The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-11
PERSIAN WOMEN
NO LONGER SLAVES
Education of the Weaker Sex
Part of Future Evolution
of Persia.
ecial Gable 10 The Tribune.

special CaDle 10 Ihe Tr1Dunc.
TEHERAN, Sept. 10.-It Is not sur
prising that faint ripples of the fem
mist movement should have reached the
shores OF distant Persia, and that ardent
young Persian visionaries who pra1tle
about Socialism. old-nge pensions and
capital and labor have so far contern-
plated adding to their difficulties by in
viting women TO share them, but signs
are not wanting among themselves of
desire to give their daughters an cdu-
cation on European lines. Many who
have passed along the streets OF Teheran
and watched through tho open front OF
some shanty the little boys squatting
around their master and droning out
verses Of the Koran have perhaps won
dered whether there exist, hidden 1t may
be from the public eye, similar institu-
tions for the schooling OF little girls. AS
matter of fact, probably not one girl
out OF thousand twenty years ago ever
received any education.
Due to Americans.
Some thirty years ago the American
Presbyterian Missionary society began TO
take an active interest In the education
for dozen American girls. and 1t was
for many years the only school OF it's
kind in the place. The annual enroll
mcnt did not reach fifty. though the
and lodging. In 1876 the first Moslem
was admitted. but it is only since 1901
that Mahommedan girls have been COM
Ing with any degree of freedom. Preju-
dices were strong. and it was only by
paying surprise visits that Mahommedan
parents were gradually able TO overcome
their attitude OF suspicion. Last year.
however, 23J girls were enrolled. OF whom
l20 were Mohammedans, and instead OF
everything being given free the patrons
Of the school paid over 5000 towards
the cost Of tuition and stationery. Girls
are admitted at seven years OF age. but
1t has been found difficult to keep them
for the entire twclve-year course. New
ertheless, five classes. each consisting or
thirteen girls, have graduated. and nearly
500 pupils have passed through the school
since It's foundation. il Is not the ppr-
pose OF the promoters OF the school TO
denntonalize or make converts of their
education on the lines OF the ordinary
high school and to inculcate European
ideals Of womanhood.
Persians Awakened.
During the last year or two the Per-
slams have become awake 10 the neces-
sity. OF doing something themselves on
similar lines. II is stated that there nre
now more than 30 girls schools in Tehe-
ran. Several OF the older girls at the
American school are training TO become
teaching in the Persian schools during
part of the day. Recently the head OF
one OF these schools paid n visit to the
American school, and expressed her de-
light at "the blaCkboards that do not rub
off, and at 'the nice desks and the clear
maps" ''If this school in its perfection
were known" she said to the Rev. DR.
Esselstyn, head OF the American mis-
sion. you would have thousand girls
begging for admittauce. / have visited
every school in the city and only here
have I found real learning" Another
visitor to the school remarked on leav-
Inc y,igh my wife had hcpn educated,
I want my daughter to take her diploma:
and then give her life to educational
work for the women of Persia.
Still In It's Infancy.
The movement is in It's infancy. but
the fact that last April for the first time
Persian women held large meeting In
Teheran to discuss problems OF educa-
ton seems TO suggest that the education
OF women will play an important part
In the future evolution OF Persia.