A JAPANESE GIRL OF THE PERIOD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3371, 23 January 1884, Page 2

A JAPANESE GIRL OF THE PERIOD.

The Japanese have been called “The French of the East.” Pleasure is to them almost everything, and the holidays are numerous. The ladies are out on these occasions in great numbers. The toilet of a Japanese damsel is a matter of no light consideration, and to be in time for the fair she must be up and dressing long before the sun rises from the great sacred mountain. Fuji, The long, coarse tresses of ravenblack hair must be washed, combed, and greased, till the head shines like a knob of polished black marble; the cheeks must be rouged to the proper tint; the throat, neck, and bosom powdered—carefully leaving, however, on the nape of the neck, three lines of the original brown skin of the owner, in accordance with the rules of Japanese cosmetic art; the eyebrows must be carefully rounded and touched with black; the lips reddened with cherry paste, with a patch of gilding in the centre. When all this has been done, and all the layers of cloth properly adjusted, and the “ obi,” or huge sash of many colors, tied in the knot of prevailing fashion, the cleanest of white socks, and the newest of black lacquered clogs put on the feet, the belle is ready, and with the proper allowance of tobacco-pouch, pipe, and fan, she sails forth, turning her toes well in, and playing in well-affected demureness with her fan.

Her mother is likewise painted, combed, and adorned, but not a vestige of eyebrow graces her forehead, and her teeth are as black as jet, according to the rules of married women. Her father is clean shaved, his queue, or topnot, smoothly pasted on his head, and his raiment new, stiff, and shining, with the family crest embroidered on black sleeves.

In the streets, there are hundreds of neighbors, similarly decked and arrayed, bowing, scraping, paying compliments, chattering, and pattering along with their high wooden clogs, towards the pleasaunce.