Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-06-01
WOMEN IN cRYLoN.


been opened In the Bombay Presidency. At
Ahmedabad native gentlemen founded two
girls schools on a munifcent scale.
WOMEN IN oEYLoN.
As to Ceylon, IL is important to bear in
mind one fact. "Indias utmost isle" has
alW avs been under the rule of the Colonial
Office. This fact is the key to the present
condition Of that magnificent
It's institutions, the eompsra-
lively enlightened condition Of its popula-
ton, and its material prosperity, are all rem
dered intelligible by this one fact. Ceylon
has enjoyed an advantage which India never
possessed--the direct and continuous infu-
ence of the Christian opinion of England
and this difference between the two coun-
tries affords the true explanation of almost
every other. When the Central School
Commission was organized, in lS4l, it was
estimated that the island contained about
two hundred and thirty thousand children,
two thousand of whom were found in exist
ing Government schools. The Commission
consisted Of nine membeIsj FIVE were Gov
ernment officials, and the rest were an
Episcopal clergyman, Presbyterian, min
lister, Romish priest, and a missionary
from one of the five Protestant societies
having establishments in the colony.
: OF this body the Bishop Of Colombo, DR..
Chapman, was for some time President: an
Office which he suddenly resigned because
the Governor appointed 8 Wesleyan mission
ary to the post OF Headmsster of the Co.
lombO Central School. The commission had
to gfope its way, for this painful reason, that
it as blind to the real wants Of the coQn-
Try. The fifth clause of its constitution re-
stTicts its labors to "the education in the En-
glish language of their fellow-subjects of all
religions opinions in the colonyi" and in
the seventh clause It is declared that "the
general education Of the whole population is
The duty of the commission" Strange as it
may sound it is, nevertheless, literally true,
ssas t5at ..hhe Governor of Ceylon proposed, and
the Secretary for the Colonies approved, a
scheme by which the soft and mellifiuous
vernscnlars were to be virtually suppressed,
and the whole population to be educated, IL
educated by the Government at all, in the
English language We have given dates
which obviates the necessity ofgiving names.
.t 81 kNGL1sH BNTBRPR1sEs.
The schools of the Commission entirely
failed in Jaffna. The teachers could not
hold their ground against the missionary
establishments of the American, Wesleyan
and Church Of England Socisties. In lS45
the Secretary of the Commission sought the
counsel Of the missionaries, and after some
correspondence, the Government schools
were abandoned, and the sum of f500 voted
for distribution among, the three missions
above named. The education Of the popu-
lation of the peninsula was left in the hands
of the missionaries; no restrictions of any
kind were imposed. Subsequently, the
lRomanists received a grant. In 1855 the
deputation from the American Board visited
Ceylon. "0ur Prudential Committee" said
they, ''have decided objection to receiving
Government grants for mission schools,
whether from our own or from foreign Gov
ernments." And the grants, which had
been received for ten years, were thencefor'
ward declined. The Wesleyans, who are
troubled by no such scruples, have had their
grants increased to G25O per annum,
II may strike our readers that less than
seven hundred girls out Of a population Of a
million and three. quarters, are not large
| the explanation to be offered is, that the
| operations of the Commission have been very
! feebly conducted as whole, for its female
schools have been quite as successful as any
] of its institutions.
To the "Ladies' Committee" we give q
cordial and respectful welcome. This young
est sister of the societies was organized about
two years ago, and is connected with the
Wesleyan Missionary Society. The ladies
who led the movement" which Issued in thG
/ formation OF this committee, have long beer
engaged in promoting female education in
the East; and they bring to the new society
the experience of many years, and the obvi
j Gus advantage of wide range of mission
ary friendships and correspondence, Tht
name of one lady, the wife Of the Senior
Secretary Of the Wesleyan Missions, is held
/ in warmest remembrance in India; and il
palm groves of Ceylon nestle beautiful
school-houses erected by contributions callet
forth by her eyer-actiye pen. This "LadieS
Committee" having for its object the sys
tematic direction Of the power of grea
community like the Methodists, will doubt
less secure for itself the cordial sympathy
Of all ladies within the pale of its owI
church, and the best wishes of all the friends
! of India beyond. + +.
There is one fact which we venture to put
before that Committee, because of its bear
ing on the future prospects Of the women O
India. 1t Ia of startling import; but it indi
Gates a want which il lies within the scope 0
the Ladies' Committee to supply TO the ex
tent OF its means. Female teachers who de
vote their attention TO boarding and da,
day schools meet the case in part only. Wha
Is TO become of those very few girls WHIT
pass through the day schools2 Before the,
reach certain age, say ten or eleven, the!
are removed from the school, and secluded
by inexorable custom, for life. Unles
1 Christian women can be found to follow
| bucAn lutO tuOAh iOlCSu buS1 Wal
never receive another Christian lesson
l Preaching never reaches them; no woman
ever seen listening to a sermon in the bazaar
or under the shade of the village tree; n,
heathen woman ever appears within tn
walls of q Christian temples; and they. ar
virtually inaccessible to missionary teachin
in their own homes. ..g.t.
We boldly assert--and let the statemen
be pondered by those whom it may concern
that heather girls who have left the day
schools, and girls who have never been
any school whatever, in short, the adul
female population of India, do not, unde
the present system, ever hear the Gospel q
all We hear much, nowadays, {
woman's mission; and If we are not greatl
mistaken, we have here stumbled upon
most important part of il, Let Englis
ladies = haste to the rescue" Let Englis
ladies ofsoeial position and education deyot
themselves to the work of teaching, froI
house TO house, their adult Hindoo sister
! who are literally perishing for lack I
knowledge, none caring for their souls.
TENNESSEE CANNON MADE OF TENNEssE
IRON.-We had a special invitation to wi
( nees the trial Of the first eannons made
Z Nashville, (six poundersl turned out fro
i the establishment Of Messrs. Ellis Il Moor
; on South MaFketstFeet. On arrival at 81
/ plsce designated, We found Ia attendan,
o4 Captains Ross and Deyereaux, ordnance of
= GERS for the State, prepared with all q
} necessary atticies for testing the guns; .