for my
hancee the passport which she would be obliged to
have before she could depart from her country
When the passport issued then all that remained
be done the sending of money with which to
pay her passage This did, and you see she is here"
The decision of the examining officers being favor
able the services of the Buddhist priest invoked
and the contracting parties joined hands for the
first time in their lives, in conformity with the laws
OF the state, consummated the calleds"Japan-
csc picture marriage"
# should be understood however, that the legality
OF the above marriage in nowise influenced by
the photographs either regards the civil ceremony
of Japan or the ceremony dictated by the laws of
Washington Under the civil code of Japan the sole
requirements in the oonsummation Of marriage are
these.
First-The attainment of legal age by the contract
ing parties.
Second-The consent of parents guardians up to
the age of 25 for the and 80 years for the men,