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Story
January 21, 1899
Martinsburg Independent
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
Description of the physical perfection of young Japanese women and children, contrasted with deformities caused by cultural practices like wearing long garments and carrying burdens, affecting gait and development from age 14 onward.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Japanese Women.
Naturally, there are no figures more perfect than those of the Japanese young women. The children, up to the age of fourteen, or as long as they have the free use of their limbs, are models of symmetry.
About that time they begin to fasten long garments about their hips, the effect of which is to impede their gait and give them an awkward shuffle. In course of time it does worse, and interrupts the development of the legs and thighs. Among the laboring class an additional mis-shaping is accomplished by the practice of carrying burdens from an early age upon their back, for the support of which broad straps are passed over the shoulder and crossed in front, pressing directly upon the breasts.
When a Japanese girl reaches the age of 16, without having undergone either of these processes of deformity, she is a wonder to the eye, and remains so until twenty-five, or possibly a little later; then she ceases to charm for a certain period in any way, excepting by her manner, and that is generally preserved to the last.
Naturally, there are no figures more perfect than those of the Japanese young women. The children, up to the age of fourteen, or as long as they have the free use of their limbs, are models of symmetry.
About that time they begin to fasten long garments about their hips, the effect of which is to impede their gait and give them an awkward shuffle. In course of time it does worse, and interrupts the development of the legs and thighs. Among the laboring class an additional mis-shaping is accomplished by the practice of carrying burdens from an early age upon their back, for the support of which broad straps are passed over the shoulder and crossed in front, pressing directly upon the breasts.
When a Japanese girl reaches the age of 16, without having undergone either of these processes of deformity, she is a wonder to the eye, and remains so until twenty-five, or possibly a little later; then she ceases to charm for a certain period in any way, excepting by her manner, and that is generally preserved to the last.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Medical Curiosity
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Japanese Women
Physical Deformity
Cultural Practices
Body Development
Laboring Class
What entities or persons were involved?
Japanese Women
Japanese Girl
Where did it happen?
Japan
Story Details
Key Persons
Japanese Women
Japanese Girl
Location
Japan
Story Details
Young Japanese children up to age 14 have perfect symmetry, but from then on, long garments impede gait and development, while laboring class girls carry burdens that deform breasts; unaffected girls remain beautiful until 25.