WEDNESDAY. JULY 27, 1904.

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1052, 28 July 1904, Page 2

WEDNESDAY. JULY 27, 1904.

ThoSB who have watched the progress of Japan in the last ten years hold the opinion that the adoption by the famous little conntry of Western ideas of civilisation will bo followed by the adoption also of an up-to-date religion,and that in time to corao it will bo run as a State Church Christianity. IJut there is 0110 hindrance that is overlooked by those who prophesy that some day Japan will be as Christian as ourselves. Thai hindrance is woman's rights. By a series of bounds tho Jap has evolved quickly from a cypher in the world to a status that is making us alj envious; but the .Japaneso woman is the same to-day as she always was, Her lot in Japan from the highest to the humblest classes is hard, and seemingly hopeless. Yet, says Douglas Sladeu, who is one of the few that have noted the paradox, she is the gentlest and most faultless of her sex. She asks nothing, she expects nothing; she is the incarnation of the spirit of loyalty which makes the Japanese soldier the bravest of the-brave. Her duties begin early, though she is the latest weaned of the human raco. Hardly lias she left her mother's breast before slio may bo called upon to carry tho next baby like a knapsack on her back. She has a happy childhood, though before it is over she has been taught more etiquette than moft Lord Chamberlains, and though her lifo grows increasingly solemn from the day of her birth. The married woman becomes sad in her costume, and the widow is expected to look more like a crow on a barndoor every year. The ambition of a Japanese woman is to becorao the mother-in-law of another woman, for as a mere mother she enjoys 110 consideration at all till sho is too old to have any of her husband's relations older than herself. Any relativo of the household exceeding hor in age is her director, oven tyrant. Sh# has not oven the consolation of religion, for it is deemed unwomanly 11 to go to temples" till past <lO. ''Going to Temples" in Japan is similar to the "outings" to which all Western girls are accustomed in town or country, Up to llj years the Japanese girl has little nleasure, if sho bo not married before, Thereafter, sho must stay at home, mind the babies, obey hor mother-in-law, and he the slavo of her husband. She has to inarry as directed, and as a matter of course, she has no say in the se. lection of the husband. Mr Siaden says it must try even tho stoicism of tho Japaneso woman to abandon all pleasure at sixteen; to become maidof.all'Work to a husband and any parents and grandparents and elder brothers' wives he may have, ail packed into the bee-hive accommodation of a Jananese house. Hut she submits as a matter of comw, The Japaneso have banded down from the Middle Ages a wone'erful code of morals,entitled "Greater Learning for Women." Therein a woman's lot is summed up in tho three obediences—obedience, when ~.j( i-i,r obedience, v en married, to her husband and tiio elders of iris family, and obedience when widowed to her son. A Japanese woman, if th« it th« gr«at-

est lady in Iho land, is in theory expected to l)o her husband's valet and her husband's tailor. Any nwrvioo which touches hiH person or the article ho Wears it is her privilege to keep to herself, and slit! is only supposed to delegate such duties asihe liasnol the physical strength to porform. In [jractico this is, of course, modified. When she and her husband go out, she walks at a dog's pace behind him, a relic of the good old days when it was the fushum for youv enemies to stub you in the back if Iheio was no one, [ watching But it is the unwritten law in Japan that a lady in European dress must be treated liko a European lady, and it faithfully obseived, nt all events in public. There is» only otus absolute essential about a Japanese wife, and that is that she should not bo educated. For the man reasons litis way: If she is "duated, though she may do for a wile on the European plan, to a Japanese she cannot be a Japanese wife,"for the Japanese wife is not allowed to have a mind, or al least is not allowed to exercise it, which comes to the same thing, If she had been educated, how can she put up with the life of making and mending, and brushing her hnsband's chi'lies; getting him his tea before he gels up; washing the clothes without soap, and ironing them without irons: and staying away from her church, the temples, until she is forty or frightful." The rights of women aro the hindrance in Japan to the practice of Christianity as we understand it, with its uplifting and exalting of "the sex." Imagine a "women's rights" crusade in Japan ; would a life insurance office take a risk on its members?

By a loferenco to tlio Northern Steam Shipping Company's advertisement it will bo seen that an alteration has been effected in llic timo table. Tho Wainiiirio leaves Pucro?, on Sunday next at 10 a,m„ and not- 011 Saturday as previously stated. Mr. W, .T, Speight, Auckland Diatrif i M lunger of the Government Life curanco Otlico, lias just paid us a rijinij visit, lie loaves again this nfteri.. ■ fo. Auckland,

Thii Qhinetnuri No. 311 V. w' l: tc on Baturdiy nest tor the lirat rou.ia nl -i competition (or a cruet stand presented by tlio Norihern Steamship Companyranges 500 and 700 yatds, 10 shots at each, Handicaps will appear in to.mor* row's issue. In tho written explanation o( his position Imnded iniit a Dmicdin hankiupicy moiling, tho banknv stated that when tho mining boom started ho invested in a Inrgo number of companies, nnd was fortunate enough to have shares in shout forty concerns, a'l of which were such absohito failures that they wont into liquidation without oven putting dredges on their claims. Some paspalnm g.'nss, lately introduced ill Australia from Bolivia. South Amorics, is giving woudeiful results on poor land. At lliiwlttsbury State l'arm. Now South Wales, in ono aroa ot second-class land, the grass sown last July gavo 18 tons to tlio acre, followed by another of 13, a third of 10, and a fourth of something less to the aero,

Tlio Presbyteriau Church social, in connection with which is a sale of work, also a gw.ssing competition for a handsome gold bracelet and a ladies' umbrella, will bo held to-night in Meyer's Hull. The guessing competition will close at 9 o'clock, Refreshments ami varied cntertiinmonl will bo provided. Admission lor adults Is, and fid for children. Speaking at the annual dinner of the North Otago Mounted Rifles, Colonol liobin said tlmt tho eountry had never required Roldisrs and men trained for soldiering more than at tho present time, It was the boimden dut> of eveiy man who had tho opportunity of seeing a little service to do whit ho could to promote volunteering. Mr Wnrdon Bush, in the courso of hearing a timber uisputo yesterday, mado it very clear that any person posseased of a permit to cut limber, must during tho currency of tint permit cut and removo the timber, and that if tho period (throo months) of the pormit expired beforo all the timber was taken out of tho bush, the party or parties should got in oxtensiou of timo from tho Court. Otherwise tho timber could bo applied for by another party, and tho original applicant would lost it, It is authoritatively slated that Goneral Kuropatkin his issued, or is about to issue, a goneral army order directing that all commissioned oJlicers ui the front shall forthwith adopt a uniform so cloaoly ro>Bembling that of the private soldier as to be almost indistinguishable from him. Tho reason for this special instruction is furnished by tho extraordinary number of casualties among tho Russian oilicors on the Yalu, It Ims been shown that the kileil and wounded officers at Turciiclieiig find Kiulienclicng wore nearly all struck by several Japanoso riflo bulls,

Thollivorton Star states that Mr. John Thomson, who recently won a wager by currying a bug ol oats a long distance, afterwards challenged Mr, James Dudlield lo a poUlO'picking match-viz,, who could (ili tho most bags, lit for markot, in an hour, Thomson handicapping himself by one bag. Tho but was £5, and the seeno oi operation! was in a crop giving 15 tons to tho acre, At the tenth bag Thomson could soe that it was going to bo a tough contest, so ho gave in to lus op poiunl, who lillod 11 bags, ono being iilled in the record timo for Southland —viz., 2irin 7sec.

A farewell function, which took the form of a dunce, oreauisod by some of Mm, W. H. Phillips' more iutimato Wnihi friends, was held in tho Acadomy of Music last night, It wtis a representative gathering, nmnboring over iiiO people, and tho dancing and gonornl oiuortaimncut provided was thoroughly enjoyed by all, The first dance on the programme was led off by tho jjucst of tho ovening and His Worship tho Mayor, Mr. Thomas Gilmour, In tho course of tho evening Mr. A. 11, Bongo, on bohalf of tho lady promoters, referred in a lengthy and eulogistic sponjh to Mrs. Phillips many good qualities, and to her generosity in all matters pertaining to charity. Ho also referred to her willingness at all times to assist in the organisation aud eatrying through of functions for tho bonelit of deserving objects, He regretted Mr. and Mrs. Phillips' departure, and said that though it was only for a comparatively short period, boili would be generally missrd. He trusted that Mr. Phillips would return to Wailii restored to health, Mr. Phillips, in responding on behalf of Mrs, Phillips, thanked tho ludits most heartily for their kindness and consuloration. Whatever Mrs, l'liillips' ussistj auco had been in tho past, ho hoped that i on thcii return sho would be able to do more, lie himself was looking forward to being beni'lited by tho trip, and tniited J that on their return, in six mouth's limn, j liif health would be such as to permit, of j his taking his full slmro of tlio vieponr.i ■ j bilitics of a citizen. (Applause). The i evoniug was brought to a close at 1.30 a.m. by tho musicians. Miss Foit/or (piann) and Mr. Von Hotter (piccolo) playing " Auld L»ng Sj'us," 1

His Worship tlio Mayor and Councillors will welcome the Auck'and Association football team nt 12 i) 0 oil Saturday on their arrival nt Wailii. Miss Holo, a recent at rival from tilngand, notiliea that she hits oponcd a dressi mnkor's business in roonn in Main-street opposite the New Zealand Clothing Fuci tory.

Mrs. Malcolm announces by mi fldverl- - appearing olsovvhnro that she is holding a private aalo this week of iho whole ot hfr furniture and general household effects, The sale will commence straight away nt her residoncein Watttovstreet. In its description of the first performance of tho Maori opera " Tapu," tlio Sydney Telegraph says; It nfl'ordod some amineincut to see ilio players of Mr. Williamson's company trying to rub noses. Naturo const'.'nctcl the Maori nose for the purpose, enabling it; to "dwell," but. tlio efforts of tlio pakclms, who liavo ft uiuclt plossantor way of performing the universally popular coremony of kissing, usually resulted in a brisk cannon on to the kiss, Mr. J. Grant, formerly adjutant, in charge of the Auckland District Volunteers, and well-known in Wailii and the Tlinmoj Goldfields, intimates tlmt having taken ovor tlio Salutation Hotel, Thames, be will be glad to see bis old fricii's nf Wailii and tlio Ohinomnri district, He notifies that ho stocks no'liing but tlio best brands of wine and spirits, and draws particular attention to selling Speight's draught nlo. Major Kenrick rccoived this morning through the post tlio Government silver modal won by Corporal John Cornet, of the No. il OMiiomtiri Biflo'Volunteers, for tho best shooting in Auckland district for 1!)0;S"4. Private J. Parslow. of tho same company, was tho successful pompetilor in last year's match. Tho medal, which has been shown lis, is massive. On tho [fico nppmrs nn embossed tiguro in kneeling position holding a rille in its hands, and on the back an appropriate inscription. Tho following aro Iho teams choten for tho Australian football match to bo played on Saturday; -Auckland: Hemus, Birch, McTCeon, Lore, Broese, Dwiglit, Hobday, Hay, Hino, Aylos, Sandford, Tongue, Griffiths, Callinan, Gary, McdoU, Morrison, Foster; emergencies, Blair, Iloget, Montaguo. Wailii: Higgins, Donouglme, Poults, Swar.n, Woodward, Morrison, i t'uener, M'Coll, Leith Armstrong (it), I Host, Wright, Keen. Mills, Campbell, ' Cooper; emergencies, Mario,White, Sibly.

Mr. George T. Jackson, who reived the greator portion of his mining educai tion ar tho Wnihi School of Mines, under Mr. P, G. Morgan, director, has accepted an nppnintniont with the Nile Goldmining Company, Egypt. He has been employed in tho Waihi Goldmining Cnin-> pany's initio and buttery for tho past four or five years. Mr. Jackson leaves on or about Saturday nest. Mr Norman While, who left Wnihi about two yoars ago, has an important appointment with the same Company. Wo are pleased to hoar that Mr, E Shaw, who was so severely injured by an explosion at Mucktiylown lust \rcck, in progressing very favourably at the Thames IlosnUal, awl that his sight will bo saved, At one tiuio thero wero doubts about savMip his sight, lis ho v/ns so severely cut and burned about the face that fears wero entertained that erysipelas would set in, and in that easo nothing could have saved his eyes. Thanks, however, to his comporato habits and a good constitution, that calamity lias been averted, though ho will bo much disfigured.

When our legislators passed tho law malting it possible for Post Ollice officials to tie the nuptial knot, tliey could not havo hit 1 ' any idea (hat members of tho fair sex in the postal service would oyer bo called upon to perform such a work, Yet this is sometimes tlono in tho imulloi' towns of tho colony where postmistreeaes hold command. In South Taranaki tho other day (says tho Waimato Witness) a young lady bad an experience of the kind. And ehe did not like it. Tho responsibility was too much for her, She informed the smiling pair that woro wishing her to legally join them that she would bo much bettor plsased ifidiey could see their way clear to got "switched up" at more experienced hands, but tlioy woro not to bo put off in this fashion, and assured her that they did not euro if din bhmdorcd, so long as thoj got tho certificate, Thojoungpoitmistrcss, at this, went through the formality, but she has aincn been so ovorburdoned with tho seuso of her doings that she has do* tormined to loare tho service at no distant date and take on matriiuojy herself, but not tho kind served out by Post Office officials,