The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-25
From the New York World.

tne world. With tnlS interesting aSSer- ton the accomplished and beautiful American woman who is the wife of Dr. Takamine. the rich Japanese chemist and scientist, for many years resident of New York, defends the international mar riage.
 Mrs. Takamine was Miss Hitch, daugh- ter of one of the old southern families, before she met Dr. Takamne, who was a commissioner from his country to the New Orleans exposition. Her marriage to the young Japanese doctor of science 21 years ago, being among the early mar rlages between Orient and Occident, at- tracted attention, but not the disagree able sort that has been heaped upon the latest international marriage from Cali fornia.
 Mrs. Takamine expressed her sympathy for Miss Helen Emery, who, despite the public clamor and protest of the Califor- nans, fled to Seattle and married the young Japanese of her choice.
 Although Mrs. Takamine has studied the Japanese language and speaks 1t with some success, she retains the soft south ern accent and the charm of manner of old New Orleans. While criticising the "scandalous treatment" as she calls that given to Miss Emery Mrs. Takamine does not for moment lose her boise nor self-possession. which is a part of the Japanese religion.
 "In way" said Mrs. Takamine, T think the attitude of some of those Cali fornia people toward the young Japanese who desired to marry an American girl was aattering, not only to him, but to the race. 1 think jealousy of Japanese enterprise, Japanese intelligence and Jap anese achievement on the part of some of the labor union people on the coast must be the real cause for much of this unpleasant controversy out there. If this be not the reason, why should so much fuss be made because bright young man from another country wants to marry one of their daughters? I have in mind at least half a dozen marriages in New York of American girls to Japanese which have proved extremely happy. Quite a number of American business men in Japan have taken Japanese wives, and these marriages, too, have been happy.
 At the outset some years ago." con- tinued Mrs. Takamlne, q believe there were one or more. of these marriages that were failures. For this reason Jap anese people themselves have discouraged them. Many young students over here have wished to marry American girls, but have been prevented by their parents from doing so The family tie is strong in Japan. Parents feel that if their sons lose their hearts to American girls they may also lose their hearts to their coun- try. The anxiety, especially by old eJap- anese custom, to have the family name perpetuated, is one of the reasons why the parents like to have their sons return and marry girls of their own race. Speaking of Japanese husbands-well. take my married life, for instance" smiled Mrs. Takamine. looking happily content amid the luxuries of her beauti- fully furnished home, No. IS Hamilton Terrace, in Brooklyn.
 My honeymoon and the first few years of my married life wrere spent in Japan, so I know something of Japanese domes- ticity besides my own case.
 "No woman in the world is more pro- tected and better cared for than the wife of a Japanese. The Japanese husband is considerate, faithful and patient. It is his philosophy, his religion. He Is home loving man and naturally he is thoughtful of the little attentions to his home and family. Every woman loves these little attentions. Plenty of women prefer kind words and tho thought that they are ap- preciated to diamond rings. If a Japanese sees some little piece of jewelry, orna-
 
 would like, he takes it home to her. It is this sort of thing-the fact that he has thought of her during the day-that makes her happy.
 Contrast the Ameriacn and the Japa- nese husband under the same ciroumstan- ces. An American husband comes homo from business tired. nervous and hungry. Something has happened to the oven or the cook has allowed the roast to burn. He is likely to become very impatient over the delay or the spoiled dinner. Un- der similar circumstances does Japanese husband lose his temper? Indeed he does not. He says pleasantly, out of consid- eration for his wifes feelings, Well, per- haps there are eggs in the house, and af- ter all they might be better for us to eat. If there is anything that will increase rather than diminish this consideration for his wife 1t is the fact that Japanese women are just beginning to go into business like their American sisters. With this change the men will realize. too, that should they not treat their wives well the women can leave them and earn their own livelihood. So far no such threats. I believe, have been put into practice; but 1t has been unneces- sary, for it Is born and bred and trained in the Japanese men as part of their re- ligion to treat their wives with respect and courtesy, thoughtful attention
 'In Japan matrimony is built on a sort of equal rights plan. Husband and wife have each his and her duties and his and her particular rights and privileges. and neither one would think of encroaching on the others well-defined rights.
 "One of the American woman's prac- tices which Is abominable to me is that of picking her husbands pockets While l am American I simply cannot un- derstand this I should no more think of going through my husbands pockets than I would through strangers Yet, if you told one of these women who do that they were thieves, they would not understand your remark. I know lots of women whose husbands do not keep strict account of their pocket change, who steal little by little in this way until they have enough to buy new hat or gown.
 "There Is too much deception in mar ried life here. One or the other begins with little deceptions: in time they find each other out without letting each other know it; the little deceptions lead to larger ones, until there comes crisis. No partnership can be continued long on basis of deceit.
 "The greatest mistake ever made in Judgment of Japanese women is that they are merely painted dolls. think 1t Is quite generally conceded and al ready proved that Japanese men are clever in business and war; that they are highly intellectual and rank we'll al cultivated gentlemen. It is well known that to be good great or fairly inteli- gent man you must have mother who
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