The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-06-17
THE WOMEN OF ASIA"
Miss Jessie Ackerman's Lecture at the
w. c. T. u. Mission.
No Standing-Room For the Audience
An Able and Entertain
ing Lecture.

The roonfX the W. C. T. U. Mission on
Third street, indoor and out, was not
| nearly large enough to accommodate the
audience that gathered last evening to
hear Miss Jessie Ackerman's lecture on
| the Women. of Asia" The announce
ment was made from the platform that
| owing to a lack of funds in the treasury
of the union, church or more suitable
place for large audience could not be
secured.
Hence the prominent and talented lee
| turer of the Woman's Christian Temper
ance Union was forced to address a large
audience, part Of which was outside in
the open air, and the other portion sur
rounding her on three sides in the
crowded room.
1t was due almost entirely to the abil-
ity of Miss Alderman and the interest
ing and entertaining character of her
lecture that she was enabled to keep
scores of her audience standing almost
out of the reach of her voice, but listening
intently to discourse lasting two hours.
The lecture opened with singing of
hymns and prayer by Rev. t. G. George.
Miss Alderman was introduced by Mrs.
j. A. Barrett.
She commenced with a general refer
ence to the condition of the women of
Asia, and compared their lot with that of
the women Of civilized nations, saying
the women of America were the most
favored of the world. In five years
Miss Alderman has travelled 100000 miles
through China, Japan, India and Aus
tralatia, and she stated she couldInot de-
scribe all that she had seen if she were
tn talk STEADILY for a month
She is, however, fluent and able
speaker, and touched upon many themes,
expressing her views and deductions in
practical, vigorous and terse language.
An effort, she said, was being made by
missionaries in India while she was there
to provide for the Christian education of
500 native girls, and Miss Alderman
pledged to raise support for 100 of them.
Sixty have been provided for, and she
asked subscriptions for the support OF the
others.
She gave vivid and comprehensive
description OF her first impressions of the
Chinese in China. She said no one could
live there and study the people of China
in vast swarms and multitudes without
learning to love and admire them for
many things. She mentioned $4,000 fami-
lies living in boats perpetually upon one
bay; 1000 families live in house-boats
upon the Canton River. She saw boats
and described their conditions.
China's four hundred millions received
more opium and rum from Christian ma
tons than missionary aid, and the
lecturer charged England with compell-
ing the Chinese to accept her opium at
the point of the bayonet, while America
sent thousands of barrels of whisky for
every single missionary.
She dwelt at length upon the manners
and customs of the Chinese and japanese
and touched freely upon many interest
ing things in India as well. She visited
and obtained an audience with the King
of Siam in his palace, and found him
very courteous and Intelligent. When
asked if his women could not join the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union,
however, he replied that they might form
a Woman's Buddhist Temperance Union.
He said he was Buddhist, and his peo-
pie did not drink, while the Christians
did.
In Asia this was the reply often thrown
in the face of evangelists: stop sending
us whisky and opium, and we will con-
slider your Christianity"
Miss Alderman visited the high and
low, and saw the women of Asia under
all conditions. She described their
slavery, where women are forced to work
like cattle and frequently yoked in the
same harness with buffalo. When a man
rich, he sometimes paid $50 for his first
wife, but for his second he never paid 50
much, but got them much cheaper.
The lecturer described weddings and
feasts, notably one where she dined with
chop-sticks-not very successfully. At
the feast the bride only appeared at a late
hour, and although she graced the occa-
sion for an hour and half, she did not
speak. At the feasts the men ate first
and the women next-if there was any
thing left.
In reviewing the comparative condi-
tons of women Miss Alderman douned
the costume of a Chinese lady of the
higher class. and showed that i'll the mat
ter of sensible dress there was not much
for them to copy from civilization or
Christianity.
The lady held her audience intently in
terested and entertained throughout the
lecture, and proved herself very practical
and judicious in her observations and
criticisms. as well as being an eloquent,
humorous and brilliant speaker.