The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1891-11-13
Child Marriage in india,

The liberty of English girls Is constantly
being quoted In comparison with the nfan
J marriages of Indian children; but you might
as well start mission to clothe the children
of tropical regions in furs, because English
children suffer from the severity of north
ern winter. To begin with, Indian ideas OF
marriage are based on an entirely different
footing from those elsewhere. The object OF
marriage In the east Is primarily religious.
Viewed from the woman's side It Is Q) That
she may have some male In whose rear she
may walk into heaven-for her own good
deeds gain her no entrance there; or (2) If
she has no brothers, that the said male may
lead the family procession within the gates.
| Viewed from the fathers side, 1t is said he
may leave behind him some one to pray his
soul out of bell and offer sacrifices to the SUI.
pernal and Internal deities. With this idea
uppermost In bis mind, clothed with the sane.
THY (and therefore with the force) Of religion
the father consults his exchequer, his as
trologer and the lists of bis friends. Having
ascertained for how large dowry he Is good,
and guided by the star of her fortunes, he
seeks an eligible boy for bis promising in
fant. The marriage procession that so often
crowds down an Indian street Is the conse.
quence. What visitor to India does not re-
call 1t? The gaily dressed horse, the much
bejeweled children, the minstrels making
hideous melody, the kindly attendants and
friends bringing up the rear. This Is no mock
ceremony, but binding marriage, as bona
hide as the entry before reglstrar-else why |
talk of child.widOws OF India? To those |
who combat this we would suggest the omfs-
sion from their wailings OF the misery OF the |
hild-widowhood.I Meanwhile, the children
grow In their respective homes the little
girl often plays with her boy husband, and
as she grows older she learns that he belongs
10 her. and she feels protected when other
children III use or fight with her.
Then at the ages varying from IL to Is,
comes the second marriage, a religious cere-
mony, and merely confrmative. We believe
It originated In the desire of the priests for
gifts. The married life of the In
FAINT bride and bridegroom has begun, and
VIC doubt whether, comparatively speaking,
t could be happier. The wife, 1t is true, has
lot chosen her husband, nor he her; but she
Is quite sure Cor used to be till resistance was
made heroic) that her parents have chosen
wisely. Her husband is not her companion.
)ut her household god, and her duty toward
lin Is obedience and submission. She waits
IN his comforts and minds his house. He
seldom speaks TO her, but she has the women
'olks with whom to gossip and II he should
~ any any chance praise her cooking. or the
brightness of her pans, she thanks her patron
leities and adds an extra coin to the offerings
t the village shrine. The above Is the pic.
ure of an orthodox typical Brahmln family,
ind Brabmin girl of no mean attainments.
IN excellent Sanskrit scholar, once annotat-
d. thus her attitude toward her husbands
We never dream of resistance. We grow
ID with the idea that certain individuals be-
act; 1t is just as with our fathers or broth.
RS. We do not think of resenting them; no
more do we our husbands, even though we
nay not wholly like them" They make the
nost devoted and accomplishing little wives
DO, and 1t seems more than pity to disturb
present, In the way suggested by some. +
that IL the natural outcome Of custom and
eligion. :
1t Is not contended that things might not
Q better, or that some Indian girls do not
fish their marriages unmade-nOr indeed In {
,e writer's opinion Is 1t good for the men :
lat they should tyrannize and be worship
i--what We wish here to establish IS: 1,
he majority of Indian marriages, though
lade In the cradle, and by the parents Of the
1ildren, are happy (apart entirely from the =
hysical question which touches the few.) 2, .,
he women have hitherto been content with T
leir lot, aud have not dreamed of resistance. p,
he first point Is evident to all who have
zen Indian life In India; to those who have
ot, we would say, "Come and see." As 10
Ie second. it is no answer to the need for
form. They must be shown higher posi-.
Itics-but gradully; and one important
cans of reform Is education. Improve the
ental condition of the boys and girls of In. A
Ia, and the social question will right ITSELF =
20 rnelia Sarabii in the Nineteenth Century I