The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1915-08-14

most talked of in japan. excepting
only the empress. is Mrs. Akiko Yo-
sano, poetess, essayist, preacher to
the common people and leader OF n
dramatic Japanese movement to c
quire greater rights for woman
hood. Both Mrs. Yosano and her
ACCOMPLISHED husband are dreamers
they cali it that themselves but
they are writing every day aoou
life in such a simple and practical
way that even the least educated
and simplest minds understand. Mrs.
Yosano's writings appear In news
papers and magazines throughout
Japan. Her extraordinary versatile
ity is evidenced by her writing clas-
steal verse at one moment, insist
ing on woman's freedom and fmme-
diately following with an article On
bad 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 car-
ries on her work, she received a
correspondent of the Associated
Press. The tinkle of the bell was
answered by a young japanese maid
who Frustrated herself on both
knees in Japanese fashion, to well
come the guest. Having removed
his shoes, the correspondent was es-
corted to a small reception Dol up
stairs.
Mrs. Yosano came in accompanied
by her husband and by Prof. Wada-
gaki of the Imperial university who
acted as interpreter. The poetess
was dressed in a 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.
Yosano explained that with her hus-
band she had spent some years in
Paris and had not only lived in the
Latin quarter but also in the his
toric district of Montmartre. Her
husband had gone to Paris to study
at a new school of poetry and she
as his disciple had followed 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
devoted herself to writing love stor-
les and songs of love, which were
printed throughout Japan.
She quickly developed a taste fer
writing upon the practical problems
of her fellow women and 1t IS IN
this field of effort particularly that
she has come to be known as a
tional figure, taking the lead in all
which is inaugurated for the better
ment of the women of Nippon.
The universities of Japan with n
exception are not opened to women
and the first practical step which
should be taken for the emancipation
of women in her country she believes
is to open at once the gates of all
universities and thus give to woman
the opportunity for a higher educa-
ton and self development.
Doctrine of COnfucius
Il have read somewhere that in
America and Europe the economic
independence which l seek for our
women has caused a certain loss Of
charm and feminine attractiveness,"
she said, "but I do not fear such a
thing here"
She recalled the doctrine of Con-
fucius which gives to women the in
ferior place and alludes to the prov
erb on that subject that is printed
today in almose every Japanese
school book. 1t concerns the old
Chinese idea that when woman be-
comes too active, literally. when the
woman talks too much. the house
hold falls. Man is the fountain head
and man alone is responsible.
The story is told in this way:
Years ago a Chinaman heard mis-
hen crying every morning in a most
unusual way. One day while return
ing from a visit to the emperor the
man was killed. The neighbors
noticed that the hen stopped crying
Immediately so the crying hen be-
came symbolic of peril. When The
Japanese adopted this tale with the
thousands of other Chinese fables
they made the hen stand for woman.
and so the crying, troubled and re-
voting woman became the symbol
of family disorder and disaster.
Mrs. Yosano did not agree that the
predicted evil would follow greater
freedom for women. But she
wanted Japanese women to be Civ
en- a fighting chance. She wanted
some sort Of equality. She scarcely
believed that the women were ready
for suffrage. That might come later.