Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-06-10

Much has been said about the NOR
ais of the Japanese, but morals is a
matter OF time and of place. For
instance, when passing through the
streets Of Mogi "a small village near
NagasakD we noticed steam coming
out of the doorway of a house. and
like most tourists, were naturally
lnqulsitive, and on looking in we
found that it was a public bath
house. Quite number of men in
full undress" were bathing. In
the same room was a female attend
ant. A little later on, when coming
back past the same place, in addition
to this attendant there was also an
other japanese maiden preparing for
bath. The men were in full view
OF her. while she in turn was to be
seen by them. In speaking to an
educated Japanese regarding this,
he first denied that it existed, but
when told him l had seen it myself,
his answer | thought was very good,
being "You should not see such
things. We do not" In other
words, while l saw wrong in this,
they saw none, hence | say that
morality is matter of time and of
place, for in their eyes there is not
the slightest impropriety in the
mingling OF sexes in the public bath
and while this custom is being
changed so that in the larger cities
the sexes are segregated, still large
numbers of the same sex bathe TO-
gether. However, the common bath
ing still exists in the interior. The
public comfort stations at the vari-
GUS places, are in charge of female
attendants and are jointly used by
both males and females.
The Japanese Government has en-.
gagged many American instructors in
their institutions of learning and one
OF these told me that where he was
staying about 200 miles from Nagas-
aki there is onely eight European be-
sides himself and they are mission
aries. Shortly after his arrival,
while sitting on the hotel porch,
one evening he noticed quite a little
festivity going on at the house across
the road, on inquiring of bis mission
ary friends as to the cause was told
that one female resident of the house
had been out twice on trial marriage
and had been returned and was going
out for the third time, and festivities
were in honor Of that occasion; so
you see that while we in this country
have been discussing trial marriages.
Japanese are already practicing them.
After they are welded, if through any
cause before the expiration of three
months, the groom is dissatisfied
with his wife, he sends her home. In
talking about this subject to one of
the educated japanese, he said that
such was fact. but in those a settle.
ment had to be made between the
principals, and if there were any issue
he had to support them. In case no
settlement could be, agreed upon, o
man appointed by the government
decided upon the terms and they had
to be carried out accordingly.
Filial love and respect is one of
the marked characteristics of the
Orientals; so much so, that were the
parents through any cause unable
to support the children, they will
voluntarily enter upon what we call
q life Of shame" They. however,
are not as is generally believed, sold,
but it is common for the parents to
secure an advance upon their child
rem in consideration OF which they
enter upon this life. That this prac-
tice is practically agreed in by the
government, is shown by the fact
that they have an official whose busi-
ness it is to license the inhabitants
of this part of the community,
and before anyone is permitted to
enter such q life they must come be-
fore the Master Of the Three Profess
sions, as he called. The parents must
accompany the girl and give good
and sufficient reasons. for the per-
mitting of the child to enter such q
life-generally it is poverty. Then
the girl is questioned and unless she
is doing the thing willingly, license
is withheld, but as explained. filial
love and respect is so great that very
few children refuse to comply with
their parents wishes. If the In
spector is satisfied with the state
ments of the parents and of the
child, then o copy of the contract
which is proposed to be entered into,
must be submitted, and if acceptable
then and not before. is the license
issued. The parents must execute a
bind that the sum advanced will be
repaid. in case through sickness,
death or other cause, it be not repaid
from the earnings.
Gottinf Solid.
Freddy" loves me desperately,
that's clear.