New-York tribune., 1922-08-20
JAPAN QUITS
SITTING
Confined from page sis)

most every school goes on its monthly
quarterly or annual udy-journeys' under
the general command of the instructors in
history or natural science.
In addition to these trips on foot num-
ber OF schools in Toxic and Id the country
encourage their students to walk to school in
stead Of riding in tram cars. Not long ago
Professor Ito, of the First Giris' High School
IN Toxic, made special effort to induce his
students to walk to school. The girls who
lived within thirty forty minutes walk to
school were advised not to take to trans.
1t was not hard for Professor Ito to enlist
the enthusiastic support of the parents in his
effort OF making walking fashionable among
the girls OF his school--for it killed two
birds with single throw: it was economical
and it was healthful. And it has ended nm bv
becoming fad with the students not only Of
his school but with those of other girls schools
IN Toxic Perhaps it is not strictly just for
the creation of one of the most healthful fads
among the young girl students of Toxic. For
1t was not the hygiene and the sanity of the
movement which really counted with the
young iaoies. 1t was the unspeakably vile
tramway service of Toxic which had good
deal to do with the success Of the thing.
In summer, swimming of course takes prec-
edence Of almost every other form Of snort
with women as with our men. Just why we
have not produced an Ethelda Bleibtrev has
been standing puzzle. From time out of
mind, tens Of thousands of daughters Of tbe
Island Ernpire-especay those Of the float
ing (literally) population of Japan whose
permanent homes are the sampans and old
fashioned boats along the water fronts
have been living in the sea all summer LONG
Among the number it would seem there must
be some mermaid wonders. Yet they have
not come to the fore The public schools of
the country are paying special attention lust
now to the art Of swimming among the virl
pupils. Last year the city of Yokohama be-
gan scientific education of the women teachers
of It's public schools in swimming. At the
municipal swimming station at Honmaki the
OF the city we're daily instructed. Yokohama
also opened two other municipal swimming
stations-at Honmaki and Negichi. And other
cities are following suit
In winter, especially on the northern
island of Hokkaido, skating and skiing are
IN great vogue with girl students and women
generally.
Mountain climbing is becoming more and
more popular with the women of the country.
In 1913 it was quite a distinction to climb
White Horse Peak (Shiro-uma) in the moun-s
tain range, popularly called the Japanese
Alps, which extends from the Pacific TO the
Sea of Japan athwart the widest portion of
the main island. Those who achieved it
could be counted on the fingers of two hands
In 1921 the number passed the $1,000 mark
And struggling line of divided skirts, called
hakama, of flaming red very much favored
by the girl students of Japan, making its
persistent way up the White Horse Peak, is
one of the commonest sights in the summer
of this year, according to the sporting columns
OF Toxic newspapers.
The Shiro-uma and her sister peaks in the
northern japanese Alps are getting so popular
with the mountaineers of Japan that this
year dugoufs and huts large enough to shelter :
800 people at one time have been built for
the accommodation of climbers
Mount Fuji, the peerless. of course, holds
its own against all comers-with the girl
student climbers as with the pious pilgrims
Full is the highest peak in the Empire t12,-
3S7 feet1. 1t also is the easiest to climb /
And the accommodations for the climbers are
the most complete. Moreover, the sacred :
peak has been for centuries the Mecca of the &
pious pilgrims With number of the girls !
schools, climbing the Fuii is now regular
annual fixture.
Japanese girls also taking to horse
back riding with great enthusiasm This is
especially true Of the daughters of the nobility.
Miss Sada-ko Matsu the daughter of Baron
Keishiro Matsu our Ambassador at Paris
through the World War years, and the daugh-
ter of Mr.. Yukio Ozaki, one of the leading poll
tcians of Japan, are taking leading part In
the sport.
In aviation, we have yet to produce Miss
Ruth Law. No japanese air maid has any
where nearly approached the record of Miss