The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-01

NO POOR LAWFOR INDIA.
| II appears that India the beautiful land
that we hear the most about when II has
a famine or plague, has no poor laws as
we do i'm civilized countries and no
machinery for rclies when there is the
kind OF suffering that we are witnessing
from a comfortable distance today
The elaborate system of British charities,
statutory and philanthropic, appears not
10 extend SO far as famishcd India and
IL is the testimony of writer's who
have made study of the subject that
ordinarily the latter country needs no
poor laws since charity and aims are
rarely asked and only I'm an extremity
that is beyond anything that usually
comes TO the ears of the charitable organi.
zation I'm Christian country. In the cur
rent issue of the North American Review.
Sir Edwin Arnold treats of this subject
most informingly and feature of his
explanation that will surprise the reader.
whose knowledge of India is chiefly
gained from missionary sources, is his de-
fcnse of the 'child-widows" system, which
we believe is generally denounced by mis-
sionarics as at the bottom OF much that
is evil i'm conditions among the heathens
and Is To De charged with much of the
suffering and social ignominy Of women.
Explaining that India, rightly speaking,
has no paupcr population 20 feel the need
of poor laws, associated charities and the
like necessities of Christian civilization
Sir Edwin says tlfat only the most
wretched of women ARE ever 20 be seen
begging for aims i'm that country, and
that the explanation of this "proyes how
elevated If how mistaken is the average
moral sense of the people, ''--as our mis-
sionaries have often expla ined to us-overy
woman not dcformed or outcast or insane
and at least in the higher castles, has been
betrothed at an early age to boy whose
household thence forward adopts her en-
tirely If the little husband dies, before or
during marriage, the disaster is regarded |
universally as the penalty for sins com |
mitted by the female in a previous life
The widow must submit and will sub |
init, not marrying again, but hoping by |
patience, to rejoin her lord after death,
and his family will, until her demise,
Loyalty support her. for his sake. But Sir
Edwin does not regard this rs hard con
dition for the woman. He writes that
practically these views obtain all over the
land, and as every female child becomes
bctrothed all women are definitely pro-
vided for If the rash ardor of certain
crude rcformers could have its will and
alter this, so as to promote the rcmar-
riage of Hindoo widows, all those
who became wives for second time
would find neither of the two allied fami-
lies willing to sustain wife belonging
in the next world to two husbands, or to
none at all. Besides this the sentiment
Of the Bhao-bund, or blood relationship,
Is all powerful I'm the land and never re-
pudiated. As also in Japan, where there are
40 poor laws and no paupers the ties of
<inship are everywhere acknowledged,
discharged, and repaid; and the house
lold cakes will be distributed TO all who
mt forth the claim of poverty hunger,
nd relationship. Add To all this, that
harity is not 50 much virtue, in India
IS habit, n religious necessity, an in
ispensablo passport to further prosperous
and IL will be seen why
ndia, in IA most tender and effective ,
manner, ful6lls the law which Christians
My, or principally, talk about
We take it that Sir Edwin's views are I
kelly to open warm discussion.
n I Y