Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1891 — JAPANESE WHITE WIVES. [ARTICLE]

JAPANESE WHITE WIVES.

Usually Ends to the Extreme Sorrow of tbe Wife. Cor. Indlananolis Journal. The result is that he soon begins to neglect his white wife for some of his graceful and charming little countrywomen. who are never without a smile both in their eyes and on their lips, and who understood both his waysand character to a degree beyond the comprehension of the foreign wife? ' Inasmrch as there is no Japane e synonym for the English word “chastity,” it will be readily understood that such a thing in Dai Nippon as regard for the marriage vows, or, indeed, for any sort 61 morality, is conspicuous only by its absence, especially in the case of men. In course of time the foreign wife discovers that it is useless to res sent either the neglect or the unfaithfulness of her husband, deeming herself fortunate, indeed, if he does not attempt to impose upon her the society and the residence beneath her roof of one or more native Hagars. It was only the other day that the English papers contained the sad story of a young girl of Newcastle, who had foolishly accepted an offer of marriage from a young Chinese naval officer named Ling, who had been sent to Great Britain to study gunnery. All protes's on the part of her parents were silenced by the apparent sincerity of his proses ions of attachment and by the fact that he professed to be a Christian. His mansion in China was most impressively described, and the girl’s parents were asked to picture her living in the most picturesque of Oriental luxury, amid orange groves and plants of exquisite beauty. The infatuated girl cast in her lot with the Celestial, and started with him for China. Letters of a reassuring character continued to come from the couple onthe outward voyage, but after the arrival at Shanghai, the communications became mysterious, and soon ceased altogether. At length, however, a letter was received at Newcastle, from the chief of one of the missionary station, stating that tbe girl had first been neg >■ lected, then ill-treat-'d, and finally abandoned by her Chinese husband, and that, after having given birth to a child at the mission hospital, she was on her way home to England. Of course, it will at once be pointed out that the case just mentioned is that of a Chinaman, and that the Japenese are far superior in every way. This, however, is an argument which neither I nor any one else who bas had any important dealing with members of both nationalities will admit to be correct Both Japenese and Chinese are decended from tbe same stock. They are each of them members of the Turanian or yellow race, and they possess in the main characteristics that are similar, and, indeed, identical. Any superiority which exists on the score of morality must unquestionably be awarded to the Chinese; who although less demonstrative and more reserved and distant in their relations with foreigners, are infinitely more trustworthy and more moral in every respect than the Japense. A single illustration will suffice. The word of a Chinaman in com mere al dealings is regarded by foreign merchants as being as good if not better than any bond, whereas no amount of verbal or written contracts are adequate to bind a. Japenese. Like the Chinese, and in fact, every other Asiatic race, the Japenese entertain no respect for women, whomthey regard as creatures of inferior intelligence. resembling brutes in being without a soul. Thus it is almost impossible to bring any untrain ed Japenese to comprehend the deference which the men of civilized nations pay to wotuon. The latter, in his eyes, are solely fitted to act as the servants -- nay, even as slaves—of the stronger sex. Seldom, if ever, is the wife permitted to sit at the table with her husband. no matter how high her raiilt may be,* and when admitted to hi« presence she is forced by etiquette to approach in the same manner as the domestics, namely, on all fours, with repeated prosternations. 1