hearts, and take under its divine guardianship their sacred mission in India, as in America, to
“Give to social man true relish of himself.”
The men of India have never known woman's high power as “a helpmeet” in mind, heart, social life, or usefulness, and until they do they cannot enjoy the blessed home which only honored and elevated women can create.
If there be any one thing, short of salvation, in which America and India contrast each other most vividly, it is woman's high position in her home, and man's consequent happiness resulting therefrom—as wife, living for the husband whom she loves; as mother, making her abode a nursery for the Eden on high; the friend and patron of all that is lovely, virtuous, and of good report; her plastic influence of mind and heart and character molding those within her sphere into sympathy with her own goodness, while she thus sweetly
“Allures to brighter worlds, and leads the way.”
In presence of this excellence—and, thank Heaven! Christianity has thousands such—every thing beautiful on earth brightens. The holiest and happiest men in this world bask in this blessed social sunshine, and are led by it to the contemplation and earnest hope of those “better things” which it typifies; their sanctified domestic joy becoming a sign and promise of the felicity that will be endless when they come to realize at last what they so often sing below—
“My heavenly home is bright and fair.”
The food and manner of eating is quite Oriental, with the peculiarity on the part of the stricter Brahminical caste that they never touch flesh of any kind; but the rich variety of fruits and vegetables, and other products of the field and garden, with milk, butter, etc., enables them to enjoy a full variety. The favorite dish of India is the “curry,” and natives and foreigners alike seem to agree that it is the king of all dishes. If it was not the “savory meat” that Isaac loved, the latter was probably very like it; but
