The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-04

| ill-efects and good produces happiness.
Then we let them decide for themselves.
but the great mistake made by Ameri-
cans concerning the condition of the Hindu
woman. / never heard until came to this
country that Hindu mothers throw their
babies into the Ganges to be eaten by the
crocodiles. I have Travelled In India from
| the mouth to the source of that mighty
river and never heard Of one single incl
| dent OF that nature. Besides crocodiles
do not live in waters with strong currents
| like the Ganges, but in slow. sluggish
streams. The only origin that | can dis
cover for this story is that poor Hindus
| sometimes. not often. place the dead ba-
bies on the riverside to be carried away by
the current because they cannot afford to
cremate them.
Everyone in this country appears to be
familiar with the horrible story OF the Jug
gern6ut. / myself never heard until
came here OF the supposed custom the Hin
dus have Of throwing themselves under its
wheels to obtain salvation. was once at
festival where It was used. and l saw
hundreds of men and women, many of
them excited by religious enthusiasm.
drawing this huge car. There may be &C
cidents and it is easily seen how a person
may lose his life when such does occur.
never sanctioned by the Hindu religion.
When the Mohammedsns conquered india
they treated the widows OF the soldiers so
brutality that the women preferred death.
You know we always cremate and when
the funeral pyre was lighted the unpro-
tected widow often threw herself into 1t.
preferring death to the fate she knew
awaited her. Some ignorant priests for
time supported this practice by peryert
xfr4N al
sages but the educated classes always OBJ
jecte1. They finally appealed TO the vice
roy. Lord Bentnick to pass law against
suffice which he did
THE exclusion of women from the So
ciety OF men. which is found in some parts
only of India is not due to their religion
but came into practice for self-defence
against Mohammedan brutality. There are
many parts OF India where women mix
freely with men. They travel with them.
appear in public with them and without
wells.
"The Hindu law allows legal powers 10
women. II you read 'Sakuntala.' one of
the best Indian dramas. you will find that
the heroine was allowed to plead her own
case at the court OF the king who she bold
ly rebuked after pointing out his faults.
Manu- says a wife must take part in all So
cial. civil and religious duties Of a hus-
band. She does not adopt her husbands
name. as in this country and Europe. The
husband adopts the wife's name. In family
affairs. in business transactions. and in
trade the husband can do nothing without
the consent OF his wife. Unmarried daugh-
tiers inherit equally with the sons. their
mothers estate. The woman's dowry can
not be used by the husband. A wife is not
responsible for her husbands nor her
sons debts. and her husband must sup
port her SO long as he lives, even il he
goes abroad.
When the country was governed by
Hindu kings the free choice by the maiden
Of her husband was the custom. but when
they fell under the rule of Mohammedans.
to prevent the intermixing of races. the
betrothal system was adopted in many
parts.
The Hindu religion never sanctioned
the girls assuming the responsibilities OF
marriage before attaining wOmanhood.
The wife is called in Sanskrit Sahadhar-
mini, which means a partner in spiritual
life. 1t shows that marriage is a holy
bond God cannot be worskiped and pray
ers will not be heard il wife does not
join her husband. For this reason there
can be no divorce in India. The first duty
of a husband, according to Manu-. is to
adore his wife: to give her everything she
needs or desires and to make her happy.
When women are happy the devaS are
pleased; but all virtue and goodness
leave the family where women are dis
honored' Sir Monier Williams says:
Wives are generally loved, and cruel
treatment nv brutal husbands is I'M
known. A wonians body is sacred. and
must not be struck, even with a flower.
For this reason there can be no capital
punishment for women.
Mrs. Steele, the author Of on the Face
of the Waters, who lived twenty-five years
in India and mixed freely with the Hin
dus as inspectress of girls schools in tho
Punjab, will testify in behalf OF Hindu
women, | am sure" continued the Swami.
"She says: Our standard OF civilization Ia
personal comfort. luxury-a thing abso-
iuteIy unknown in native India There IL
scarcely any difference there in the mode
of living between the rich and poor.
man may spend wealth or jewels for his
wife. but not on pleasure or personal COM
fort. In regard to the general condition
Of women in India think il rather better
than our own-certainly better than our
own used to be