Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1915-08-11

ASSOCIATED PRESS
DISTINGUISHED
(By Associated p9ess.l

TOXIC, Aug. 1.-THE woman mos
talked of in Japan, excepting only thc
empress, is Mrs. Akiko Yosano, poet
ess, essayist, preacher to the common
people," and leader Of the dramatic
Japanese movement to acquire greater
rights for womanhood. Both Mrs. Yo.
sano and her accomplished husband
are "dreamers" (they call it that them
selves) but they are writing every day
about life, in such simple and practi-
ella way that even the least educated
and simplest minds understand Mrs
Yosano's writings appear in news
papers and magazines throughout ia
pan. Her extraordinary versatility is
evidenced by her writing classical
verse at one moment, insisting on VIC
mans freedom the next and following
that with an article on bad manners
in street cars.
In a tiny Japanese house tucked
away in the heart of the great Orien-
tai metropolis, where this poetess and
apostle of woman's rights carries on
her work, she received correspond
ent of the Associated Press. The tin
kle of the bell was answered by
young japanese maid, who prostrated
herself on both knees, in japanese
fashion to welcome the guest. Hay-
ing removed his shoes, the correspon-
dent was escorted to small reception
room.
Mrs. Yosano came in, accompanied
by her husband and by Prof. K. Wada-
gaki, of the Imperial university, who
acted as interpreter. The poetess Was
dressed in simple blue kimono. Her
black hair was coiled around her head:
not arranged in the classical japanese
style. She modestly, almost timidly,
extended her hand in formal greeting.
The impression of Partisan atmos-
phere in the pictures and furnishings
of the room was justified for Mrs. Io-
sano explained that with her husband
she had spent some years in Paris
a. had not only lived in th> Latin
quarter, hut a.so in the hiss .c ds-
trlc. of Mor,msrtre. Her husbaL tar
cane to T Taris 20 study new sc10Gl
&c etry and she as his disciple had f.:
lowed him there. With fervor they
had flung themselves into the art life
of the great French metropolis. She
came back first to Toxic and began to
write. For a considerable time she de-
voted herself to writing of love and
her Songs of Love" were printed
throughout Japan.
She quickly developed taste for
writing upon the practical problems
of her fellow women and it is in this
field of effort particularly that she has
come to be known as a national figure,
taking the lead in all this modern Jap
anese movement which is inaugurated
for the betterment of the women of
Nippon.
The universities of Japan with one
exception are not opened to women and
the first practical step which should
be taken for the emancipation of wo-
men in her country she believes is to
open at once the gates Of all universt-
ties ano thus given to woman the op-
portunity for higher education and
self-development.
81 have read somewhere that in
America and Europe the economic in
dependence which | seek for our wo-
men has caused a certain loss OF
charm and feminine attractiveness," ="
she said, "but dc not fear such a
thing here"
She recalled the doctrine of Con
fucius which gives to women the in
ferior place and alluded to the prov
erb On that subject which is printed
today in almost every Japanese school
book. 1t concerns the old Chinese idea
that when woman becomes too active
literally, when the woman talks too
much-the household falls. Man is the
CONTINUED on Page Fiye.)