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Show BABY WIDOWS OF INDIA ARE MISTREATED Before a good sized audience last ev.-iimg at I Ik Salvation Army hall Adjutant Anna Klcrtson. who is on a furlough from her duties In India delivered the at cond oi her lectures on Indian customs and conditions The speaker took for her Hubicct "The Baby Widows of Ipdia " Adjutant Klerison slMcd that for centuries the cuBtoni of betrothing chUdren at birth Ins obtained amour the lower castCB of India and their .rs are virtually sold to the querns of the boy to whom the gir lis b.irothcd. Should the boy die before be-fore reaching manhood, the speaker said it was the belief of the people that the girl was accurae, and was to be treated in an ill manner throuch her life -Mrs Elertson stated that when BHCfa a death occurs, the girl is taken by the parents of the boy to be their slave and indignities are heaped upon iier. In many instances, it was said, the little girls attempted to runaway or kill themselves because of their miserable condition. The speaker said that there were 'aws to prohibit this custom, but the I people have observed the rites for such a long time that they cannot be induced to give up the custom, except in the Instances where they have been persuaded against it by missionaries. mission-aries. According to Adjutant Klert I son. the remedying of conditions I among the poorer Indian classes depends de-pends entirely upon the missionaries who are working in that field. The lecture lasl night was the last one to be delivered here by djutant Klertson She left for Salt Lake last night and will eontinue to the coast Before resuming her duties in India . she expects to visit her home in Norway. |