Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-06-01
Che Ohio 9tatesnram
I z r N 9
Eastern WOmcn-PEesont Condition
OF the Women of India and Ceylon.
From the London Review ]
HOME INFLUENCE OF THE wol


England have In theirs. The children are com.
mitted entirely to their care; they bring them
up with every fond indulgence. and form their
morals. Mr.. Robinson, speaking of the Hindu
mothers love other offspring, says: "Sbe never
corrects her child, but humors it to the utmost.
Its little mouth is now at her breast, now at her
cheroot"
The home influence of the women Of India is
directed by firm faith in certain popular delu-
sions-tbe evil eye, omens, spells, sorceries,
pilgrimages and festivals. The unlettered wife
and mother, sincerely attached TO the prevalent
superstitions, is often strong enough to impose
her authority on her husband and sons, whom
education has taught to renounce Hinduism,
without embracing anything better; and the
Brahmin still finds generous entertainment in
the house Of the man who laughs his preten-
sions to scorn. The wife often restrains her
husband from an open avowal of religious con-
viction. A respectable farmer in Tinnevelly,
who had long desired to attend church, but was
opposed by his wife, at last made strong at
tempt at decision, and actually went to the ser.
vice. The following Sunday he did not make
his appearance; and when the catechist in
quired the reason, he said he could not come
any more, for his "wife cried all night"
THEIR FUTURE.
What is the future of Hindu women TO BET
What are their prospects7 the prospects Of the
women of country which numbers population
OF nearly two hundred millions of sous1 That
female education is essential to the improve
ment of any country, and that, until we have
raised up race of instructed Christian wives
and mothers in India, IL ia vain to imagine that
its teemiDg millions will be leavened by the in
huence OF Christianity, are points which no
one controverts. Mrs. Mason's words, "Bur-
nah will never be converted until the women
are" are true of ILdis, and of every country
under heaven. The Hindus themselves enter.
tain strong objections TO the education OF their
daughters. Some Of their prejddices are anus.
ingly absurd, and all of them are destitute Of
any just foundation. When Mrs. Caldwell COM
menced her girls school in Tinnevelly, some
Of the heather asked sarcsstically: "Are you
going to teach the COWS next7" The question
was, more pertinent than at first appears; for
even Manu- ranks slsve-sirls with "cows, mares
and hens"
The celebrated Education Despatch
Of 1854 is document abounding in liberal SEN
timents. II contains handsome recognition Of
"the noble exertions Of Christians of all demon.
nations to guide the natives of India in way
Of religious TRUTH" and directs that the Bible
D0 pluCcu III tu6 lUEhIlco VI luO Ct3ltReb hUu
schools, that the pupils may freely consult it,
and task explanations from their masters on the
subject of thelChristian religion; provided that
such information be given out of school hours" I"
If the subject were less serious, the wording OF
this dispatch might provoke a smile. Having
placed the Bible on the shelf, and given the pu
pills permission to read it just where he has nj
power to prevent their doing so, Sir Charles
Wood naively adds: "This Is as it shonlc
beu'
EDUCATION IN INDIA.
India now has its universities, constituted on
the model ofthe University of London; large
number of affiliated colleges, including several
missionary institutions; besides provincial
schools, high schools, normal schools, &c. The
despatch OF 1854 provided for the introduction
of the grant-insid system throughout India
and last year Sir G. Wood informed the deputa
tion of the Bible Education Committee that
'al the schools may benefit by the grants if they
please; and that, practically, the missionary So
cieties do get by far the larger portion"
The despatch oil 1854 did not omit the sub
ject Of female education; and the references to
it in the correspondence relating to that des-
patch show that IL has not been entirely neglected
by the government of India. The last educa-
tion despatch to India is dated April 7th, 1859,
and was written by Lord Stanley. His lordship
had before him the'most recent reports;' but that
from the northwest provinces was for 1854 s;
that from Bombay for 1856; and those from
Bengal and Madras for 1867 only. Then fol-
lows statement Of the number attending the
government colleges and schools, "a statement
which, from the want Of adequate information
and from defective classification and arrange
ment, Is extremely unsatisfactory Nor is
WIS all .ne SeSrea,y ior inuia auus' ne
sta,een' 's, Tt ~ iso, ior a.i Pracscai purposes
.ho.,n oorh;nsd .;,h tho r,c, ouoh Az
cemaie schools % renders II unnecasssrv fo, -.
to produce 1t. Subsequently to the despatch Of
1854, which declared that grants would be made
to all schools, whether male or female, the
managers of which complied with certain con-
ditions, the Court of Directors gave their cor
dial sanction to "an order of the government oI
India that female education should be consider
ed to be as much within the province Of III,
Council of Education as any other branch o.
education" But in 1859 Lord Stanley coult
say, with but too much truth, that, seven in
cluding the results Of missionary evertions, lit
tie progress has as yet been made with femal,
education In India.
In 1850 Mr.. Drinkwater Bethune established
in Calcutta school for Hindu female children
After his death the Marquis Of Dalhousie adopt
ed the school; and when that great pro.consul lef
India it was taken up by the government, ant
is now supported from the public funds. 1t new
er accomplished much. Since 1856 1t has beer
managed by committee of Hindu gentlemen
but with what result we are not informed
Grants In aid were sanctioned Tor female school
essaosneu ny ~ w WooSrow ~ nsrs ~ 0oa 0oao. au
now,an, i,no G 81 n;na.n 81 an'Ppo, ,epu.s w,
Gu 'ne asiInuso ~ aho a,a, - e nSuo, .;aasI s