Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-03-09


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 Saliva
ton 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 beneicent
charity of a number of unselfish wom-
en- has not served a 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 country. 1t is
true that in India the need for the
greatest reforms in their civilization
AEAdlN0 Chiefly " NAlC Su4lNAAtAkS VA
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
riace 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-
teal 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-
tion. Since the law barring men from
the Zenanas was SO rigid, and since it
was 80 women particularly the work
needed most seriously to be applied, it
was scarcely matter of surprise that
the English sister looked upon this mis-
sion field as a 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 amoug Indian
girls. Year after year devoted souls
have, with this college certificate of
proficiency attained, sailed for the trop-
zeal land where no golden promises of
pleasure or reward beckon them. They
are trained missionaries, not a psalm
singing tract-dealing class of women,
prepared to search for lost souls or to
bring the heather to the true light, but
a stout-hearted band, ready to lay their
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 so
many centuries of darkness in order to
let in one ray of light to race of
women who have known a bondage
more hideous and enduring than that of
any slave.
That there is a need for them and a
work to be accomplished is proven by a
few statistics given by graduate from
this English college, long resident in
India. She tells that being stationed
thirty miles from railroad or physi-
clan, the course of medical training
she had received was great blessing.
Eight hundred patients were brought
her for treatment, sometimes at the
rate of one hundred and seventy-seven
per day; and this is not the record from
the schools or huge hospitals where
English women are the only medi-
cal attendants. The list of women
missionaries is also steadily on
the increase Twas the noble work
and efforts of Lady Dufferin that
gave this industry and charity a
tremendous impetus, for an industry as
well as a charity does this mission work
serve.
1t opens TO unmarried, unoccupied
Englishwoman superb field for her
hitherto valuable unexpended energies,
ambitions, and sympathies, and, as a
real woman's work, finds no parallel in
our modern history. illustrated Ameri-
can.