Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-05-22

Erol,nd which has dared so much in
India has weakened before the popular
sentiment in regard to the inviolabllity
of the harem: and. although British Off
ciaIs have had positive knowledge that
nany of the English women and girls
who disappeared during the Sepoy mu-
tinv have been forcibly detained in the
barems of native rajahs and dignitar
les. England has not instituted gen
eral search for the captiNes
So, save when some curious woman
traveller succeeds in obtaining entrance
to a harcm and exchanges rev lnane
remarks with the women, through an
Interpreter. Europe IS in darkness con-
cerning Oriental women. The men or
the East never refer to the harems. 1t
would be q tremendous breach Of eti-
uuette to do so. When the Oriental re
fers to woman at all II is in a general
way and with profound disdain. That
is the correct Eastern attitude. In that
land of bloomers Womans rights are a
thing unknown.
Probably this dsdainful attitude of
the Oriental men is largely responsible
for the European idea OF the Oriental
woman; but the man OF the East is very
much like any other man; and those
Europeans who are most in touch with
Eastern life insists that the autocratic
lord of the harem is usually henpecked
to q degree which the Western monoga-
mist can never know. The inmates or
the harem depend upon their influence
over him for his indulgence OF their
whims and fancies. They have abso-
lutely no aim save 70 win MS devotion
and find a way Of retaining it. 1t is
ridiculous to assume that they do not
influence his mind as well as mis- heart.
They are ambitious for their sons.
They have a keen interest in the af-
fairs of the kingdom. which are near
est their lords heart. Through their
attendants they have many means of
information in regard to the outside
world. They know all that is happen
ing. and their personal interest ambi-
ton, or caprice is a more potent factor
in the course Of Asiatic ana African
events than the West has realized.
Russia is the first Of European coun-
tries to take into account this power
behind Eastern thrones. The new st.
Petersburg school will train women for
secret diplomatic service In the Orient.
Male diplomatists are obliged to stay
outside the harem gates. but the M
male ediplomatists will have entry To thr
seraglios. and will have most inter
esting field FOR experiment. The stu
dents are learning Turkish. Siamese.
Chinese. Persian. Japanese. and, most
suggestive Of all. the various dialects
of India. Evidently Russian intrigue
is to take a fresh start in the Eastern
empire of Queen Victoria. and IL is
likely that it will not b. long before
the other nations of Europe viii make
counter move in the great chess
game by putting their own pawns into
the Oriental Zenanas.
1t will be interesting To watch the
new diplOmatice ana its sue
cess or failure. Women certainly have
many Of the essential qualifications Of
diplomatists. The life Of the average
woman is one long career of diplomacy
and unaccredited women diplomatisjs
have ruled the destinies of Europe be-
fore now. Tact and cleverness women
certainly have Whether they have the
Judgment. daring and force to grapple
with grave crises one cannot tell. but
only an occasional man has those
qualities ana then. too. such crises will
not come within the scope of scragliO
diplomacy. The work Will have a nov
city ana spice Of adventure that will
make ii fascinating, ana Russian wom-
en- of clcvcrness. ambition and daring
have now IN opportunity which some
Of their sisters may envy them.