The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-17

Jiro Shimoda in thv Japan Magazine.
TN private lift the Japanese child is
required to honor its parents and to
L sacrifice itself for the comfort and
happiness of the family. The parents
never spare themselves for the good OF
their children, and the child must undevi-
atinsly folio wthe parental example. As
there is the peculiar institution called
.'inkyo," or the retirement OF the head
of the family from active life as soon
as the children become old enough to
support him and take his place In the
management of affairs. Delighted at
seeing their children able to shoulder
the burdens of life, the parents retire
Ia enjoy the pleasures Of old age, games,
the tea ceremony. horticulture or some
refined form of amusement, some being
even affected by the muse" and aban-
doned in their declining years to poetry.
FOR this reason very few Japanese
parents hold property in their own
right, assigning 1t all to those Of their
children upon whom they are depend
ent. A Japanese citizen ignoring the
claims Of loyalty and filial piety would
be reckoned as outside the pale of hu-
man society. No degree of position or
wealth can save the unfilial son from the
disgrace he deserves
The two Chinese characters represent
Ing husband" In the Japanese language
mean heavenly person Accordingly
his wife Ia expected to honor him a. a
thing from heaven. she does this BY
attending carefully to the duties Of the
household 80 as to leave her husband
free to carry on the business Of life.
The true wife will sacrifice fortune and
even life for the sake OF her lord. In
one Of the dramas Of the immortal
Chikamatsu, the Shakespeare of Japan.
there is . passage representing the ideas
OF a devoted Japanese wife: FOR the
ss,.e OF my husband I would even fiay
my nails from my hands and feet"
such are the ideals Of duty cherished
and obeyed by the faithful wives Of
Japan, who not only bear their sacrifices
without any sense Of loss but are de-
lighted that they can show their desire
to be Of signal service to their husbands.
1t is quite natural, therefore, to find
the Japanese mother taking every care
to bring up her children in accordance
with these principles Of loyalty and filial
piety. and she never shirks any sacrifice
that may be necessary to impress these
truths on her family Our domestic his
tory ID full Of pathetic stories of Wild
owed mothers who for the sake of main
tanning and educating their children.
the monuments of their departed hus-
bands, have undergone great depriva-
lions. Indeed, the life Of the Japanese
woman IL one OF noble seif-sacrifice and
reconciliation. Nor 10 1t to be understood
that the Japanese man IL Indifferent to
the noble endurance Of his wife. Though
exacting. he must treat his wife with
consideration and sympathy. The Jap
anese woman Ii loved 40 . wife, and hon.
ored and respected as q mother. Thus
though her lot Is arduous, her life on
tho whole ID happy and contsntcd. And
when old age comes she goes ''inkyc"
and spends her last days in peace.
| Though the Japanese woman IL re-
quired to b. gentle above ali things and
to keep that spirit Aliys in the home. chi
| is not = creature without courage and
bravery. In old japan when Z daughter