Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-07
Aided by Native Leaders.

The Representatives of the league, it is
explained, are meeting with cordial sup
port by men in high position, who COM
mand the respect Of the public, notably
Nofesdro Nath Sen, a high caste Hindu,
owner and editor Of the Indian Mirror, an
influential daily newspaper. and of Justice
Ashutosh Mukeiji. judge of the high
court of Calcutta, besides many Others
1t is claimed the opportune hour for ac-
ton has now arrived. These, II Is de-
clared. are the times Of worldwide action
and movements, commercial, philan-
thropic and missionary. Thought is wild
ening and deepening and the greater
minds among the Hindus themselves are
becoming interested In this subject and
Its horrible consequences. not only to the
victims themselves. but to the race as a
whole. which Is deteriorating in conse-
quence of 1t.
After reports from the various circles
of the league had been read at the meet
ing last Wednesday number of photo
graphs taken by Miss Carrie A. Tenant.
In Calcutta, India. were exhibited, show
ing astonishing disparity in age and size
between men living in Calcutta and the r
child wives. In one case the husbands
age was forty yea s. while that of his wife
was nine years. In another case the hus-
band was fifty years old and h s child wife
but eight years. In sill another case the
husband was thi-ty-five years old and his
baby WIFE but seven. And so the story
goes with the remainder. An instance
was cited OF a visit to a hospital where
on a cot lay a child wire of but fourteen
years of age, who was the mother Of three
children. Her own mother was but twen-
ty-two years old. A p.tiful story was told
of chlS wife but thirteen years old, who
carried In her arms puny, sickly baby
girl. The mother was timid and cried
when spoken to and refused to lift her
face that the sun might shine upon It
WI her nn0tnRFanh faken
Instance a child wife Of nine years Of
age. IL is said, did the cooking and house
work for her husband of thirty-fve years
of age. who kept provision shop near
whel Miss Tenant lived.
There was also exhibited at the meet
ing a printed duplicate Of a petition to the
viceroy and governor general of India,
dated September y. 1880. and signed by
ffty-five women doctors. who had had
wide experience In nistering to the
leeds of the child wives of India. Its de-
tals are not fit for publication, but dis
g ose the most horrible condition of af-
iairs.
Government Aware of Conditions.
1t was explained that the Indian gov
eminent was aware Of the terrible cruel
ties resulting from child marriage, but
was unable TO do anything TO prevent it
unless the natives themselves should re-
quest II. Many high caste Hindus. 1t is
said, are awakening to the dreadful conse-
quences of these child marriages and are
lending their aid to the league in its eff
fort TO bring about a reform by raising
the narriageable age of girls to sixteen
years at least. The Hindus themselves, il
is said. have practced child marriage for
centuries. To them there is nothing un-
usual or remarkable about 1t. They are
so used to the sights that shock and ap-
pal the Christian world that they make
no impression upon them.
The women interested I'm the league saw
that the success of their movement de-
ponds upon keeping IL undenom national.
I, In keeping religion widely separated from
| the question, and i'm simply endeavorinR
| to arouse the Hindu himself to the hor-
rors of child marriage until he is willing
of his own accord to consent to a modi-
| fication of the law which permits it. One
| or the members of the league said the e
was still a further remedy, and that was
! to arouse the civilized world to the bar
barity OF the practice until the nations
themselves should intervene to suppress it.