Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-14
LITTLE JAPANESE GIRL WILL
DEVOTELLFE TO AIDING POOR
Dainty Asa Matsuoka VIII
Fit Herself to Help Father
in Toxic Exporting Business
Just No,v She Studies English
in Chicago and Takes Part
in Temperance Work

Miss Asa Matsuoka, of Toxic. who
Is attending the W. c. I. U. conven.
tion here, slender, gentle. almost shy
speaks earnestly Of the work she hopes
to accomplish in waking the women OF
japan, and adds. IN most matter of fac,
tones. Il shall also take my father :
place.
Taking her fathers place mems being
the head of a srent tirm OF exporters
nnd Importers. and yet Miss Mntsuoka
speaks of il as calmly ms she would
mention buying n new kimono.
"Of course | shall take his place, -
she says. II am the only heir. My
brother Ill "d about five years ago. Did
you not know that women in Japan
did things like that? Oh. yes, Il IL
OFTEN so. Some families have many
ships. My father had shpynrd and
he could have made much money build =
Ing the ships. but he hated the war 40
that he closed the yard. There must
be peace all over the world. hc say
TO me.
And my father tell me that the
women In japan must become free. The
men are so" and she measured high
up In the nir with her hand. 'and tho
women are So and tho hand fell
close to the floor with nutterins
gesture.
"It is not right. We must change
thnt."
Entered American School
This earnest advocate OF women 9
freedom Travelled from Toxic several
months ago with her charerone TO enter
school In the United States.
"Chnperrne? Oh. yes. could not
have come otherwise. could not travel
al6ne.'
She is now at Northwestern rnivcr.
sity Of Chicago studying English, md
when she has mastered that to her sat =.
isfaction she will study social service
work and take course in commerce
and finance.
II am ver' ashamed Of my English
but those vcrbS--those tcnse--they
bother me so!" she exclaimed.
Her desire to help the poor in her
own country began years ago, wher
she went TO have tea with an Ameri.
can missionary.
she had q day nursery for the chill.
drcn.' said Miss Matsuokn. her eye.
bright with feeling. '.And she took
me TO- see the poor people. Three. four
families living In room" she meas.
ured sinal SPACE with her arms. 81
, "", T''o nVh' IL WIS teTTlDIe 10 thinR
such things were. And I was yer,
ashamed that Americans should hav,
to come to my country to help my rool
people. Now l want TO helm them, =
she said. Even If I cannot tenet
myself. If l can only give advice tc
those who work for my father and me
and help others to hell them"
Father Likes Children
! sly fnther--oh. many years ago h,
came to this country to school, and h,
! is a great friend TO the Christians /,
Japan.
When left" and Miss Ma,suoka' :
smile became tender with memories
my father gave me two things. II,
gave me the money" and she laughed
'and he gave me book" becomn.
thoughtful again. ~ show it to 20,
some time" she said. "In the bool
he tell me what 10 do. He say 7 mus
be kind and ne tell me the things
should learn in my heart 70 help tn
women Of japan be free. Some peopl,
they think the Japanese are evil--the,
are wirked-and my father say mus
show them it IL not SO.
| 81 think perhaps I will stay fiv'
years in your country before l 90 bacl
! TO tax" the place Of my father. Their,
! is SO much ] must know" she sighed.
I 'Rut. oh. how lik" it. The girls
nt school they are all so kind to me
Once for two weeks an illness troubled
ne. and they wrote and they sent flow