Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-06-13
A sunday school India.

An American woman who has recently
travelled in India writes;
While in Cownpore | have had some
little chance to inspect the American
missionery work which is being prosecu.
ted here. The American Methodists
seem to have taken India by storm, lust
as the Baptists have British Burmah.
stopped over Sunday at the pleasant
~ of Mr.. and Mrs. A. J. Maxwell. One
rning we rode over to Miss Eastman E
N school, where our American teach
c. educating English and Eurasian
gi.. nominal cost. The British
Government is very liberal toward any
educational project, and will not only cede
land for such purposes, but pay certain
annual sum toward the current expenses
OF the institution. On the morning in
question the venerable George Muel-
Ter, of Bristol Orphanage fame, was ad.
dressing the children. Miss Eastman
took us out into her garden and picked
fully half bushel of the most beautiful
roses for us that it has ever been my lot
to behold. saw none in California OF
Canton that could quite equal them in
their extraordinary proportions and deli
cacy of coloring.
We also picked some orange blossoms
along with ripe fruit, some pomeloe bios
SONS and quite a quantity Of the Indian
box,-more fragrant than the American
tuberose. Constant irrigation and const-
ant fighting of porcupincs are essential
to horticultural success in India but
with these conditions fulflled the results
are little short of miraculous
But perhaps the most novel experience
in the mi 'slonery line was afforded me
on SUNDAY, when in company with Mr..
McGrew paid visit to two of the 2C
American Methodist Sunday schools in
this city. With solar topees and our
neutral tint spectNcles on. we rode in q
gharry through wilderness of mud
houses, whore girls are gathering fuel in.
to hugo baskets borne on their heads,
women grinding. two ut each mill, and
men going about their ordinary pursuits.
At length we haltel in font of a room
about 10 feet square opening upon the
street. A crowd of urchins were playing
tag, or some game akin to it. in front OF
this little room. The moment they saw
our gharry they ceased playing and began
to swarm about us, the while shouting.
"Salaam, Sahib, Sllaam - Oh they
were dirty, but who minded that? Some
of the boys were absolutely naked, and Sc
were some of the girls but only the
prudish traveller is annoyed at SO com
mon a sight. In they rushed pell nell
and began to squat Turk fashion upon the
floor of the room before mentioned.
suppose there were 80 children in that
tiny room. know there was no room
for more. Some of the faces were ex
ceedingly bright aud interesting, despite
the dirt
SIS this Sunday School % I inquired
as we seated ourselves on the only two
choirs in the apartment.
"This is Sunday school," returned
Mr. McGrew. "Of course the work is al
yet purely educational. We instruc
those 1000 children in our Cawnpor
schools, and then wait for the lcaven t,
work.
Sacred songs followed, both words an,
tunes being tlindostanee. If Mendels
| sohn could have been there, how h
would have writhed. Even the Japanes
and Chinese children make far superio
music. The effect was simply an lndes
cribable panaemouium Of noise. Blu
when Mr.. McCirew came to catechise tlem
[ was amazed. They were in their elem
ent and knew every answer by heart. Th
| correct answer was shrieked in chorus
almost every little heathen in the room
Thus learned in the doctrine can even th
most devout pagans become. Even tn
native pundit who had charge of tn
school in Mr. McGrews absence was
devoted Mohammedan