The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-08-22
BONDAGE OF WOMAN.

Tn speaking of slavery, 1t is there fore understood that we refer exclu- siveIy to the bondage of woman. A woman may become a slave in any of four ways.
 The first may be through poverty. Being unable to support herself, or 1t may be her parents, the woman is al- lowed to sell herself, either for a, given number of years, or for life. The ar engagements for such sale as this are always made through the aid ot <ne of her friends. The pre1ininaries having been settled she will be introduced into the house of her prospective puzenaNcr, who, if he be pleased with her appear ance, will take her on trial for a few
 days or weeks At the expiration of this time the stipulated sum of 40,00o, 50, 900 or 75,0 900 cash ($4o, $50, or $75) will | be paid to her.
 A deed, or agreement, Of sale is | drawn up between her and her pur-
 chaser As all women sin Korea are l unable to write. she signs the deed by making upon it an impression of the previously linked thumb and fingers of her left hand. The entire outline of the hand Is traced over that portion of
 the document stating the terms under | which she sells herself This method l of procedure has been in common use for many centuries past; 1t forms not only an equivalent to a signature but provides reliable means of identihca- ton.
 Tn this circumstance we find a prac- tical application of the science Of cheiromancy, which has been in con- stant use for many centuries, before Sir William Herschel made his expert- ments or M. Bertillon had conceived his anthropometric system.
 The money having been received and the deed executed she permanently takes up her abode in her purchasers s I -Ir- I1r to keep her, 5clothe her and provide for her in every respect. Obviously it is to the owners advantage to keep her in the best condition" possible; doubtless this is the reason we often see slave women not only much bet
 who work for a daily or monthly wage.
 In the majority of eases the owner encourages marriage, though it is not in his power to dictate to whom The slave almost invariably occupies
 small room, about eight feet square
 situated just inside the gate leading
 to the courtyard of the woInen's apart ments. Should she be married, she is allowed to bring her husband thither and to make herself comfortable as | circumstances will permit.
 | PERPETUATIoN THROUGH DE-
 sCENDANTs.
 | Custom, which Is as binding as law, shields or covers the purchaser in the l event of a slave dying before her stip- ulated period of servitude- has expired; 1 this fact is but an added reason why 1 the owner wishes his slave to be mar ried and does not violate that sacred relationship. The daughter must fill ont the uncomp1eted term. In the case | of a woman heviug several daughters | the oldest, or any one selected by the l 11ov T0nfhPr,S nIaCa ShOIIl6 l if SD happen that the chosen one dies shortly after her mother it is not per i rnissabIe for the owner to retain any
 of the other daughters.
 Thus a. daughter may become a. slave by taking her mothers place upon hel | death as referred to above. In this case. it is necessary to state that though the daughter is considered just L-... -eeaelA 5~a.saa-a aA thA noNthax Eha hal