Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - XXVI. The Women of India—The Widows—The American Zenana—Prizes Awarded in a Girl’s School—Annandabai Joshee—Her Visit to America—Reports to the Government—Departure from India—Burmah—Ceylon—Arabia—Cairo
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253 Story of an Emigtiant.
272
condition exists, for otherwise their life would be still more
miserable.
In the course of the last few years missionaries from Europe
and America have opened schools for the education of girls.
The most prominent of these is located in Calcutta, and has
many branches in other parts of India. It is called "the
American Zenana," or ladies’ mission, and during my stay in
India it was managed by a Miss Ilook, a very estimable
lady of Danish descent, the fruits of whose noble work will
be of incalculable value to future millions of Hindoo women.
At an examination in this school I had the honor of
distributing the prizes, consisting of five hundred American dolls
sent by Cyrus Field of New York. The recipients were the
most dainty and pretty little girls one could see. I wish I
could describe this festivity. I sat on the platform in the
great hall with Miss Hook to the right, a pundit or learned
Brahmin to the left, and surrounded bv the American and
native teachers and some American tourists. The immense
hall might be compared with a beautiful flower terrace alive
with different colors, every little girl shining like a pretty
flower in her red, green, white, blue or purple dress, her
pretty black hair sparkling with gold and silver ornaments or
jewels. They were all listening with close attention until
their names were called, when they modestly, their faces
beaming with joy, stepped up to receive the pretty dolls sent
by the generous American.
At first these schools met with bitter opposition on the
part of the better classes of natives, but these prejudices
gradually died away, and at present the mission schools
are not subject to either persecution or ill-will.
One day in February, 1883, I received a visit at my home
by a Brahmin of the highest class, accompanied by his young
wife and her little sister. Her name was Annandabai
Joshee. Her husband was postmaster in the old Danish city
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