The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-04-29
LADIES' TAILORS.
WOMEN IN THE MISSION FIELD.
Views OF Some Mem in Africa on the CUES
ton of Marriage.

In the discussion on tho marriage Of MIS-
s%ionaries at the EcumeuiCal Conference ths
other day, the Rev. Mr.. Taylor Of China sid
lie knew one missionary who had six wives
lJ ing in n Chinese cemetery and one more
whose grave is in America. Speaking from
experience gained in forty six years Of MS
sionary work in China. Mr.. Taylor said tie
climate has a far more serious effect on women
than on men. A large number of missions
aries there are living with third wives.
DR.. Ludwig Wolf. q scientific German cN-
plorer, who was shocked by the great mortality
in the families OF missionaries whom he met on
the upper Congo. wrote a strongly worGod
protest. a few years ago, against taking whits
women and children to that country. lie
sad no married. missionary should be per-
United To take his vie and helpless children
into that deadly climate. lie thought tie
time might come after the sanitary condition
were improved and greater comforts Of living
had been introduced. when women with their
children might accompany their husbands with
some prospect that they could live on the Congo.
But IN the days Of pioneering, he thourlt
II was n serious blundpr TO introduce white
women there and worse than a crime to carry
%clnldrth across the seas only TO suffer and perish
in a deadly climate.
Dr. Wolf advised that if missionaries must
have families on the Congo. they mary native
negro women, He said there were not q few
educated negro women who had been reared
AT MISSION sthllOilS along tnp coast ana would
make fittlng h"lpnlates for the white teachers
of the Congo reglun Not n few Of them. be-
added, could speak the native languages ~
the missionaries, were neat housckCrper~,
good cooks, expert with the needle. devoted
Christians and in every respect might well lo
regarded as TAR better adapted than WhIrn
women to make homes for the mi-sionarcs
and assist them in their religious and edYca-
tonal work. The majority of married NlIie
w9men who have, gone to tropical Africa have
failed tragtCally, for they have dropped under
the climate, have been the cause of endless
anxiety to their husbands. and either persisted
there or returned home. often with permanently
impaired health. II is only fair TO say. how
ever that the hy gienic rules for living in that
region are now far better understood. Mat
comforts are multiplied and medical attendance
may, be procured. Under these improved
conditions quite a number OF white women
have done a. good educational work and lived
Ill rs good health as their husbands.
Tho most prominent missionary on tho COMO,
the Rev. George Grenfell, followed tho adj
vice OF lr, Wolf and the result of his marriage
win the native woman has been haupy aud
successful. Tie married a bright African girl
who had received Il rather good
education at AcCra on the Guinea Coast Mr..
'reul'll would be regarded as n r"markHlI"
woman, even though her skin were white iu-
stead Of bronze, in color. some wears ago,
she visited England, was welcomed IN good
society and her intelligence, viyacity and cht.m
OF manner Won her many frieud~ The white
have rendered equal support and aid 10 Gree
fell in the remarkable work he has done ~
Africa. Mrs. hreufcll accompanied her lu~-
band on all the hundreds of miles ri travel
ON unknown rivers which gave Grcn'oll tan-
rs one Of the two or three greatest Congo 49,
llOrerS. They are living to-day in a nice lj''h
on the upper Congo and every one VITO
visits them teSiiiCs TO the comfort AID r,-
fincment Of this Christian huu>rhuld lu 10
nldNt Of savage Africa and the HAPPY domestic
OF ms lH1IHA UTDnn