The boy travellers in the Far East : adventures of two youths ... - Library

FEMININE CUSTOMS IN JAPAN. 205
Doctor Bi'onson explained that it was done by means of a black paint
or varnisli, peculiar to Japan. The paint was robbed on the teeth with a
rag or stiff brush, and made the gums very sore at first. It remained
quite bright and distinct for tlie first few days, l)ut in the eonrse of a
week it faded, and by the end of ten or twelve days a renewal was neces-
sary. If left to itself, the coloring would disappear altogether within a
month fronr the time of its application.
Frank wished to know if the women were desirous of liaving the custom
abolished, but on this point it was not easy for him to obtain jjrecise
information. The Doctor thought it was a matter of individual ratlier
than of general preference, and that the views of the women were largely
influenced by those of their huslninds. "The Japanese wives," said he,
" are like the wives of most other countries, and generally wish to do ac-
cording to the tastes and desires of their husbands. As you grow older
you will find that the women of all lands endeavor to suit their modes of
dressing and adornment to the wisiies of the men with whom they come
mostly in contact ; of course, there are individual exceptions, but they do
not weaken the force of the general rule. In America as in England, in
China as in Japan, in India as in Peru, it is the fancy of the men that
governs the dress and personal decoration of tlie other half of the race. As
long as it was the fashion to blacken the teeth in this countrj^, the women
did it without a murmur ; but as soon as the men showed a willingness
for them to discontinue the practice, and especially when that willingness
became a desire, they began to discontinue it. Twenty years from this
time, I imagine, the women with blackened teeth will be less numerous
than those at present with white ones.
" The abandonment of the custom began in the open ports, and is
spreading through the country. It will spread in exactly the same ratio
as Japan adopts other customs and waj's of the rest of the world ;
and as
fast as she takes on our Western civilization, just so fast will she drop
such of her forms as are antagonistic to it.''
The party rested a portion of a day at Hakone, and then went on their
wa3^ Travelling by cango had become so wearisome that they engaged a
horse-train for a part of the way, and had themselves and their baggage
carried on the backs of Japanese steeds. They found this an improvement
on the old plan, though the horses were rather more unruly than tlie cango
coolies, and frequently made a serious disturbance. Occasionally, wlien
the train was ready to start, the beasts would indulge in a general kicking-
match all aronnd, to the great detriment of their burdens, whether ani-
mate or otherwise. The best and gentlest horses had been selected for