Evening star., 1912-11-24

arms outstretched they stand or kneel in
PRAYER to the gods to divert the hail OF lead
that flies about them.
"At other times these women assume the
leadership of the troops, calling the men for
ward with cries of fanatical intensity. The
two women | had seen were Boxer god
desses' who had been taken when perform
ing the first of these perilous acts of devotion.
"Women of unsearchable motive, fearful
and admirable, they were in truth hysterical
devotees of their cause. On being caught
they had tried to escape by throwing them
selves into the river Some sailors had pre-
vented the consummation of their heroic
desire.
in their unsightly prison they received
us coldly and in proud silence. Their pallor
was that of wax,-faces of so fearful an i'm
mobility had never seen, faces with more
fatal charm.
"Our questions brought no reply, and as
looked at them | thought had never seen
such dignity as theirs and such despair. In
approaching them there felt that we had
committed an unpardonable sacrilege. l
fancied had come for a curious sight merely.
What | saw made known to me the un-
bridged abyss that lay between China and
the remainder of the world. | conceived OF
these women then, and think of them still,
as in some sense divinities of patriotism.
Monsieur Lott told how imperfect acquain-
tance with the customs of China had involved
him in novel social embarrassment. Ger
tain women of China wear an orange blossom
in their hair as badge of their calling. Mon
sieur Lott had come away with the idea that
the custom was general, and IN arranging
Chinese ball at his home in Hendaye, to
which the Chinese Minister to France had
been invited, he conceived the happy idea OF
equipping each of his women guests with an
orange blossom. A Mortified Minister sought
out his host to inquire where he had seen the
Chinese women from whom he had adopted
the idea for this style of ornamentation.
Mutual explanations led to the hurried re-
tirement of the darkly symbolic flower.
JAPANESE women have less charm on the
whole for the author of Madame Chrys-
antheme" than for Lafcadio Hearn. Some
of his references to them are half contemptu-
ous He finds them childish, wanting in
education, and declares that their souls are
ungrown. They bear to him likeness to
cats, even to the extent of feline mannerlsms.
But these diminutive women he finds anus
ing as mimics, with their smiling, almond
ewes. "As in the case of China, however"
said Monsieur Lott, Il saw only specifically,
being a sailor, and the women was able to
study were for the most part of a class not
to be regarded as typical.
Il witnessed in Japan the 'Danse de Ia
Ghoul,' given by japanese woman, accom-
panied by another woman on a mandolin.
She moved about like nothing so much as
stealthy cat. Her cries also resembled the
cats Sounds as when cat Kisses in anger
issued from her throat. Of the whole spec
tacle, charming in its way, retain this one
dominant impression. l saw also La danse
de la Rue des Fleurs,' danced with hoop of
flowers, and the pretty dance called LIE pas
de la Source performed with white silk NIB
bon shaken in undulant rhythm to suggest
the flow of water
"Since my first visit to Japan much is
changed. The more accessible teahouses are
no longer fitted out, as in the old Japan,
with dainty cushions, mats and the delight
full fittings seen nowhere else. Japan has
become Europeanized. One can now get
European drinks where formerly tea was
the sole beverage. Even the women seem to
have slightly changed. One must now go far
in search of the old Japan"
AT the time of the divorce of Church and
\ State in France many congregations
we're obliged to abandon their homes, and
even to find refuge in foreign countries like
Canada and the United States, in order that
they might pursue in freedom their chosen