The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-02-15

the conquest Of North India by Moham-
medans, those of the Koran, had but to
deprive women Of all education, making
knowledge adisgrace and the study of
books presumption, and the deed was so
well begun that it might be considered
done. 80 henceforth. to use the words Of
Q Hindoo lady, Ignorance was the ofna-
ment of women in India" But did her
influence cease! Is it because she is un-
influential that she is what she has long
been? One might almost cry, q Would
God it were sol" Gagged and trampled
on as maid and wife, and cast out as son.
less widow. she revenges herself as
mother. Hindoo women, as soon as
they become mothers of sons, are i'm
portant personages in the domestic circle,
and they begin to exercise
q mystery over the actions and conduct Of
the men. Tie husband
in respect to domestic affairs but to his
own pursuits in hfe and mode Of conduct.
Itis through the in
fluence Of women that reformation in
India is so effeCtually opposed in its
progress"
A cry and stir, however, arose. Hin.
doc sons began to want intellectual
mothers, husbands to demand companion
able wives. thinkers. to remove bars to
thought. So it gradually dawned ON the
Oriental mind that unthinking, untaught,
yet influential woman was shackle
round the neck and foot Of glorious and
aspiring land. Hence, when following in
the wake OF noble Inconsistencies,
Western women went forth to grapple
with feminine superstition and ignorance,
II, 81.
tablished girls schools and orphanages
and free boarding schools; later they
penetrated into the very stronghold OF
Hindoo domestic life, the ssnana. The
name of this "place for women Is de-
rived from two Persian words, "zen," !" q
woman, and "ana," place; but these two
little words do not specify that it Is q
prison-house," that it is generally the
worst and dirtiest part of the dwelling,
without furniture, and shut out from the
sunshine and pure air of heaven; place
also where laughter is sweet surprise,
for one so rarely sees merry woman"
Into such dens English "pearls of woman
Ito use the touching Hindoo epithet for
female missionary began TO penetrate In
1898. = - ~
And to what result? Not only that in
some cases the whole female part of
family may now be found sitting to-
gether, with their books and work
around y learning :. lessons,'' putting In
telligent questions, and enjoying Gospel
narratives; not only that some are really.
though timidly, living the Gospel in their
homes; not only that some have gone up
from latticed cages to be with Him whom
they had first learned to love az their
Savior-but also many of the naturally |
high gifted ladies Of India" have had
their arms unbound and their eyes un-
sealed by Christ's Gospel, and have them
selves become teachers. .Zenana visiting |
at Madras, for instance, has been most
successfully conducted by the wife and
daughter OF native pastor. Mrs. |
Sattianadan wrote in 1872, !" have thirty |
zsnanas with forty ladies On my hands,"
Mrs. Naravan Shcsadri, the two Sugunas,
and many others, both ladies and Bible |
women, are at work in this noble mission |
field. Beside all this, the most recent |
newspaper information tells US that the |
Bengal Government has appointed a
native lady inspectress of the female
schools in Calcutta. She is the daughter !
of Bengalee clergyman. This is the
first instance of any appointment of the
kind. Day of Rest.