Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1893-03-23
IN WOMAN'S BEHALF.
A MISSION FIELD.
What Englishwomen Are Doing for Their
EnnIrhIed SIsIcrs In Indln.

What Englishwomen Are Doing for Their
Benighted sisters In India.
The Englishwoman's mission in In
dia. That is the field in which the
noblest feminine philanthropy of the
latter half of this century has been eX-
pended, not even excepting the Sa'va-
tion Army work in Darkest London 1t
was, perhaps, twenty years ago that
the Englishwoman's mission work in
India began first to attract attention,
and through the English army and
English commerce have done much to-
ward the establishing of the influence
of modern civilization in that far dis
tant land, the discreet and benefcent
charity of number of unseliish wom-
en- has not served less potent purpose.
1t is curious enough that somebody
has not got together in book form, all
the facts and figures relating to this
benevolent work. for it would be an in
teresting phase of our century's prog
ress to note in just what proportion
woman's influence aids in this conquest
and enlightenment of a country. 1t is
true that in India the need for the
greatest reforms in their civilization
related chiefly to the sutferings of
women, and that only women could
reach them to apply the needed aid and
assistance When, by the acts of the
Anglo-Indian parliament child mar
riage and sacrifice of widows were
checked by the iron hand of law, the
need arose for missionaries who would,
and could, teach Indian wives and
| daughters not so much religion as prac-
tical rules for living. How to cook,
sew, wash, nurse, read and write, the
primary laws of health and hygiene of
social life and child rearing and educa-
ton. Since the law barring men from
the Zenanas was so rigid, and since it
was to women particularly the work
needed most seriously to be applied, it
was scarcely a matter of surprise that
the English sister looked upon this mis-
sion field as special opening for her
energies.
Thirteen years ago a college in En-
gland was opened to women who might
there gain such training as would
qualify them for work among Indian
girls. Year after year devoted souls
have, with this college certificate OF
proficiency attained, sailed for the trop'
ical land where no golden promises OF
pleasure or reward beclson them. They
are trained missionaries, not psalm
singing, tract-dealing class of women,
prepared to search for lost souls or tc
bring the heather to the true light but
stout-hearted band, ready to lay theil
hands to whatever work may come
uppermost. They uncomplainingly re-
ceive orders to settle in squalid little
Indian villages, there to teach, to nurse
to sew, and to preach if the necessity
arises; to struggle gallantly against Sc
many centuries of darkness in order tc
let in one ray of light to a race o.
women who have known a bondage
more hideous and enduring than that o.
any slave.
That there is a need for them and {
work to be accomplished is proven by &
few statistics given by graduate from
this English college, long resident il
India. She tells that being stationed
thirty miles from a railroad or n physi
clan, the course of medical training
she had received was great blessing
Eight hundred patients were brough
her for treatment, sometimes at the
rate of one hundred and seventy-sevel
per day; and this is not the record frou
the schools or huge hospitals wher'
English women are the only medi
cal attendants The list of womel
missionaries is also steadily OF
the increase. Twas the noble worl
and efforts of Lady Dufferin tina
gave this industry and charity
tremendous impetus, for an industry a
well as charity does this mission worI
serve.
1t opens to unmarried, unoccupie
Englishwoman n superb field for he
hitherto valuable unexpended energies
ambitions, and sympathies, and, as
real woman's work, finds no parallel i
our modern history. illustrated Amer
eau.