The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-08
CHILD WIpOWHOOD.
Horrors The Social Status of Women
in India.
From the New York Hero

For good many years the Christian
churches of the Western World have direct
ed strenuous efforts to the abolition of the
various theologies of the heather. Millions
of money and plenty of human blood have
been expended in attempting, with the
Nazarene gospel as weapon, to demollsh
the religious structures that have been bult
by the ages out of supersttions, supposed
revelations and odds and ends of ethical and
philosophical maxims.
During this time the peculiarities OF the
social systems of the unbeheyers have been
regarded as only incidental objects OF
attack. In many respects, wherein they
are not absolutely dependent on pecu-
haritieS of religion, they are worse aud far
more revolving than the latter. 1t has re-
manned for philanthropists and sympa-
thetlc SdrdnS of the present day to enter
upon so obvious and noble a work with an
energy and earnestness of purpose which
give promise of excellent success. The
movement in question is aimed at the
abominable traditions and laws of the Hin
docs touching the duties and social status
of widows, and which virtually constitute
them slaves and pariahs, and condemn them
10 lead life of abject misery and Isolation
from their caste and kind.
A FEMALE MOSES
The iniative was taken some years ago
by native Hindoo woman, herself a mem
Der of the oppressed and desplsed class, the
misfortunes of which are greater and more
conspicuous in proportion to the individual
intelligence and merit Of its members. This
gentle but courageous champion of her sex
Is Pundita Ramabai, at present dwelling IN
Philadelphia. She is the author Of re-
markable book in English on the condition
and usages Of the high-caste Hindoo woman,
and it is this work which drew from Max
Muller, the philologist and student of Ind an
lore a series of letters wherein he has
thrown additional light upon the subject,
while giving to the movement the sanction
of his valued support. The English public,
however have failed to show by their acts
SO deep an interest in this great cause as the
women Of America. Here the organization
of what are called "Ramabai Circles" has
been hopefully begun and will no doubt be
rapidly carried forward. Those who have
taken the lead in the work are Edward
Everett Hale, Phillips Brooks, Lyman
Abbott, Rachel L. Bodley, Frances L.
Willard, Elizabeth Thompson and Others Of
equal standing.
Education is the influence that caused the
first stir Of revolt in the hearts of Hindoo
women against their traditional oppression.
EDUCATION is the weapon that is to be
further used to free and elevate them. This
is the immediate task of the large-hearted
men and woman who have leagued them
selves together to support the Pundita in the
crusade which alone and valiantly she
began.
PROFESSIONAL HUSBANDS.
The actual condition of women in India
is not very generally understood. At the
age Of babyhood they are ordinarily be-
trothed to their future husbands. The
anxiety of some parents (and their authori-
ty is absolute) to marry their daughters
leads them at an early day to accept for the
latter any kind of husband not forbidden
by the Hindoo laws. In the Brahmin class
no woman can marry any but Brahmin.
There are also numerous restrictions as to
consanguinity. Families that are poor are
nearly always DESTROYS of getting rid Of
their daughters at as early an age as possible.
There Is also traditional duty impelllng
the father as a matter Of pride and OF self
esteem to marry them off as soon as they are
manageable, according to the ancient
custom. These influences had the effect
long ago of making it a regular trade for
certain Brahmins to marry as many young
girls as they could, receiving some sort of i'm
mediate recompense, of course, from the fam
lily for the service thus rendered. Mere infants
are welded to men old enough to be their
grandfathers, and all, as soon as their So
called husbands die, drop into the deplorable
social status Of child widows.
STATISTICS OF CHILD wIDowHooD.
There were in India in 1881, according to
the census, 20,930, 626 widows, of whom 49,
$40 were under 9 years of age. 207, 1888 under
If years and 1872, 736 underl9 years Ramabai
writes of widowhood in India as follows:-
Throughout India widowhood is regard
ed as the punishment for horrible crimes
committed by the woman i'll her former
existence. + = 4 If the widow be mother of
sons she is not usually pitiable object, al
though she is certainly looked upon as
sinner. The widow-mother Of girls is
treated indifferently, and sometimes with
special hatred But it, is the child-widow
upon whom i'll an especial manner falls the
abuse and hatred of the community as the
greater criminal upon whom heavens judg
ment has been pronounced. A I1lndoo
woman thinks it worse than death to lose
her beautiful hair. Among the Brahmins
of the Deccan the heads of all widows must
be shaved regularly every fortnight. Girls
of fourteen and fifteen, who hardly know
the reason why they are so cruelty deprived
of every thing they like, are often seen
wearing sad countenances. their eyes
swollen from shedding tears. They are
glad to find dark corner where they may
hide their faces. The widow must wear a
single coarse garment. She must eat only
one meal during the twenty-four hours of a
day. She must never take part in family
feast. A man or woman thinks it uulucky
to behold widows face before seeing any
other object in the morning. The relations
aud neighbors of the young widows hus-
band are always ready to call her bad names.
There is scarcely day of her life on which
she is not cursed by these people as the
cause of their beloved friends death. In
addition to all this, the young widow is
fear she may some time bring disgrace upon
the family by committing some improper
act She is closely confined to the house
forbidden even to associate with her fem ale
friends 4 4 + Her life, then, destitute as
it is of the least literary knowledge void of
all hope, empty of every pleasure and
social advantage, becomes intolerable-a
curse to herself and to society at large.
Suicide or a life of infamy is the alterna-
tive fate of many of the child widows of
India.
THE SCHEME OF EDUCATION.
II is said by those who know, and by
Max Muller in particular, that any attempt
at present to change the marriage code of
India would do great deal more harm than
good He suggests, therefore, that English
law and justice should merely keep its
hands off and lend no assistance to the
enforcement of marriage contract to which
alsjl-!tea are parties.
The only prudent, positive remedy TO be
applied at present is education. The expert