Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-03-30
No Scandal, No DiYOTCs Court, NJ,
Domestic Misery.
HOW THEIR women ARE TREATED.



try to make us all good Mohammedans.
"Bu. plurality OF wives is by no
means necessary part OF the teachings
OF the prophet. Indeed, out OF the 1000
MohammeIans OF whom | asked the
question: How many wives have you9'
the answer was invariably, why, only
one. 4 could not love more than one
woman. BcsideS. l am afraid they
would QUARREL
81 think met at least 5000
Mohammedans in Inlia who had only
one wife. a passage IN the Koran
says: III you can love equally more
than one wife, and treat each Que with
equal Justice, then You may have more
than one. II you have any doubts as
to whether you can love them equally,
then marry but ons.'
"rhe strictly conscientious follower
OF the prophet finds this passage CON
siderable OF siumbling.blocS, since
very few men can love equally two
women. The Koran limits the number
OF wives to four, aud more tina that Is
directly against tho teachings OF
Mohammed. A harlem IL In reality for
blddeh.
"'A woman has no soul.' has been
eaid OF Mohsmmedan teaching. This
IN entirely ialas. On the contrary,
Mohanimsd considered woman
MATS superior, spiritually. She must
never bo forced 10 he u Drelu-winuer.
Man must toll TO care for her. 5nu is
meant u DO his champion, 10 make his
home comfortable, to ue the mother OF
his children, and to perform those
duties for which she Is physically
fitted.
"a homeless Mohamm siau woman
IN an impOssibiliiy. 1 never saw u
woman begging IN tue street during
nil my reeldence among them; nor did
l zee one earning her own living In Il
public way"
"How, then, do thoy manager"
"lhey area all married."
"But the leit.overs, such as tho ugly,
Informed OF crlppleu2"
"Oh, II they are very undesirable,
indeed, they are taken iutO some home
10 help with the household duties--that
Is, II they have no male relative 10 caro-
are very strong. IL would be dotp
Disgrace for man 10 allow his broth.
er's wife or daughter 10 be without n
home. Hu must care Tor them always,
unless some one else offers to share tue
burden with hin.
"!5upp0se | had my deceased broth.
er's family on my hands, wsry likely
some wealthy Mohammedan wOuiI
come TO me and say, Il wish 10 help
you. Let your brothers. wife or
daugh,er'--or perhaps boIh-'como 10
me rs wives.'
"rhese women would have In the
eyes OF the law all the financial nj.
vantages OF his wives, while III other
ways they might simply Oe wives Ia
name, as he might prefer 10 remain
faithful 10 the one wife whom he
loved. Such cases arc OF frequent
occurrence. These women would be
inmates Of his home, with rignts OF
dover, aud would be always well
cared Tor. But "a American could not
10 that without scandal"
"What do you mean by rights OF
dowef?'"
"BefOre the Mohammelan woman
Is married her prospective husband
must settle upon her u dowry, which
Is hers Internationally. II he cannot
give dowTy to his wife, then ht
cannot be- married. He must shO "
that he 10 able to support wife. Sh {
owns her property In her own right
and II can never be touched for mel
husbands debts.
al tell you Mohammedan woman
IL much better Protected In money
matters than an American woman
She does not have to submit to the
brutal state OF affairs which OBTAINS III
10 many families, where wife never
has one penny sne can call her own.
"rhe marriage IL never religion
ceremony, but Is simply civil con
tract, anu can lbs act aside like any
other civil contract. Such u thing al
IA divorce suit, with It's attendant scan
dnl, II never known there.
"lfa wife II a Hcold or tyrant, oil
otherwise undesirable, she 10 prompt
returned to her parents or male rcla
tive. This is apt TO make woman
behave herself, and not attempt the
lengths 10 which she sometimes g0e
In this country, where she thinks
well, now, l'ye glt him, and l eau
do M | please; he will not want /.
submit 10 the iandal vi q DIVORCE
give their heads TO be rid OF thei
wives, who know that they are Tag
rantly unlaithful TO them, ami wnI
yet suffer IN silence rather than incul
the newspaper gossip and scandal
which would bo sure TO come wish
divorce. Then, too, why should peo
pie live cat anu dog lives, wnen separ'
alton means peace? l mucn prefer tn
Moslem way OF settling these tnings.'
"But how about the women. Cal
they get ria Of nn undesirable husban
as easily?n
"CerIainly. They have only 10 g
10 their dearest male relative anu Ia.
the case before him. He goes 10 tn
husband and say. 'My niece is un
happy IN your n0use, AMI doe, no
wish TO STAY very well, says Ia
husband, Il do not wish u keep hei
then. Take her home whenever y0
please And 80 the affair 10 endel
quietly aud decently. rhe wOma q
however, keeps the do RTy which ma
been given her, anl will prOuaoiy b
more fortunate In her nvxt Marie
experience.
"rhis does not occur very often, bl
ca 100 such women are not 70 sent
mental, and have not such exaggsI
alei IDEAS OF love as they nave her,
rhey bnI occupation for their inInd
in reading, music, embroidery, tn
care OF their children ald homes.
"a Alohammedan was never know
to strike his vile. His conduct towar
her ia centrally respectful, kind an
considerae, and he never comes hon
ruuk. A Nj hsmmeian knows NJ