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Show li THE EAST INDIAN WIFE. A Gentle and - Submissive Type' of Man's Helpmate. "Was there ever the world over a like conception of the married state? Chief priestess of her husband, whom to Mrve is her religion and her delight. ijiin with him in the economy of the household, certainly; but moving in a plane far below him for all other pur- poses religious, mental, social; gentle arid adoring, but incapable of participation partici-pation in the larger interests of his life, incapable of participation even" in his games. - VTfe are richer,"- "Ave are poorer" that he hounds of a joint intelligence. To please his mother, whose chief handmaiden hand-maiden F.he is in things domestic, and to. bring him a son these her two ambitions; am-bitions; .but the latter chiefly, for to the mother of a son will a husband forgive for-give even wrangles in the house-place. Oh, the worshiping of gods, the con-suitings con-suitings of oracle, the stealthy 'working 'work-ing of charms to this end! And if the gods prove gracious, proud Inueed : is the Jittle lady a creature of good omen, a being to be welcomed at feasts, J to be invoked by the childless. No longer 1s she a failure: even widowhood would lave her with the chastened halo of that son who is "worthy to offer sacrifice?. .... Such an attitude of mind may seem irrational to the alien, but It should be remembered that the whole idea of marriage in the east resolves simply on the conception of life; a community of interests, companionship these never enter into the general calculation. Nor is this strange when one reflects on bow large a place life must fill in the thotightsrfof a people believing in reincarnation: rein-carnation: As a life-bringor alone has a woman her place in : the scheme of Hindoo philosophy. Tor life and relig-. ion are inextricable in the loom of time; atid woman, never did hav a. Vedic value. 1-ook at her. then, our little Hinuoo f type of wifehood gentle, HUbmissive, a pet-fft house mistress, moving softly about the women's domain, "the in- sid." Up with the dawn, she bathes and worships; worships her own special codling and tends her sacred plants, then, draws from Borne ancestral well V th water for the household needs, ' scorning no domestic duty. A picture pood to see is the on these occasions her pretty red draperies girt put of harm's way while she heaves aloft the niortening rope with subtle grace. Mark ihe poise of head, the turn of slender wrist, as the shafts of daylight strike brilliance from mystic amulet or jeweled jew-eled armlet Further domestic tie? occupy oc-cupy the day. with ' perchance a little K'jssip in the houseplace ere the even-i even-i g meal brings fresh need for a skills ful house-mother. She waits upon her husband, while he feeds; silent in his presence with downcast eyes" to look him irr 'the face 'would be Mold indeed'. Perhaps he talks to her of village or 'ainilv intere.t;" she would not think 1 strange did he not. Nineteenth Cen-'ury. Cen-'ury. . |