WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 308, 25 June 1912, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Conducted by "Eileen.") WOMEN IN JAPAN. ' Ever since the "yoshiwara" quarter was destroyed by fire last year an agita- I tioa lias been conducted, with a becoming j degree of warmth, as to the advisability, I moral and hygienic, of the continuation of the licensing system in Japan. It is claimed by a good many people, though mostly by those who have studied abroad, that its continuance stamps Ja- > pan as one of the backward countries, ft is even claimed by the Taiyo, a leading monthly review, of Tokio, that the "decadence" of Japan is due to the system. Recently agitators on this question have been imported from Europe, and a campaign covering the whole country ha.s been indulged in. The authorities, however, do not seem to have yet ■ made up their minds to abolish the system, and so far there have been no indications of legislative action in the matter. A good deal has been done in, recent years to lighten the lot of the women concerned, including the legislative abolition of the conditions of practical servitude in which they formerly lived. No girl can now be condemned to life in the yoshiwara except by her own fconsent. On the other hand, so long as the influence of the family reigns supreme, it is probable that little really effectual reform can be made, as the following incident proves:— A few weeks ago an American firm trading in Tokio found that one of 'their collectors, a Japanese, aged 22, had embezzled some 1400 yen. Unwilling to send the young man to prison, they gave him three days to refund the money. On the appointed hour the culprit arrived at the office, accompanied by the elders of his family; The father then said; that for the moment they could only see their way to raise 90 yen, but that if the firm would take that amount down, within a few months they hoped to be able to pay the rest. Further details were then given, and from these it appeared that the family proposed to sell two of the oulprit's sisters to the proprietor of a licensed house for 000 yen; there was also a third sister, but as she was still a few months under the legal age they would have to wait for the balance of the money. The managing director of the firm pointed out forcibly that it would be far better for the young ■ man to go to prison than for his sisters to be thus sold, and in prison he is at the present moment.

A "REST CIIKE." A dancing class is the latest "rest cure" in Paris. It sounds like a paradox, but tfie explanation is simple. The argument (says a writer in the Queen) is that we all live at a strain, and bo wear ourselves out, whereas if we "let go" more we should be stronger, and more kble to meet difficulties. Most people are brought up to "brace themselves for an effort. The new method says not; it teaches accommodation, harmony, pliancy and concentration, all of which things are extremely restful, and (a point which is very convenient) they can be practised anywhere at any hour of the day. They teach how to sit down Without any fuss or unnecessary movement; how to get up in the same way; how to stand so as to be at rest; and, above all, how to breathe so as to keep the circulation in good order. Repose of • movement means grace, rest and health, and in these nervous times we all need as much help as we can get to reach these things.

JAPANESE WOMEN AND POLITICS;] A Bill to amend the existing police I regulations law was recently introduced into the Japanese Diet (says Reuter's Tokio correspondent), with the object of removing the prohibition against women and young men of tender age attending and participating in political meetings. Mr. Hino, the "father" of the Bill, strenuously combated opposition to the Bill, and said that the women of Japan were in no way like the "impudent hussies of Europe and America," a declaration that was received witih prolonged applause. The women in Japan, in his opinion, were docile and temperate. Aonther member, speaking in support of the Bill, said that the present regulations were framed against political agitators at the time of the Saigo rebellion, and under them women were classed lis, "burglars, incendiaries, rascals and Liberals." Despite these telling arguments', the House rejected the Bill.

• NO SABLES FOR THREE YEARS. The Russian Parliament has just passed a Bill prohibiting sahle-hunting for three, years, and making it illegal even to keep sables in stock. The reason is the rapid disappearance of the sable from Russia. Some 15 years ago about 100,000 sable skins were brought yearly to Irbit, the great Russian fair for the sale of sables. This year there were only 12,500 gkins. The price for the best Bargouzin eables—about £4O per skin—will be a great temptation to trappers to evade the law.

A HEROIC WOMAN There has just died at Toulouse a woman whose heroism in a moment of peril obtained for her national fame. This was Mme. Emerat, who in 1858 was living at Jeddah, with her father, M. Eveillard, French Consul at that place. On June 15, in an outburst of fanatical fury, a band of Mussulmans attacked both the French and English Consulates. M. and Mme. Eveillard were -killed before the eyes of their daughter, who, without los-. 'ing'courage, organised a resistance with the aid of the dragoman, M. Emerat, and with 25 other Christians who had sought shelter in the building, held out against the Mussulmans for two days. When the bluejackets from the British warship Cyclops landed and dispersed the assailants, they found the gallant little garrison in dire straits. Nearly all the defenders had been killed. M. Emerat was seriously wounded, and Mile. Eveillard was about to be taken prisoner. On returning to France Mile. Eveillard was presented to Xapoleon ill., who warmly complimented her on her bravery, and she was voted a reward by the nation. Mile. Eveillard afterwards married M. Emerat, who was appointed French Consul at Tauris, in Persi*,.

A WOMAN FARMER. Miss Georgina Clark, who was one of the first women in Canada to demonstrate that women are capable of managing farms successfully, is to-day the owner of 330 acres in the province of Saskatchewan, which at the end of the fourth season returned a cent per cent, profit. Mis 3 Clark ploughs her own land and combines a practical knowledge of scientific farming with her capabilities as a good housewife. Except at seed-Lime and harvest, when the employment of a laborer or two is a necessity, the entire work of the farm is carried on by herself, with the help of her three women pupils. Her great idea is that women should vary their enterprises more than they do, and not be content with merely earning wages, but should endeavor to make money independently as well. Such time as she can spare from her farm labors she devotes to literature, and bas Afritten several book*.