New-York tribune., 1905-08-09
WOMAN IN SACRED TEXTS.
Christian and Pagan Comments on Her
Wifely Duties.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: 1 have read in your issue of July 30
the string of quotations from Herbert Comp
tons Indian Life in Town and Country" and
Max Muller's Sacred Books of the East and
the CLOSES thereon by AN American Woman"
and 1 am not the least amused at the intelec-
tual hiatus of the latter
This American Woman" says: Had she
q. e. Mrs 0. M Eakins) been there q. E.. in
lndia) longer, her report on the position of
women might have been proportiouately worse"
The fact of Mrs. o. NJ. Eakins's two years stay
in India being productive OF anything but the
truth regarding Hindoo women does not war
rant this American Woman" to predict that
a proportionate increase of the one will in
evitably produce a proportionable increase of
the other. She INDUCES in a species of rnathe-
matical induction which is beyond my compre-
hension
This anonymous writer, after aIluding to Her
bert Compton's book as ''one of a very delight
ful SERIES" speaks Of him as IAN average, hard
headed business man, for many years tea
planter" If he was a hard headed business
man, where had he the time and opportunity
to study the intricate machinery of Hindoo So
cial life, customs and manners? Evidently
Compton's views are the grand generalizations
from the scanty knowledge of the social insti-
and these coolies d. e., workmen) are mostly
drawn from either the pariahs or the aboriginal
hill tribes Hence Compton's picture of Indian
women cannot be that of Hindoo women. Again
Compton speaks so authoritatively on the men
tai and physical conditions of zenana women
How could he have got a peep into the Zenana,
which is so scrupulously guarded against the
intrusions of men. and mostly against that Of
white man? Obviously, Compton's views on
the zenana system are second handed, and are
those of few Christian missionary women in
India. For the benefit of IAN American
Woman" shall quote few passages from an
article which appeared in Every body's Maga-
zine" $500, written by Edmund Russell, who
travelled in various parts of India, and who
was welcome guest in many Hindoo homes.
Rererr1ng TO the zenana, Mr. Russell says: 1T
would certainly be terrible to active club
woman 10 be shut up in her one roomed aerial
nat but the Indian ladies are never shut up.
To judge their condition one must see the extent
OF their homes and. above all, realize COM
pletely the institution of the composite family
"a world in itself" Referring to the general
moral tone of Hndoo women, Edmund Russell
says: 1T is the fouIest slander to say that
Hindoo women as class are devoid of virtue.
mere is probably no country In the world
where such a sweeping statement could be
made with less truth. They are naturally
chaste; their religion, ideals and family envi-
ronments protect them" Regarding the condi-
ton of widows in India, Edmund Russell says:
No institution Of India has been so exagger-
a place analogous to our antique old maid,
now so fast disappearing in the girl bachelor
The aged widow who has remained true to her
principles is regarded as a holy being, who has
withstood a thousand temptations and persecu-
tons and commands the respect of a saint
from all persons She is the mother of all the
children in the neghborhood. the hepmate Of
all the neigh bors. At evening they flock round
to hear her repeat the ancient legends"
Compton says There is no chivalry in India
On the other hand. Edmund Russell says: "A
Hindoo gentleman, next to taking care that his
caste is kept undefled, regards it as his highest
duty and point Of honor to protect his female
relations-defends them from insult dishonor
and danger as any knight of chivalry."
Again, this anonymous writer gives part Of a
Hindoo catechsm. thus:
What is cruel? The heart of a viper.
What is more cruel? The heart of a woman
What is cruellest of all? The heart of a soul
less, pennilesS widow.
What is the chief gate to hell? Woman.
Who is the wisest Of the wise? He who has
not been deceived by women, who may be COM
pared 10 malignant fends'
Let her compare the above catechism with a
few verses taken from King James's version OF
the Holy Bible published by the Oxford Uni
verslty Press for the Society for Promoting
Christian knowledge. Here few verses,
Ecclesiasticus XIV, 13, 10. 21. "a Give me any
plague, but the plague OF the heart; and any
wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman.
All the Wickedness is but little to the wickedness
of a woman; let the portion OF a sinner fall upon
her. Stumble not at the beauty of woman.
and desire her not for pleasure. OF the woman
came the beginning of sin. and through her we
all die"
Also chapter xiii, 12 49, II: "Sit not in the
midst of women. For from garmets cometh
moth; and from woman wickedness- Better is
the churlshness of man than a courteous
woman
Again the anonymous writer quotes from Max
Muller's Sacred Books of the East" the follow
ing:
IF wife obeys her husband. she will for that
reason be exalted unto Heaven. Day and night
women must be kept in dependence by the males
of their families" Let her compare the above
with the following verses from the Holy Bible.
Ephesians v %. 23 "a 33: Wives submit your
selves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord.
For the husband is the head Of the wife, even
Christ is the head of the Church: and ne is
the savior of the body Therefore the Church
is subject unto Christ let the wives be TO
their own husbands in everything. Let the wife
that she reverence her husband
Also Colossians iii. Is: Wives, submit your
selves unto your own husbands. as it is fit in
the Lord"
Again this: IAN American Woman" quotes
from Compton the following: Ladies first we
saw in the West In the East II is ladies last "
Let her compare the above with the following;
I Corinthians xi. Z, 5. 8; For a man
is the image and glory OF God; but the woman is
the glory of man. For the man is not Of the
woman but the woman of the man; neither was
the man created for the woman, but the woman
for the man"
Again this anonymous writer is inclined to be-
Neve what Competon says: "A dastard want OF
confidence in the chastity or his womanklnd IL
the most contemplate native trait of the
average native" We Hindoos look upon mar
riage as a sacred bond. and we scrupuously
guard it, If such attitude appears to the
Western woman IS being "a bastard want of
confidence" we not ashamed of 1t. Tor we
cherish the bringing up or legitimate children.
and have for baStards-
Finally this anonymous writer asks the ques-
ton Does Mt Iyengar mean 10 dispute his
own countrywoman. rs he has an American
woman The answer is simple. have con-
tempt for falsehood in any shape. whether 1t
comes from my countrywoman or from An
1,''''' s. D. S. IYENGAR B. A.
Columbia University. New-York Aug .. 100.