The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-05-08

The Life of Anandabai Joshee, A Kins-
weman of the Pundita Ramabai. By Mrs.
Caroline Healey Dali. This record of the
life of DIR. Joshee is full of interest and
charm. Married at the age of eight years to
Gopal Joshee and dying at the age of twenty
one of consumption contracted in this coun-
try, her short life shows a strength of char
acter and an intellectual development most
remarkable. The death of her only child,
born when Anandabai was but fourteen
years old, and for whom she could have no
competent physician, led her to think of
studying medicine, and into this scheme her
husband seems to have entered heartily,
sharing her thoughts and feelings. Gopal
would have gladly lived in this country with
his wife while she was receiving her medical
education, but lack of money prevented
this, and after many struggles and disap-
pointments Anandabai accompanied some
friends to America, and Oct Sd, 1888, was
matriculated at the Woman's Medical Col
lege of Pennsylvania where she was gradu-
ated in 1886 To native of India the eli
mate of the United States was excessively
trying and before DR.. Joshee had fairly es-
tablished herself in the New England Hospi-
tai for Women and Children her health
failed perceptbly and it was thought best
that S he should return to her own country
with her husband who had lately joined her
in America. Upon this conclusion she ac-
cepted an offer from the Dewan of Kolhapeer
to take charge of the Albert Edward Hospi-
tai in that State, and instruct class of girls
in medicine, etc. But this was not to be,
for the career of this sweet, gentle and intel
lectual woman was cut short by the dread
disease which no remedy could reach, and
she died soon after her return to India.
Her husband was entirely devoted to her
and Anandabai always speaks of him as
most generous" and again she says-'I
know there are many good husbands in the
United States, see that they make their
wives happy, but among them all there is
net one so good as my husband" The first
half of Mrs. DalPs book is chiefly devoted to
the letters Of DR.. Joshee written to her
friend, Mrs. Carpenter of Roselle. New Jer-
sey, from Calcutta and Serampore, Bengal,
in which she gives most quaint and interest
ing descriptions of the domestic customs
and habits of the people of India, with
their religious beliefs, ceremonies, etc. Mrs.
Dan pTeJuulce aSdlllsJ OOpdl JOSHco occmo
quite unaccounted for by any facts that she
relates in regard to him. His greatest
crime, so far as we can see, was that he
asserted the rights of his sex; that while he
loved, and was devoted to his wife and
helped her to the higher education which
she sought, he did not consider it necessary
to ignore or destroy the ties which bound
them together Anandabai returned her
husbands affection most devoutly, which,
apparently, Mrs Dali thinks the weak point
in her character, and for which she pities
her, and bames her Hindu training, lis,
perhaps, to modern civilization only that we
can look for reform in this direction, and
we must patiently await the time when man
will realize how poor creature he really is,
and when the marriage VOW will be univer-
sally recognized as secondary to intellectual
culture. Boston: Roberts Brothers; Port
land: Loring Short & HARMONY