The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-12-27

 cussion in Japanese newspapers and magazines Of the questions of wo- mems rights and woman suffrage serves as a striking example of the rapidity with which western thought and western ideas are being assimi- lated in Japan.
 Today the supporters of the wo- mems rights movement are gleefuA over the fact that two women mil 1ionaires of Tokio have won the right to vote at municipal and ward elec- tions The municipal regulations grant the right of suffrage TO any subject of the Japanese empire paying a 1arg- CT amount of direct city taxes than that paid by any of the three highest tax-paying male subjects over twen- ty-dve years of age. The woman Suf- frage advocates contended that this clause permits women to vote if their rroperty qualifications were sufficient, and the home office upheld the con- tention-
 An important monthly magazine has placed a set or questions before noted Japanese women the future Of the sex in Japan. propound1ng such queries as what can be done to inn prove the condition of the Japanese women; requesting opinions as to the suffrage movement in the west, as well as the question or social inde- pendence, and in general way the growing tendency or woman lO de- 1ala71d the same rights man.
 A summary of the replies indicates an opinion that Japan is not yet ripe for the suffrage movement As the stress Of living grows keener, the number of spinsters, the writers say, will increase in the east as Tn the west When that time comes the Wo- men here may with justice claim an enactment of the same law for wo- man for man. Mrs Haru Hato- yama says: Such a tendency may be averted in J-pan if women foster such national virtues as chastity, faithfuIness, industry, thrift, patience and simplicity
 No two opinions are expressed, however, on the advtsabi1ity or jus fice of greater liberty for woman kind in general The time has rived, all writers agree, for a con- certed action in behalf of a dignifed and womanly liberty.
 Some women are outspoken and oth- srs are reserved One writes: Small, helpless things are the Japanese wo- men of today Before talking of giv- ing them the suffrage, they should be given the right of sef-goveTnment at houle''
 that the duty of g, woman is to help her husband in looking after the, home and children The independence of woman in the nob1esc sense of the
  same time the inherent spirit of self sacrifice in woman should not be de- stroyed-"
 ssHow soon do girls get married af- ter graduation from school? How many children have they in five years after marriage?H
 These are some of the questions that the office of education has put to the girls middle schools through l.
  form practical statistics, and are ex- pected to be of much value to the ed- ucationaI department, which is con templating a reform in the present system of education. This it believes to be urgent in view of the feeling that a degeneration of physique is taking place among girl students.
 The educational office had been in terested in the question what kind of mothers the graduates of the girls middle schools make, and an investi- gation along sthis line was made. Then Baron Takagi, president of the Jikein Medical school offered some concrete suggestion to promote the work by sending out series of ques- tons He is convinced that the rising generation shows signs of physical re- progression, and says that the causes of this tendency must be corrected.
 'HThe young men and women are steadily running low in weight Ba-
 
 indications of general degeneration Particularly is this noticeable among the girls who have pursued their studies in the middle grade, or even the higher schools. When they are married they prove unsuitable moth CTS physically. They are not in con- dition to nurse their own children. So-caIled ladies of the upper or aris- tocratic class show a decided def1- ciency in this regard
 
 Enthusiasm and faith in the suc- cess of his mission i'll Rev. Kakfchi Tsunashima, a Japanese pastor of the Congregational church who has been commissioned by his church to go to the United States and endeavor to help solve the California land ques- ton His chief activity will be in making an appeal to Americans as Christians He expects to sail for America December 31 on the steamer Chfyo Maru.
 AIT Tsunashima, reasons that true righteousness and civilization will in due course of time be appreciated. He thinks that the question of Jap anese land ownership in California is too big a problem to be settled in a short time, and that 1t does not admit of a temporary solution. He will try to solve it on the broad basis of uni versa1 love and Christian brother hood
 In fulfilling his mission MT Tsuna- sF1ima expects to visit churches, pas tors associations, and other Christian organizations and to write and preach his thoughts and ideals as opportu- nity offers He says there may be faults and shortcomings on the part Of the Japanese, but by his proposed undertaking he believes he can per suade his countrymen to a better mode of life.
 Tr;ITffs soldiers in the task of how to fight under galling fire was the keynote of this years big military rnanoeJvres of the Japanese army at Nagoya, according to foreign experts