JAPANESE CHIVALRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10236, 19 August 1911, Page 4

JAPANESE CHIVALRY.

Mr Yoshio Markino's latest chapter in his "My Idealed John Bullcsses, in the "English Review," deals with "Suffragettes," but in reality with the women's suffrage demand generally, whether made from the constitutional or the militant point of view. He is gently ironical over the- argument that it is men's "chivalry" which prevents them from permitting women to share with them the advantages of full citizenship. As a worker in England, ho has come across many instances of the under-payment of women. " I understand," he says, "England is civilised enough to have made the law of Prevention against the Cruelty upon Animals. It is splendid. But why not Prevention against the Cruelty upon Women? In Japan men aro more really chivalrous to women than society expects them to bo." Mr Markino relates that when his married brother went out walking with his wife tho wife had to follow him, carrying tho bun lies. This was done so long as people were- in sight. " But when wo came to lonely field my brother always looked round very carefully, and would say to his wife, * 1 am so glad nobody is looking at us; give me that bundle immediately.' Then he carried the heavy burden himself. And no sooner than any people appeared above the horizon than he would shout to her. 'Bo quick! take this bundle yourself.' "Here in England I have observed men's courtesy towards women. Men would serve everything ' ladies first.' They would open the door for, ladies. They would take ladies' hands from carriages. I must say this is a most beautiful national custom. But, from the psychological point of view, aro tho men really respecting the women? I do suspect. My suspicion shall never clear off as long as such savage customs are existing—l mean the •under-pay-ment or non-voting of women."