Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-06-03
THE BRAHMACHARIN SENSATION
1t is Still a Topic in San Fran
cisco.

1t is Still Topic in San Fran
cisco.
Nothing that has occurred in years
has so stirred up the women of San
Francisco as the scolding administered
to them few days ago by the Brah-
macharin Bodhabhikshu at the wo-
mans congress. All other topics have
since been practically tabooed, the
usually absorbing matter of summer
costumes having sunk into secondary
importance. Of course, all the San
Francisco women, and the advanced
women especially, are indignant at
the remarks Of the oriental an outline
of which has appeared in The Chron-
icle. The men people Of the Califor-
MIA city are, on the other hand,
secretly jubiliant over the whole af-
fair. Some of these profane lords of
creation intimate that it serves the
Women's congress right for inviting
to their councils native of country
where the female sex is so little
thought of as it is in India. This
view of the case seems to be taken by
the San Francisco Argonaut, which
has this to say on the subject:
The Brahmacharin Bodhabhikshu
was invited to contribute his views
on the emancipation of women from
the oriental standpoint, and for time
be was the bright particular attrac-
ton of the congress. But he claims
that because his views differed from
those of the women taking part in
the discussion he was insulted and,
through him, his nation was insulted.
That he should disagree with Mrs
Gardeners remarks on heredity was to
be expected, since all eastern philos-
Ophy is opposed to the scientific
method; that he should have replied
with unnecessary warmth is not sur
prising, considering his age, which is
in the early twenties; that he should
have been betrayed into expressing
very unfavorable views regarding
women was but natural, when it is
remembered that that is the tenor of
prevailing opinion throughout his
country.
THE surprising thing is that he
should have been present at the meet
ings and should have been invited to
take part in the discussions Herod
III a society for the prevention of
cruelty to children would be no more
out of place than a Hindoo in a wo-
mans congress. In India, as in all
oriental countries, women occupy an
inferior position. She may not eat in
her husbands presence, she fans him
and serves him. According to the
law of Manu- "a wife must even regard
her husband as Il god, even though
/ he be dissolute, even though he fail
to provide, even though he be untrue;
still must she regard him as a god,
otherwise nothing is left for her but to
be born again from the body of a
jackal.'
Holding such views regarding wo-
men, there was something amusing in
his appearance at the congress and in
the enthusiasm with which he was
received. Yet, if a woman's congress
has any purpose, he helped to serve
that purpose. Unlike the congresses
in which men join, the women's con-
gross meets for purposes of mutual ad-
miration and self-education. 1t was
in contributing toward the latter that
the Brahmacharin served the purpose
of the meeting and the clOsine
episode was the most valuable of his
contributions. The managers of the
congress have probably learned that il
is impossible to reconcile orienta
philosophy and western civilization
The women of America have greater
privileges before the law and greater
social freedom than any others, anC
they had nothing to learn from this
disciple of Brahma."