The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-11
BUDDHA AND GEN. BOOTH.
Gloomy Conditions Under Which Bar
NUNS White Elephant Appeared.
The Leader Of the Salvation Army and the
Difficulties Experienced by Those Who
Are DESTROYS Of SURPRISING Him,
Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal.

OF snow, frost enough to make Ice only Two
or three times, and the rest so mild and spring
like as to suggest the idea that nature has
turned completely topsy turvey. Fires barely
necessary and overcoats and wraps carried more
for ornament than use; vegetation thriving, the
grass quite green. the trees and hedges ready to
burst into bud in some places; violets in great
profusion, and the birds singing as cheerily as
though mating season were here-this is the sit
uation as write. Even the highest and coolest
ATTITUDES are feeling the touch of this ethereal
mildness. AT latest reports there was not a
vestige of winters covering on the top Of old
Snowdon and the guides state that such open
weather has not been known there before, at
least not within their experience. Such is the
English winter of 1894 the first the writer has
spent here for fifteen years. Lucky fellow"
somebody says, as he puts down his paper and
buttons up to face the fierce cold that is proba-
bly, prevailing about this time in the American
ATTITUDES. But don't be rash, friend. You have
heard but one side of the story. I've spoken of
springs mildness'S but have 1 said anything of
the sunshine and brightness that
are commonly associated with that
season} If so, deserve fogging
for the fact is that here in London we have seen
little of the and sky lately as to almost have
forgotten how they look. For full month the
established order of both night and day has been
gloom and darkness The few peeps old Sol has
taken at us were made at such long intervals,
and lasted so short time, that it is feared he is
ON his ear about something, and l am quite sure
we are. Many days we have had when gas has
been necessity from early morn-but stop; am
making mistake. Early morning is a luxury we
know nothing about, If o'clock give you any
show for beginning business by daylight, you
may count yourself particularly happy. 'Is it
cloudy" asks some tantalizirg querist. Rather;
in fact, quite good deal so, and the clouds come
down 50 low that they touch the ground That
is, it is cloudy above and murky below-a fog
banging about continuously which atonce chokes
ysur lungs, blacks your faces and completely
runs the most beautiful of dispositions, No
wonder the spirit of murder is abroad No won
der the air is rife with threats of dynamite If
the Thames were dragged I shouldn't be sur
prised to hear that hundreds of suicides had been
found. The only wonder to me is that the
gloom has not, long ere this, converted the whole
metropolis into ono vast lunatic ylum.
BARNUM's BUDDHA.
Such are the conditions under which Barnums
Buddha has suddenly swooped down upon us
Don't think me irreverent "Buddha7 is the
name of the white elephant that is resting at the
Zoo for while. preparatory to its trip across
the Atlantic. AS nearly white it is, by the way,
as the apology for daylight which London is now
having, resembles the genuine article From the
brightest skies and fairest landscapes and most
gorgeo9s temples. comes this sacred beast, to
find temporary home, if not its grave, in a big
town where the buildings look as dismal as sepul-
cheers and the sky is suggestive of a funeral pail
and the people, but for the artificial spirits they
imbibe, would be about as cheerful as a set of
undertakers working for uncertain pay. | have
not heard that Buddha has expressed himself re-
garding his surroundings, but who wouldn't give a
penny for his thoughts, or for the thoughts of his
Burmese attendant. That reminds me- The
latter has been interviewed, not, however, on
the weather, but on the elephant The CONVEX
sation was conducted in the Burmese language
and little of what said will interest your
readers They will gladly pardon me, l am
sure, for not giving it in the original tongue.
WELL Radhi" said the interviewer, 'how
does his lerdship like it,"
Suddenly. hearing his own language spoken
the attendants face gladdened.
rs he quite welll' continued the querist
"His heart is filled with delight" said Radhi
"What kind of a temper has heR'
"a temper of sugar plums, disposition of
oil. There is not bad thought in him"
"Will he let strangers touch hint"
"Why should he have any cause for fear7"
''None whatever. The fear is all on my side"
''Wnat afraid of my elephant He is all
sweetmeats."
Then Radhi catechised the interviewer
"Shall get my pay herel' he asked.
''Of course you will This Sahib (Mr Davis
Barnum's chief MANI has the heart of father
and mother toward you His integrity shines
like the SUM-"
ut has happened very we'll, then. By and by
I shall go back to my people in Bur.nah with my
money"
But Buddha viii never go back" observed the
interviewer.
"But is that his name-Buddha9' asked Radhi
Eyes; the Sahib Davis has said that is a good
name and that is what it will be called"
'4And is Buddha to dance here2'
dance! no, he Is not going to Dance
''But is not he going into a showP
"Oh yes; but they will not mako him dance
He is going to be shown to the people just as he
was worshipped in Burmah."
What Will the sahibs do poojah to it-pray
to it2'
mo, not exactly; but they will pretend to,
just to show how it is done in your own country.
The Phoengyes are coming, the idols and indul-
las are already here, and there will be real sa-
flaming to Buddha when all is ready"
At the word salaam, Radm turned to the ele-
plant put his two hands together and bowed
reverentially toward the great beast.
THAT is how it is done,H said he, ''and when
he was coming from the palace of the King of
Burmah all the peoble cried out to him 'Salaamp
'Raia of Raias and salaamed to him"
Let those who want to know the real color of
this white" elephant, smoke cigar and then
look at the,ashes. There they will have it ex-
actly. But front view shows patches of paler
skin and these, in the estimation of millions
are the outward and visible sign of divine sane
tity OF course, that ilnpertinent meddler with
od-fashioned notions, Science, has to have its
say this point, and it gravely tells us that
these discolorments of the skin are marks of a
disease something like leprosy. But will Mr.
Barnum stand such talk as thisl Compared to
Jumbo Buddha is asmall elephant, being at least
four feet shorter than that monster, and much
less imposing in general appearance. Neverthe
less, COED judges pronounce him beauty" and
suppose we must accept their verdict though
for my OWL part. / must say l have never seen
anything about elephants that ! considered par