The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-08

don't we have it here? The Germans have
German opera, at Prague they have Bone
milan. in Russia they have Russian, and
tell me is there any language more terri
bic than Polish with its tschZ-tschZ? There
isn't anything worse than that In France
they have French opera and in Spain
Spanish, and why can't English people have
English opera? London people pride them
selves on being very musical, but they
have all they can do TO support opera there
for ten weeks in the season. They nave
never managed to make opera pay longer.
In the Humanitarian is talk with Mrs.
Flora Annie Steel on the social condition
of India-a subject on which she is well
qualified to speak, as her novel, ION the
Face of the Waters" shows. In the course
of her remarks she says some things con-
corning the education of Hindoo women
and the work OF missionaries which are
likely to arouse the ire of the people in
whose eyes these foreign missions and their
purpose are sacred. Education" she says.
is spreading amongst the women of the
lower classes in India, and l am inclined
to say that in the present condition of
things 1t does not cOnduce to their happi-
ness, for this reason; it places them, so to
speak, out of touch with the men whom
they marry, and who are not educated. You
see we are ri present educating the lower
class of girls who have simply no chance
to become the wives of men of the educated
kind. Having had the supervision of girls
and | have known cases where great I'M
happiness has been caused to girls through
being educated. Either they have to face
the degradation of taking an inferior part
her for life, or they refuse 10 marry the
man TO whom they are betrothed, and this
is of course followed by family disputes
and unhappiness. Mothers have often COM
planned to me on this point, saying that
after their daughters had attended the
schools they rebelled against marrying
those to whom they are betrothed. AT
present it is the higher class of women
who are not educated. and il would be bet
ter for native society if we could start with
them, for by cating the poor girls in adj
vance Of the higher class ladies we are I'M
doubtedly Complicating matters. / believe
that, at present conducted, educaIlon
helps to foster the rigid seclusion In which
Indian women have been kept. l feel
continued Mrs. Steel, that l lay myself
open to much adverse criticism in saying
this, but 1T is my firm conviction that our
mission efforts amongst the women OF In
dia, whether in connection with education
or medical work, is helping to keep up the
purdah system. My experience is That be-
fore the advent of the skilled medical ala
which is now procurable in their own
homes the higher class women were be-
ginning to follow the example of their less
secluded sisters coming out or the purdan
to get help. Suffering is a stern teacher. we
have lost that fulcrum now. Lost II all
the more because the fees charged Tor Such
skilled aid are nearly always pitched too
low. 1t is the same with the teachlnS sup
piled by the missionary ladies' L know per-
sonally of a case in point. The wife or
native gentleman who was receiving an IN
come of more than a thousand q year, was
being taught two hours three days a week
by an educated English lady for fee or
one shilling and siXpence a month. Is IL
reasonable to suppose that TINS Is the way
ton when it is practically flung at their
feet?"