I 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 Roman’s Ifnimt 
 
 WHAT IS A ZENANA? 
 
 T HE meaning of the word is literally, “The place for 
 women,” from the Persian word Zen (a woman) and An (a 
 place). “It is a collection of dirty court-yards, dark 
 corners, break-neck staircases, filthy out houses, and entries, 
 overlaid by rubbish, or occupied by half-clad native servants, 
 stretched about on charpoys or on the ground, indifferently 
 built verandahs, and unfurnished and very small rooms.” Such 
 is a Zenana and its surroundings ! The approach to the house 
 is often so intricate, rough or narrow, that one must go on foot, 
 a perilous proceeding under the rays of a tropical sun. Once 
 inside the Zenana, you are struck by the entire absence of all 
 
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 that constitutes the complement of a room, furniture, tables, 
 and chairs are not thought of, except when brought in for the 
 time being, from the Babu’s apartment, for the missionary’s 
 use. The lessons are given in the open verandah, and while one 
 or two women are learning, the remainder of the occupants seat 
 themselves on the ground, to stare and make remarks on the 
 “foreign lady.” You can at once discover, by the wonderful 
 improvement in their manner, which of the native women have 
 been under instruction for any length of time. 
 
 “ A native house has two divisions; the outer and inner 
 apartments. To the inner apartments or the Zenana, are con- 
 signed the mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters of a Bengali 
 household. There are as few windows as possible; great care 
 is taken that they do not open on a public street, or on a neigh- 
 bor’s house; and if they do, they are so small and high up, as 
 to preclude the possibility of looking out, or any one looking in. 
 They are intended to keep out the sunshine and the wind of 
 heaven as much as possible.” 
 
 Could words more vividly suggest the wide difference be- 
 tween true and false religion ? In heathen houses how dark 
 and repulsive, in Christian households how bright and attractive 
 is “ the Mother’s Room,” that inner shrine of home, “the place 
 for women.” God who commanded the light to shine out of 
 darkness, hath shined in our hearts (yes and in our homes), to 
 give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face 
 of Jesus Christ. 
 
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 Over thirty years ago the Zenanas of India, became an 
 absorbing interest to the Woman’s Union Missionary Society, 
 who sent out, for this distinctive work, the first American women 
 as missionaries to this new department of labor. During this 
 time it has been our privilege to see wondrous changes in the 
 lives of these secluded women, we trust in all humility, partly 
 due to the efforts of our consecrated missionaries. 
 
 Formerly where it was the exception for a woman in India 
 to read or write, now fifteen per cent, are reported by the British 
 government, as under tuition, and the first requisite when a 
 marriage is contemplated is an elemental education. 
 
 Next, child marriage one of the deplorable customs of 
 India, has occupied the attention of missionaries, resulting in a 
 bill passed by the Government, called the “Age of Consent,” 
 where the age of little brides required by law has been advanced 
 to at least twelve years. 
 
 Six mission stations in India are supported by the Woman’s 
 Union Missionary Society, where 5,409 Zenana women and 
 girls were under instruction the past year. 
 
 While a good work has been done it still remains true, that 
 millions of Zenana women have never heard the name of Christ. 
 
 Surely you who read this account would like to have a share 
 in this Zenana work acknowledged as one of the great reform 
 movements of the day. 
 
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 Donations in aid of this undenominational mission, con- 
 ducted by unsalaried officers, may be sent to the Woman’s 
 Union Missionary Society, 67 Bible House, New York City. 
 
 OFFICERS OF THE WOMAN’S UNION MISSIONARY SOCIETY, 
 
 Mrs. HENRY JOHNSON, President. 
 
 Miss S. D. DOREMUS, Corresponding Secretary. 
 
 Miss ELIZABETH STONE, Assistant Treasurer. 
 
 The Missionary Link contains recent intelligence on 
 Zenana work. Terms 50 cents annually.