show their uncovered hair and feet to the male relatives
of their husbands. On the other side, the male relatives of the
husband ought to avoid showing to the young wife the body
uncovered above the elbow or the sole of the foot, and they ought
to avoid indecent expressions and vulgar vituperations in her
presence.... That these observances are not the result of a
specially delicate modesty, is proved by the fact that even young
girls constantly twist thread upon the naked thigh, unembarrassed
by the presence of men who do not belong to the household; nor do
they show any embarrassment if a strange man comes upon them when
uncovered to the waist. The one thing which they do not like, and
at which they show anger, is that such persons look carefully at
their uncovered feet.... The former simplicity, with lack of
shame in uncovering the body, is disappearing." (Sieroshevski,
"The Yakuts," _Journal of the Anthropological Institute_,
Jan.-June, 1901, p. 93.)

"In Japan (Captain ---- tells me), the bathing-place of the women
was perfectly open (the shampooing, indeed, was done by a man),
and Englishmen were offered no obstacle, nor excited the least
repugnance; indeed, girls after their bath would freely pass,
sometimes as if holding out their hair for innocent admiration,
and this continued until countrymen of ours, by vile laughter and
jests, made them guard themselves from insult by secrecy. So
corruption spreads, and heathenism is blacker by our contact."
(Private communication.)

"Speaking once with a Japanese gentleman, I observed that we
considered it an act of indecency for men and women to wash
together. He shrugged his shoulders as he answered: 'But these
Westerns have such prurient minds!'" (Mitford, _Tales of Old
Japan_, 1871.)

Dr. Carl Davidsohn, who remarks that he had ample opportunity of
noting the great beauty of the Japanese women in a national
dance, performed naked, points out that the Japanese have no
aesthetic sense for the nude. "This was shown at the Jubilee
Exposition at Kyoto. Here, among many rooms full of art objects,
one was devoted to oil pictures in the European manner. Among
these only one represented a nude figure, a Psyche, or Truth. It
was the first time such a picture had been seen. Men and women
crowded around it. After they had gaze