The loveless marriages, in which go-betweens figure.' more than the principals, which is the generally accepted "view of wed: Jock in Japan and in which core-many and gaudy clothes mark the first' chapter' of married life and the end of romance in the greatest adventure of one's. life, are becoming fast extinct Japan toxlay. Go-betweens still have their part to do, but, the young man" or the marriage-seeking Ins gives the go-between sufficient. knowledge to. tell on Sham affection has been centred. This is the case in the cities to large extent, though in. the countryside the prosaic and love. Jess arranged marriages" sys. tem is stil the cogue.
The sweep of Western customs im the cities has brought. about the death of the system whereby children are betrothed in their fancy and parental. and. family commands compel them to obe the arrangements made by their elders. fu fact, many a Japanese 1 marriage with the young man selected for her without her consent or hor knowledge, which appears to be doomed in'advance to overwhelm, ing defeat by a combination of the leading parties and factions. Exactly when the couple-grace will be delivered has not yet, been decided, but a vote on m resolu. tion of lack of confidence will be reached after the Imperial wed. ding on January 26, 5 Throughout the past week Viscount Kiyoura and hie followers successfully split the Seiyukai seceded and ongarized a new Party, over 100 members of Which party called the "'Shinsei,"" which 4 expected ta muster equal to the remaining Sclyukai- strength. But the Kenseikai and other parties are able to muster about 170 which, it is confidently ox. pected, will be the minimum majority on the vote of lack of confidence, Some political wiseacres pro-diet that the Premier will retort to dissolution before the vote. is reached.—Rotter's Pasifio Service Tokio, Jan, 23, As a result of an emergency meeting to-day, the leaders of the Seiyukai Party have decided to resign en bloc and have tendered their resignation to. Viscount Takahashi, President of the Party.—Eastern Nows Agency, Tne officer to succeed Major-Gen, Sir Neill Malcolm, when he retires from the command of the Straity Settlements early in the year, is Gen, James Ronald Ed-monsoon Charles, -08,. cad, DSO, RE, says a Singapore paper.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.