Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-12-06
WOMEN AT THE ORIENT.
The Pursces in India Are Progressive
Everything but Reiigion-Are
Exceedingly influential.

in Everything but Reiigion-Are
Exceedingly influential.
DR.. Emily B. Ryder, medical mis-
sionary, for some years in India, who
is spending a years vacation in this
country, talks very entertainingly OF
the condition of women in India, says
the New York Times.
"There are 100000 Parsees in In
dia," she says. This is small num-
Der, but they are exceedingly iniu-
entail, commercially and socially.
They are progressive in everything
but religion, and claim that no Par
see has ever been converted to any
other religion. Their attitude in re-
gard to the education of women may
be indicated by the fact that of all
the girls who have taken the en-
trance examinations to the English
universities in India 72S come from
this small Parsee section of the pop
ulation, 300 are native Christian wom-
en-, while only 81 come from the mil
lions of Hindoo and Mohammedan
families.
"The Parsee women now 60 about
the streets unveiled and attend pub
lie meetings nearly as much as Eu-
ropean women, while if a Moham-
medan woman were known to appear
in the streets once unveiled she would
Immediately be divorced. There is al
most no advancement among the Hin
doc and Mohammedan women, but
gradually the men of these races are
losing their fear Of having them
taught to read. The women them
selves have the most ignorant and
curious prejudices on this subject.
One day offered to teach Mo-
hammedan lady with whom 1 had
formed an acquaintance how to read.
"If 1 should learn to read she
exclaimed, it would make my eyes
grow small, and then my husband
would cease to love me-
"The talking women are curious,
The ignorant little Hindoo and Mo.
hammedan women have almost no
amusement except dressing, eating
and gossiping. Their sole approach
to an intellectual or literary interest
is afforded by the talking women
These women are the daughters of
noblemen in reduced circumstances.
They go from house to house, scat
themselves in the zenana, surrounded
by the women of the harem, and tell
interminable serial stories. They
talk in low, rapid monotone, and
their stories are impossible creations
of the Arabian Nights variety. They
talk straight on till, one after an
other, their auditors fall asleep.
When the last one has gone to sleep
the talking women silently depart,
as their task is now done. The test
of their efficiency is to put their
whole audience to sleep.
~ have sometimes thought" con.
tinued the doctor, with twinkle in
her eye, "that this was the object Of
some civilized orators.
"An educated Parsee gentleman"
she went on, "once arranged matters
to take me to Parsee wedding
among the common people. The Par.
see wedding ceremony is very elab-
crate and intricate one. 1t had bare.
ly commenced, and was waiting
with the most intense interest to see
spectacle so seldom beheld by Eu-
ropeans, when the mother of the
tride sprang into the midst of the
assemblage, making great cutlery.
She declared that Christian had
gained admittance to the company,
and that il allowed to remain ca.
lamity and sudden death would over
take the young couple. Search was
made and both myself and the gen.
tleman who had brought me were
ANONYMOUSLY expelled. He was very
indignant, and expressed himself in
English which was more forcible than
correct.
"'What mobilization said he;
now what can one do with such un.
civilization? We can only work on
hope on, till all these old mother-in.
laws be dead out
"That is probably the only solu
ton; to work with the younger gen
GRAFTON till all the old fogies arr
dead out
an Ceylon, the Buddhist Women'I
Educational association has open.t
primary schools to which little girls
are admitted. A high school has JUS
been established, with an American
girl as teacher, and four Cingales,
girls have taken the entrance exam
nation. The Cingalese women ar,
fairly started in the path Of prog
ress." -