efforts in behalf of female education make matters worse, because an educated girl, for evident reasons, expects better treatment, and is less able to endure oppression than she who has never heard of better things.
The generous nation that holds in her hands the destinies of India, will, I trust, no longer be indifferent to the sad state of things portrayed above. Special legislation on the subject of infant marriages, oppression by mothers-in-law, wife-beating etc., is neither easy nor desirable. But much can be done indirectly and directly in various ways by Englishmen, both as rulers and private friends in their individual capacity. Though we may reasonably expect help from our foreign protectors, we cannot assert that these social evils can be remedied by them alone or even principally by them. While they can lend us their influence in any way they can, we ourselves must be the principal actors. To get over the difficulty we are bound to apply our shoulders to the wheel. Every one of us should try to relieve the dear companion of his life and the future mother of his children from bondage and tyranny by such means as may be in his power.
The educated party, I confess, is comparatively insignificant. The great majority of reformers are young men and not independent householders. Their number is small, and they possess little influence and voice in social matter. The independent reformers are at present too few to be able to cause any change in the old customs, thoughts and habits of the people. Yet there is something that can be done by all those who have received education though to be able to think for themselves, to understand the position and duties of husband and wife, and to sympathise with suffering humanity. Though our educated youngmen cannot prevent infant marriages, they can improve the pitiable condition of their wives. They have full opportunity of talking with them in the bed-chamber after supper every day. Here a kind and considerate husband, by offering his sympathies, can try to relieve the oppressed feelings of his wife when suffering from the tyranny of his parent. He can engage her in useful conversation, enlighten her mind by instruction, inculcate principles of morality and, in short, become her teacher and
