New-York tribune., 1903-03-12
EDUCATION IN INDIA,
The Hon Emily Kinnaird Tells Of the Needs
of the Women There.

The Hon. Emily Kinnaird, daughter OF tne t"u'n-
er OF the Young Women's Christian Associi'on'
addressed the members of the Emma NtIi"rd As
sociation yesterday afternoon the subject OF
Women India Miss Kinuaird said that she
had been interested In the subject of factory WORK
before taking up the work In India and had :ouno
il a good preparation for the immense neio
there.
There De greater contrast SAID 'he
speaker. between the East and the West strongly
they contrast with each other than the coHai'lon
of this continent and in lno1a Inc
status of in America is that OF great 1Fee-
dom and wonderful advantages. educationa! ana
otherwise Even in England women 90 h"t heeL,
pace with this country in their eagerneSs TO dNdll
themselves Of the advantages of the higher educa-
ton. Where facilities OF that kind are offered fh''"
accommodations not all taken by can'hda'es'
while here ] have noticed fornit ones are
continually being added to those great edurat tonal
institutions where and women study SIDE oy
side
In India d woman has value In herself Every
one knows of the wholesale destruction of female
infants. Even where mother loves her girl many
she will throw Il to the sacred crocodies to pro-
ptiate the gods that they may send her son.
What has life to offer Hindoo woman? The low
value of her being crushes her all through life
and the cruel laws that ordain Suttee are terribly
strong. Custom and fate are the iron bands tna'
bind her down
In this country it is difficult to form idea Of
the strength Of custom In India. Here you count
Ae->S
fate really means the gods. There there is caste
caste which is bound up with their religion 1t Is
wrong in India to approach the gods unless one Is
twice born: so any poor individual not coming
under that denomination Is hopeless tndeed-he
must not even pray. Hndoo girl has no Ideals.
future no interest in life. Compare an American
girl with all her funess OF interest, her cultivated
brain. her powers for usefulness, with the girl OF
India
What has made India, with its magnificent pos
StbiltieS, 0etaTiOTate this advance as
has? Just one thng-Christianity. A learned pun
6jt OF India himself said: The difference between
AT EnRlishman and Hindoo is not one or lnte-
!sc: slone; II anything. the Hindoo intellect Is
EnElisnman can feel pity. the Hindoo cannot AND
where did the Englishman get this power but from
Miss Edge. who is principal Of the Zenana Train
ing School Bombay. showed some pictures Of the
pulsive idol. the favorite deity OF the Thugs.
The horrors of idolatrous india" said Miss Edge.
are said by Swamis who come here to be exagger-
ated. They deny many Of the facts missionaries
report Now, the horrors not exaggerated 1t
would be impossible to exaggerate them. A simple
ty-fve schools in India; ten in Bombay. with Ave
G six hund5ed ehdren being taught hs not m all
ans, Jews and Parsees. The Parsees are the
Americans of India-bright. progressive, enterpris-
only hope for Outstanding India: and there are
plenty of pupils needing the light Imagine five
three millions Of ali ages: What We need is money
money for buildings not to be at the mercy OF OF
month and turn out any time England
and America owe India debt. They should give
her IN return for the ma mat tne
there the hold their old faith. and it is
TO us they look TO give them something netter We
this afternoon. VIII not some American woman do
for the women of India some of the splendid work
In this land?