11 SEPTEMBER 1909, Page 16

INDIAN STUDENTS IN ENGLISH FAMILIES. [To THE Emma or nes

..sexcurea."] SIB,—According to Renter's telegram of the Indian Budget speech the Master of Elibank alluded to (1) the difficulty of the problem. of dealing with the increasing numbers of Indian

students in England " living cheerless and friendless lives in lodging-houses, and not seeing the best side of English life "; also, resuming, the Master of Elibank said (2) that " it would be the duty of the educational adviser to give the names of cultured English families who were willing to receive students." The problem alluded to need not be difficult, and students need not live cheerless and friendless lives. The India Office can acquire land, build residences for each sort and condition of student, let them bring their own men- servants and their own women-servants and food-stuffs, and be quite happy in their own way,—make an Indian quarter.

The question. of cultured English families and Indian students much more nearly concerns us. We try to keep our herds and our flocks from infection ; are we to be less careful for our families ? While trying to help students let us not bring misery into our homes. There is, alas ! in English homes much genteel poverty, circumstances in which every pound and shilling are welcome. " Culture" does not connote a knowledge of the Indian nature. Surely it is urgently necessary that some one of authority and in authority should publicly warn the cultured English families of the very grave risks they run in opening their doors to these men and youths. I take it that the best side of English life is the women and children. If it is necessary to show these men our English home life, let it be done by magic-lantern. Let us take to ourselves a little of the wisdom of the East. Will Mr. J. D. Rees tell the British public what a Hindu family would think of admitting English students to share their home life ?—I am, Sir, &c., ENGLISHMAN.

[We are bound to say that we sympathise with " English- man's " warning. The Indian students are, we feel sure, as a rule, honourable and high-minded men, and we have not the slightest wish to assail either their standards of conduct, their religion, or their moral codes. It is impossible to deny, however, that they look upon women and all the problems of sex in a way which must make us feel that it is as undesirable that they should mix freely with our women as it would be undesirable in their opinion that we should have home intercourse with their women. To them such intercourse seems abominable and disgusting in a high degree. Believers in the wisdom of the rules securing the seclusion of women cannot, however strong their desire to respect local usages, prevent the disregard of those rules appearing as something almost orgiastic. As long as they would not dream of sharing their home life with ours, we had better not share ours with them. We can treat them with kindliness, sympathy, and respect without making them temporary members of our families.—En. Spectator.]