New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-10

down upon you, or perhaps you may catch
sight OF graceful head with monumental
couture resting upon tiny hand and bare
arm This is the Yoshiwara as you may
see II any day. What is it, however. Il
YOU can look behind the flowers and the
lanterns, and read the unwritteu story OF
these silent palaces?
The word "Yoshiwara means literally
THE Plain OF Reeds" and so long ago
as the reign OF the Shogun Iyemitsu, in
1853. was the favorite quarter of the city
for the residence OF the courtesan class.
At the restoration. however. twenty years
ago. the authorities determined to suppress
houses Of prostitution in the city of Toxic
proper and TO confine them to this part.
Now the word "Yoshiwara" has become
the generic name for the quarter inhab-
tied by the Japanese demi monde in any
town. There are no fewer than six OF
them in Toxic alone. but tho Shiny oshi-
wara. or new one which l am describing,
IS the chief and most remarkable.
This step OF segregation was taken for
several reasons. In the first place. u
seemed to the authorities that public
morals would gain by the removal Of the
licensed houses. or kashi-Zashiki from all
the respectable quarters; then the system
OF regular medical inspection which they
were determined TO enforce would be easier
and more certain: the tax upon each mem
Der OF the demi-monde could be better col
ected; the whole system, which Is regu-
lated by very intricate laws enforced
theoretically with great strictness would
be much more under police control. and
last. but not least in weight. such quar-
ter would be a happy hunting ground for
the secret police. as a successful swndler
or hiding thief would be pretty sure to
turn up there. and any conspiracy against
law and order would be likely 70 be dis
cUssed there. Where the carcase Is,
argued the authorities. there also will the
eagles be gathered together" and the keep.
ers Of the kashi-zashiki have too much TO
gain and too much TO lose not TO help tie
police secretly by every means-and there
must be a milion--in their power. So there
is a special branch of Yoshiwara police.
The Basis of tho System.
The whole system is based upon the
theory Of civil contract When A girl is
forced by her parents or desires OF her
own will 70 become "yujo," the keeper
Of A ksshi-zashiki is Immediately ready 10
advance 10 the parents d certain sum Of
money. say 800. or 80, or. in very excep-
tional cases perhaps 800 The girl. her
parents and a surety thereupon enter into
bond for her TO become an inmate of his
house under The ordinary conditions for
three years. or until the proportion Of her
earnings which goes 20 the keeper 0heO-
reticaly one-hal0 IS sufficient 10 recoup
him for the sum advanced together with
his outlay for her clothes and board
Should she wish 10 leave before his COM
plets REIN bursement she must refund all
the money advanced or expended for her
up to that time. If she runs away, the
keeper RECEIVERS possession OF her by d civil
action for debt against her parents and
surety-a sort OF parody OF the gruesome
action for restitution Of conjugal rights,
at last happily discredited among our
selves.
But she can escape altogether by getting
beyond her parents reach and leaving
them 20 settle the debts. When her time
has expired. il the refundiug process rs
complete she is at liberty TO leave or re
engage herself for another term. II II Is
no. complete she has no choice. And II re-
Gl,ires no knowledge Of the methods Of the
trade 10 guess that there will always he
balance OF Indebtedness on the girls part.
Therefore she stays and stays. She Is not
allowed TO 60 outside the YoshiWdra with
out a kansatsu, or a local police pass. and
even then she would probably be accom-
panied bv her maid and a male attendant.
There are four classes or grades In the
occupation. the remuneration Of each being
prescribed by Jaw. As everywhere else. the
position is polyonomous. oran being the po-
Iltest name. shogi the most frequent, joro
the most accurate and severe, and yujo-
file de ioie"-the prettiest. Each has her
own servant and her own apartment often
charmingly decorated With paintings and
screens and adorned with little carvings
and porcelain and bits Of old silver work
and LACQUER. the gifts of various admirers
And there Is nearly always a large written
and framed scrool In conspicuous posi-
ton. exhibiting some scrap of appropriate
poetrv told IN the complicated Chinese
characters.
There are some pleasing beliefs current
among foreigners. ana which nave Deeh
circulated in several recent books Oh
.Tapan. TO the effect that il is common
act Of ilial devotion FOR girl TO volunteer
unasked 10 devote herself 10 this life FOR
a term OF years in order 10 pay her parents
debts. TO extricate them from some other
embarrassment or even 10 lay by niue
money for herself. and that this done she
returns 10 the bosom Of her family as IL
nothing had happened. indeed. with the
added halo OF nlial piety This is mostly
unmitigated rubbish.
il IS true that the majority OF the girls
who enter the Yoshiwara are there mat
their parents may have money in cOnse-
quence, but there Is not one case In nun
dreds where they are not unwilling ana un-
happy victims. The influence Of COnfucian-
ism has been 10 implant the duty Of hial
obedience ~ the primal and imperative
virtue among the lower classes OF Japan.
A daughter yields absolutely unquestiohlnS
obedience 10 her parents under all circum-
stances Therefore when they say 10 her
You will marry So-and-So." she does not
dream OF Directing No more does she
when they say 10 her. You pIust enter the
YOshwara." OF course. when she Is asked
at the Department OF Police DO you take
this step OF your own free WILL she re-
plies. Il do" but the case Ii parallel 10 the
condemned criminal who walks up the
steps Of the gailows OF his own free VIII.
. As for The notion that the life Of a
courtesan is NOT considered by the japanese