Women of Cataluna, Spain
By Mrs. Walter Bond
The women of China suffer all through life from pinched, cramped feet, but here a worse custom prevails. More vital organs are interfered with. From the cradle the bodies of little girl babies are incased in that fearful invention of the enemy of all mankind, the corset. As they grow into girlhood, very few of them have the privilege of obtaining an education. As soon as they are old enough, the daughters are placed in factories, where they earn a few cents a week to help support the family. Thus they are forced to go through life without learning to read or write. Every member of a poor family has to begin work at as early an age as possible, in order to make a living, wages being so small. The women work hard all day in the factories, beginning at half-past five in the morning and working till seven in the evening, and after this they have the housework, the cooking, and the washing and ironing to do, while the men smoke, drink, and gamble. But the worst part of it all is that so few of them know of a living Saviour. Among them are thousands of warm-hearted souls, who long for something better. Shall we who have light keep others in darkness? We are glad to have the privilege of working among this people who have so long been under the influence of Rome. Who will come over and help us? Surely the night is far spent, and day is at hand. The Master says at the eleventh hour, Why stand ye idle all the day? Go work in my vineyard. We are praying the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers. Who will come?