Evening star., 1924-05-18
JAPANESE kIMONO
DOOMED BY QUAKE
Few Now on Sale in Reconstructed
Stores of Dis
aster Area.
WESTERN SUITS POPULAR
Government Stopped Chance of
Food Habits Change.
BY JUNIUS u. WOOD.

Correspondence of The Star and the Chicago
Daily News.
TOXIC, April 1.-The kimono,
symbol of Japan, has felt the jolt Of
the earthquake. Though men were
tical western trousers and coats for
business wear, and school children
had made the change like a well reg
ulated army, the earthquake was the
final blow. 1t wiped out the COM
mercial supply around Toxic, the
kimono makers have never caught
up, and it is doubtful whether they
will ever be required to- Before the
quake Theater street, in Yokohama,
the shopping district for both cities,
had blocks of clothing shops. A few
of them displayed western ready
made clothes.
The same shops are rebuilt with
new stocks of goods and the goods
are different. In one block with
ten clothing stores only one con-
tinues to offer kimonos. In front of
the others hang hand-me-downs for
all ages, shapes and sizes of qualities
to suit any pocketbook. The assort-
ment is complete-sleevy overcoats
loud. pinch backed Jackets. which are
called nobby, durable business
suits. The only thing lacking to
make it like any American or Eu-
roopean city are the wooden-faced
dummies with smiles that summer
showers cannot wash off.
Nature of Supplies
The relief supplies which were
rushed over after the disaster are
responsible to some extent. The
Japanese government did not want
to take the responsibility of chang
fol he
same way about the national diet.
Canned fruits, timed meats and
fish, breakfast foods. California rice
which Mr.. Hoover so thoughtfully
were new to the Japanese of the class
which was destitute. Those RESPONSE
bic for the relief distribution felt that
they would not know how to use them
and If they did their standard of liv-
ing would be raised out of all proper
tion to their means. The same ap-
piled to clothing.
Another argument against giving
away the supplies was that such
"a method would not encourage thrift
Whatever the criticism may be made
of the Japanese relief methods it can
not be said that the doles were sufi
ciently large to encourage idleneSs. 1t
was decided to sell most of the sup
plies and use the cash purchasing
lower grade stuff.
The American Red Cross and others
aSSented. They were offered In large
lots with the usual results when a
government suddenly goes into bust
ness. Some are said to have been sold
in China.
American Stocks Sold.
The stocks Of American khaki
shirts. Army shoes and blankets, for
eign style clothing and other knick-
knacks from distant lands on the GinZa
in Toxic today are larger than they
were before the earthquake. Rice,
dried fish, daikon and other compon1 :
ents of the meal of the Japanese pros
letariat were purchased in such linn
relief continued. In the meantime,
while the plan was being discussed
with all the necessary formality. po-
tatoes. cabbages and similar perish
able stuffs rotted. One Canadian ship
load of 5000 tons of lumber, blankets
and similar donations still is reported
stored in Yokohama awaiting deliv-
cry. The Christian Science Society or
the United States is distributing XII
monos in Yokohama to japanese VINO
come for miles, one of the few foreign
relief methods which harmonic with
the native tastes.
Will Build Hospital.
From the American relief contri-
buttons, which have been stated as
high as s21,000,O00 in cash and sup
plies. a balance of more than $4,000,
COO remains. 1t has been decided to
use this for the construction and
endowment of charity hospital for
Japanese in Toxic. Opposition from
hospitals which were established be-
fore the earthquake, who scraped to-
gether emergency equipment and
struggled through those trying days
and whose facilities are now taxed to
the utmost. has failed to change that
decision. The hospitals which for
eigners established in Toxic and
Yokohama were destroyed. St
Luke'S has been reopened.
Wage Increases Small.
Work, is plentiful in Toxic. but the
faQciful stories of fabulous wages
ann exorbitant prices for living are
h{aviIy discounted by the facts. Trav-
efers tell how laborers are receiving
10 yen a day and artisans 20 yen.
Possibly several did receive such pay
on rush job for a day or a few
hours, but actual figures show a very
small increase since the earthquake,
smaller than would be expected con-
sidering that most of the workers
lost their tools, homes and personal
effects.
With it's usual thoroughness, the
government. through the police, took
a census of all workers in the en-
pfre who could CONF to the stricke
area. Some yokels were anxious to
come at even less than the former
scale of wages. Others wanted more
to leave their homes. So far few
have been brought in as the perma-
nent rebuilding has not started.
Similar government action was TAX
en- to prevent an increase in the al
ready exorbitant living costs which
even before the quake wer stran-
gllng Japan's foreign trade.
The pay rolls of a foreign contract
ing firm which would feel an in
creased wage scale before japanese
employers would, shows the compare
tive daily wage before the earth
quake and today, as follows:
Now Before
Sarpenters ............... s425 $3.7.