THE LADY AT THE BACK

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1925, Page 3

THE LADY AT THE BACK

(Dorothy Foster in "Daily Mail. ’) Considering the inequality ot the divorce laws of Japan it is not surplus inir that it should be thought necessary to revise them. Hitherto they havi been one-sided to a degree. 1! poiygantv lias not actually been oiliciully recognised, it has existed after the manner practised in King Solomons menage, and however much a womai may have sull'ered iudili'crciicc. neglect . and infidelity from her lord and master. it is only in reieiit years that she has though of making any sort oi protest. Ifni the old order is rapidly rhaiigi„,r To-dav the old and picturest|iic coii'ure is replaced by bobbed or shii.g-led-hair and. a taste for athletics has caused the national costume to be replaced by the freer "foreign" or F.uropean dress. Once it was thought enough tor a Japanese woman to lie married, and she was content to be a wife and mother and to execute the domestit duties demanded ot her. I lie mb' name she bore was significant ot her seclusion—•‘O-Ku-sama." which means. ‘■The Lady at the Hack." , Very much in the laickgroiind •'■'•e remained.- a mere figurehead dainty, delicate, complaisant and .submissive. Kvcti entertaining was denied her. Im , when her husband desired to give a banquet eustom decreed that should take place at a famous teahouse. where tne duties ot hostess ueU entrustnl to smut* popular *■ l husband's life outside the home was no business of hers. ..... Among the lower cias-es also tbe iu >; had to submit absolutely to the will ot her husband. For a mere wlnni be enidd return her to her ta.mly. which she was not only <onsu..eu divorced but an object ot ''sgi*' | ‘ . contempt. The husband could at a 1 and injure her for any cause, e. imaginary, and unless acuia mu.do took place she was considered to hum no grounds for complain H » ■ thought infinitely preferable to * married and risk these doubtful connubial pleasures than to remain a spinster and so never know them at all.