PAST AND PRESENT. 217 



is by no means a mark of immodesty when met with 

 in a primitive, matter-of-fact way, as it is here. 

 Modesty, as we understand it, is unknown in Nipon, 

 particularly as referring to the more private habits 

 of the genus hoTiio. Virtue also, as we apply the word 

 regarding the morality of unmarried women, is equally 

 unknown amongst them. A girl in Japan is a piece 

 of goods, for pleasure or use, as the case may be ; and 

 irregularity is thought of much in the same light as 

 having a cup of tea. This is no detriment to their 

 marrying, which they do at an early age, and become 

 the most strict and faithful wives and mothers, — an 

 example in this way to their own sex generally, and 

 particularly to highly cultivated civilized nations. It 

 might be supposed that in consequence of such general 

 freedom amongst the younger women, their manners 

 would be coarse and rude. Such is not the case. No 

 people that I have ever seen have, all round, such 

 charming manners as the Japanese. Their women, 

 young and old, are always nice. I have often said 

 every woman is a lady and every man a gentleman. 

 The gentle kiadness and pretty ways of the musumees 

 have a charm which is simply captivating, and although 

 our notion of modesty is thrown aside, there is no such 

 thing as vulgarity. This word is, in fact, never applic- 



