3 OCTOBER 1885, Page 3

Mr. Whitley Stokes, recently Legislative Member of Council in India,

makes a suggestion for the benefit of Hindoo widows which deserves attention. He would prohibit child-marriages, or rather betrothals, thus by degrees extinguishing the corrupt class of virgin widows. The suggestion is bold, and it would be necessary to be sure of Hindoo opinion; but it is noteworthy that Hindoo Reformers always strike first at this practice. Society might yield without a word, as it yielded about Suttee and infanticide.