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Shastras, follow its dictates, and you shall be able to remove the foul blot from the face of your country. But unfortunately you are so much under the domination of long established prejudice, so slavishly attached to custom and the usages and forms of society, that I am afraid you will not soon be able to assert your dignity and follow the path of rectitude. Habit has so darkened your intellect and blunted your feelings that it is impossible for you to have compassion for your helpless widows. When led away by the impulse of passion, they violate the vow of widowhood, you are willing to connive at their conduct. Losing all sense of honour and religion, and from apprehensions of mere exposure in society you are willing to help in the work of foeticide. But what a wonder of wonders! you are not willing to follow the dictates of our Shastras, to give them in marriage again, and thus to relieve them from their intoler-
