“The genius of the East will take some time to be taught the social customs of the West.  To an Indian it would be a horrible idea if his sister or daughter or wife will go out to tea or supper or dance with a young man who is neither related nor a close friend of the family.  India will fondly preserve its genius.

“Indian leaders look with alarm at the possibility of a female India of the type of the West.  They would like the purdah system to be removed, females to be educated, to get the franchise, and still for them to keep their modesty.  There are many who would like to break this barrier, but it would be disastrous for India to arrive at such a state within fifteen or twenty years when ninety-nine out of one hundred women are illiterate.  Education is essential and as long as Indian women, the future mothers of India, do not realize their responsibility, it is much better and wiser that they should remain behind the scene.

“The help we can give in bringing about this great reform is to show by our example.  Freedom does not mean simply coming out of purdah and taking undue advantage and misuse of liberty.  We who have done away with our purdah should not be stumbling blocks to others.  Freedom guided and governed by the Spirit of God is the only freedom and every true citizen ought to help to bring it about.”

Social Service.

Lal Bagh students are interested not only in the theories of social reform; they are taking a direct part in the application of these theories through the means of social service, not put off for some future “career,” but carried on during the busy weeks of college life.  Nor is such service merely social; through it all the Christian motive holds sway.  We will let one of the students tell in her own words what they are attempting.

“‘Cleanliness is next to godliness’ is the first lesson we teach in our social and Christian service fields.  Both in our work in the city and in our own servants’ compound, we emphasize personal cleanliness and that of the home, and have regular inspection of servants’ homes.

“Religious instruction is given to non-Christian children and women in various sections of the city in separate classes.  Side by side with these, they are given tips about doctoring simple ailments, and taught how to take precautions at the time of epidemics like cholera, typhoid, etc.  Lotions, fever mixtures, cough mixtures, quinine, etc., are given to the poorer depressed classes, as also clothes and soap to the needy ones.

“In the servants’ compound plots have been provided for gardening, and provision made for the children’s play, and pictures given to parents as prizes for tidy homes.  Soap and clothes and medicines are given here also; a special series of lectures on diseases and the evils of drink has been started.  A lecture a week is given—­cholera, malaria, typhoid fever, dysentery have been touched on—­lantern slides and charts and pictures have been used for illustration.  On Saturday nights the Christian servants have song-service and prayer meeting, and on Sunday noon a Bible class.  Each of these is conducted by a teacher assisted by girls of the College.