SATURDAY, JANUARY
12, 1918.
TILE W. A. RECORD.
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Japanese Women of the Present Day By Kiyo Iwashita.
with men, the empire, are an example of those who suggest "creeping like snails unwilling- a complete equality Japanese women have many barriers have trampled down all the barriers ly to school." and are pursuing their desired aim. For girls of the middle and higher to pass through. caa by the b'ood of martyrs, the country These "New Women" declare that The question, whether a womandiscus schools, at secondary are there classes, homage pay is still under to came whence envoys every big town, which they ought to be as free as those of take her degree sion. to the universal Father of Christendom, least one anin eleven forced therefore and countries, western Alcourse. years' provide of woman The difficulties of a Japanese shut its gates once more at the end the first six years alone are marriages should be illegal. They are fact that the 17th century, allowing no further though the pioneers of the revolution that is are further increased by themelancholy no parents ever dream of temperament is more her intercourse with any European coun- compulsory, begun. already has or perhaps before the at hand, their children withdrawing was She is very sensitive, try. While the Western World It They may have begun well, but few than sanguine.may of the whole course. show little of this although she busy with controversy, while many completion life if the seem to have ended well. Liberty withfor dishonour a be would natural monarchs rose and fell, while revoluNone out law, freedom without restraint, outwardly. Therefore, it is only middle. the stop in to were child tions raged in the countries of Europe, but invalids, idiots, or morally deprav- principle resting on sentiment, are not that seeing the apparent triumphs of she developing civilisation, side of retreat, in the material to remained is Japan children, who cannot be associated the basis on which true happiness child- should sometimes feel the want of within the bounds of her narrow self ed be founded. They are like foolish for the are exempted others, with the now just on a something better, especially until some fifty years ago, when training, and the first question ren who try to cross the ocean American Commodore Pelly broke school raft, trusting only to a feeble oar. The when the first excitement is dying out asked about a young girl entering into de- and changes which were novel enough has into her seclusion. tempest and the has risen wind society is, ''at what school has she have On coming forth from her retirescended upon them, they have been to absorb everyone's attention A question which not ingraduated?" behind of settled down into a steady condition. far sea the scattered far and wide, and ment, Japan found herself her future. decides frequently They life has swallowed them up. the other countries with whom she inThe Teaching of Christ. School Life and Home Life. thought that they had triumphed and tended to enter into competition. To To those who thirsted after knowsubthe years, long than those not During their desired freedom, had obtained make up for the delay of more ledge and truth, the teaching of Christ ' two centuries was a hard task, and she jests taught are nearly the same as knowing tars they were merely the came like dew upon the parched girls slaves of assion. The Gospel of light and took a bold and radical step, opening in European schools. Boys and occaground. Yet thiPaigh they themselves have warmth alone could penetrate the dark her gates and welcoming every kind of are never taught together except elementary of early years to in sionally lesson content a given not have period, they one At failed, where they stood. Some valley cold and civilisation. are those who stood on the shore and have already rallied around the miswith adaptation, she went so far as to schools. But all the sciences which girls to taught also in boys are to already are European. given There watched them. imitate and copy everything sioners to lead themselves a semi -miswith the necessary accomplishments Japan married ladies with large famil- sionary life. These are known as 'Bible Men, women, and children dressed and sewing as ies whose spirit is wholly in sympathy Women," and their ways are unique, themselves as Europeans and tried to for her future life, such differ- with the forward movement and who whether they profess the Anglican or be European in all their actions, for cooking. There is practically no by a arenew strivingldeals to combine the old and the Presbyterian belief. No doubt their they thought nothing but what came ence between the life spent from the Western World could be European girl and by a Japanese until hearts are sincere and honest, but are The limited number of occupations where is the true ideal of womanly good. Naturally the reaction came, but she is seventeen. Even her games-ball, basket which custom permits to a Japanese purity and modesty to be found save though it was strong enough to check quite European: tennis, will be ad is another course of difficulty. Up in that spotless Virgin Mother whom outward imitation, it could not stop running and jumping, she her soon sister in to -now, as in all the pagan countries. the Catholic Church sets before her the flood of thought already so widely able to play matches with system her position The Bible osition in social life has not been as their model? infused. Daily and hourly, the new the West. The boarding -school as family very high. It would not be too much children Women are often looked down upon, ideas of liberty, freedom, etc., are gain- alone has not yet come inin,Japan. And predominant silently life is still more regarded of their tide the has been account she on as saytothat especially by men, ing ground even And as the if her after life had undergone the as a servan't than a companion. Till roughness of manner and speech, for creeps upon the shore. early the as of change lies same amount 7aomr%eyseaars waffoe, haesvennot now in some modesty is the virtue most esteemed waves wash over every object that be taken meals by the Japanese. in their way, so do the new ideas flood part, there would, most probably, trouble with her husband, still less does she Thus the standard of rebellion every mind. Not only the men whose nothing of the discontent and day. find her place at a dinner offered to against the old tradition has been business it is to look forward, but the which are growing stronger everywoman Japanese the why grasp To A Japanese change. house. the of the felt have visitors the raised, not only in pagan quarters but women, too, day is on the way to re- husband prefers that his wife should also among non-Catholic Christians. Although the influence took effect on of the present understood first be must it rather the them more slowly, it may safely be bellion,her marriage is arranged, and be at home with the children famous Catholics alone have' not joinedhigher The than accompany him. movement, for to them life has a said that the change is more marked how are her pursuits in mar- letter of Sir Honda to his wife from meaning, and the Catholic Faith what secondly, for Compare, men. in than women in the battlefield, which for many years teaches them to submit in all things as instance, a woman of fifty years ago ried life. In Japan, as soon as a girl's school has been held as the model letter of a far as possible. To the outward world with one of the present day: one could beeven finished-in rare cases knight, summarises her position well. they seem as if asleep, and some have hardly believe them to be mother and life is more frequently after a year or He wrote: "Do not let Osen (the name thought that they will sleep eternally, fore; child. Yet the woman of to -day is only learning home at spent quietly two means no by of their child) cry, feed the horses." is goal for "Are they not old-fashioned people on the way, the engulfed in superstition?" But the arreached. The girl who left school last A Woman's Work in the Home. is sewing-she and -making tea flowers, conyear finds herself behind this year's To mind the babies, to provide the rival of the Papal Delegatehis tocoronashe wishes it or not. the food are gratulate the Emperor on "graduates," and next year's will have married whether after to look and clothing the better among Marriages, especially outstripped those of to -day. occupations permitted to tion was like a triumphant entry of classes, are still often arranged as they the only women. These, no doubt, are Catholicism into the capital. The great Japanese What Does the Change Mean? were formerly in Europe, by the parand duties of a wife, not in honour paid to the ambassador,escort, Is the change for better or for worse? eats only. It is not very unusual for a the necessary but all over the world. A the royal guard which was his No definite answer can be given, but girl to know nothing of the man who Japan alone, gentleA greatly. crowd however, whose mind astonished the to describe the change in a few words is to be her life-long companion or of Japanese girl, a University educabecoming his character until her wedding day. has been developed on modern lines, man who had hadwith -the Japanese woman is West. amazement: "I more than merely to tion exclaimed something wants As This is considered a matter of small more like her sister of the the Pope was only a curio of thought She day long. all needlework her at sit forward, pushes long as the latter moment, for to be married is the point; a real companion to her the Middle Ages!" Silently and unosEastern women will follow in their careers for unmarried women do not wants to be to share all that tentatiously the Catholicism which was wake, passing in their turn through enter into Japanese thought. Naturally husband. She wants him. She thought to be asleep has been spreadtroubles and him interests daughthe same stages. Slowly parents are anxious that their a more active part in ing throughout the pagan land. to take wants late. sooner is too it comes, before there marry country should every ters fire it In work. There are already some wo- but steadil'- like the hidden empire, or later, a time when woman takes a A girl has scarcely begun to realise his whole the enkindle during one day In Japan the what life is when she has in her hand men in Japan who go roundvotes definite step forward. for changing darkness into light. time of election to secure moment has come, but as it is the 20th what is considered to be its solution, the There are already a few Japanese means no by These husbands. their century her step is directed by the its object and its end. She must of the women who are establishing true Cathbut duties, household their neglect has is she as she whether and necessity resign herself spirit of the age. Moreover, does not as yet commend them. olic homes like that of Nazareth, begun late, she is taking a much longer inclined to do so or not, otherwise she publicas a rule, the old generation look who are striving with patience and Chrisof a ideal step than her sisters took in their time, cannot be happy-her youth in this And, the to realise prudence on them with serious disapproval. and to keep pace with them, she is respect is an advantage. girls who are fresh from tian woman. A few have also followed often obliged to run. Now to a Japanese girl of the pre- Japanese the call of the Divine Master, and are school are full of high ideas in accord With regard to the system of her sent day, whose education has been on ance with the spirit with which they leading a religious life so strange to the They training, it would not be too much to completely modern lines with all have been imbued by the education Japanese idea about woman. say that no country has ever witnessed modern ideas of liberty and freedom, they have received curing eleven years. have escaped public notice because of and who sees, hears, and reads of a Therefore, the kind of life they see all their humility and poverty, though so complete a change within so short a time. Before the Restoration, that freer kind of choice, this forced mar- around them-a life with needles and each one individually must have fought riage seems to be out of harmony with flowers, with no reading and no intel- her way to the desired end through is, before 1867, the education of a Japanese girl consisted simply in writ- her aspirations. It is possible that girls lectual activity, seems to them like a many oppositions. The time is now at both ing, the reading of a few classics, of pre -Restoration times may have felt cage where they cannot exercise their hand when Catholics must come forChinese and Japanese, and the study this in some degree, such things are It ward to stand in the ranks of those acquired. just have they wings of poetry and of music. There was not not uncommon; but in the old days seems to them as if all the doors that who fight for a better condition. But a single school where girls could be they were not so enlightened and were opened to a fair horizon were closed, it will not be under the standard of taught in common. They seldom set checked by the stern discipline of the all were dreams, and on waking they rebellion that they will stand, but but foot in the street, and scarcely left stoic "Bushido." Moreover, they could found themselves still in the old and under that of truth, for nothing their houses except in a carriage with at least find consolation in the thought dull valley whose charms are no longer the faith of Christ can bring peace to must Yet strife nation. closed blinds. Such a sight as young that they were not alone in their diffi- charms but childish tricks to them. struggling the people of good family walking in the culties, it was the common lot of all. There are hundreds of young girls come before peace can be secured. street or even riding together would But now they see a different condition who long to go on with their studies, Happy are they who fall fighting in But of things all around them; even at have roused much comment. or at least to remain on the height to this battle, for they are neither victims when the new order of things was intro- home in Japan a few of their compan- which they have attained, for know - of passion nor of the world, but a was excitement and knows how first the choice, a duced and ions have been allowed ledge is as sweet to them as the first sacrifice offered to One who over, people began to consider how they feel that they must struggle to glory in war to men. But there are still to reward them for all that they have and best to provide for the future, obtain it at any cost. But they meet many who despise science and consider given up for Him. every child from six years old and up- with the strongest opposition, especi- it presumptuous for girls to wish to It is a moment for the Catholic wards was called upon to attend school. ally from grandmothers and mothers, attain it. They are contented to let women of all countries to pray for the the for in the Far East, No exception was made either whose sole wish, indeed, is the happithe young read and learn as long as cause of their sisters be hard indeed. It rich or for the poor. ness of their children who, they think, they are at school, for that is the duty for the struggle willold traditions alone the Education, although obligatory only are going the wrong way to secure it. against not is of graduation of everyone, but the day woman in Japan has at six, might be begun at three. There The New Woman. must also be the day of death and that the Catholic day. To her present the are many kindergartens in Japan (in at to fight These circumstances, the fast dying burial of studies. "What is the use of it is given to uphold the Truth against fact almost all the large schools have a you cannot even make when reading "Bushido" spirit of vigourous the of out where and of athekindergarten attached to them), your own 'kimonos' or look after the the spirit of materialism in its iron grip boys and girls of from three to six which held the passions ism that has crept in with the new "What generation. old the say babies?" to replace something of want the and years old are taught how to play, to which threatens to spread with the new ideas of the is thy; good of fiddling with triangles learning and miasma over the whole sing, to be polite, and to make paper it, together have created a type of and squares when you do not know like an evil flowers and birds. Most of the parents 20th century, nation. on an accounts your up make to how These, woman." "new the called who can afford it send their children woman sisters in other countries, abacus?" What can the young people to these schools for half the day, so like their To MUNICIPAL BATHS, COTTESLOE. claim "women's rights," but whether reply to these reasonable demands? that they may associate with others. any better than their escape such reproaches and pursue For the poor there are elementary they understand Spend your Holidays in the Briny at the is bright, and fair so what a woman's rights what seems and Best Beach in schools all over the empire. In every Western sisters object of many; some try it one way, Cottesloe, the Safest where is an open question. They you can get Australia, village and hamlet, one meets very reallyin are, Western in in another. The three women others alkind of suffragette, a short, are, girls and early in the morning, boys University of Tokoku, the sole in- all Comfort, also hire all Bathing the in far go so not yet they do though hurrying hands their in with books stance of women students in the whole Requisites at the Municipal Baths. Before they can claim along in a way that does not at all their methods.
The land upon which
the sun of
truth once shone, the soil once bedewed
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