Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 February 1903 — A Race of Mothers. [ARTICLE]

A Race of Mothers.

The notion that the Japanese woman is a meek and slavish creature, little better than a servant in her household, is altogether a mistaken one. On the contrary, she is addressed as “Okusama,” the honorable lady of the bouse, and is treated with the greatest respect and consideration by her busband and her family. She is the mentor, the autocrat and idol of the home. In domestic affairs she has full control. Her duties are onerous, but never repugnant to her. They consist of managing the household, practicing economy, making her borne pleasant both in appearance and by her cheerfulness of disposition, and the education and instruction of her children, for even after the children have entered school they are still under her tutelage. A Japanese house Is the acme of purity. To a western eye the aspect of the Interior of a Japanese house may at first seem bare and barren. In truth, the Japanese abhor decoration of any kind, and consider It not only Inartistic, but extremely vulgar.