Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1889-06-06
w. ". b. GALLAHER, Editor.
June @, 1889.
INTERESTING LETTER FROM HON.
4. VI. KELLEY.
He Tells he BramimicaI Story of Ede'


Correspondent Of The Richmond state.
l find in your issue received to-day a
number of maxims respecting women, ia
ken from the sacred books of India, one
of which reads as follows:
at was at the prayer of a woman that
the Creator pardoned man. Cursed be
he who forgets it"
The origin, or to be more accurate, the
occasion which gave rise TO this maxim
forms one of the most charming OF the
legends of Braminism. | wish l could
repeat it as l heard it from the lips of n
pious Bramin, but in default of that it
may interest you even in the prosaic garb
in which alone, l can hope to clothe it.
1t is the Hindoo story of the Fall of our
First Parents, and proceeds thus:
When God created the first pair he
placed them in the island Of Ceylon, Of
whose surprising loveliness in that spring
time of the earth one may easily be pur-
suaded who sees it to-day, after millen-
iums of decline, still the most enchanting
spot on which the eyes Of wandering men
are privileged to rest.
Then it was a royal garden filled with
everything that the needs or tastes or just
longings of the human heart could desire ;
whose fruits, now nameless and un-
known; whose flowers, uncatalogued
even in imperial gardens; whose birds,
without counterparts in the forests Of to-
day, surpassed all that men have ever
known of deIiciousness and beauty. All
their heart could long for was there in
profusion-all that their lives could need
was given without toll and enjoyed with
out peril and the benign Creator asked
of his happy creatures but one tribute
contentment.
"Stay you here in this earthly paradise
| have prepared for you alone, and ye
shall live forever in undivided happiness
and perfect peace; but stay ye here.
The command was easy to obey, and
for many months the fortunate pair pass
ed their lives in this island of delights
without wish unfulflled or a need un-
answered.
But one day Adam surprised his part
ner with the statement that as ravishing
as was their home he had seen from its
hills across a narrow strait forests even
more fair and brighter flowers and trees
more luxuriantly laden than those about
them, hoping that her curiosity thus
piqued would lead her to countenance, if
not commend, thought to wander that
had sprung in his own breast But Eve
was silent.
Again and again he told her Of the
fairer land beyond the sea; but she an
swered his appeal, now often made in
words, by reminding him that the Crea-
tor had only asked one thing of them
that they should rest where they we're
and that nothing could excuse neglect Of
so simple command.
But Adam persisted, saying "How
will He know il we are merely absent for
few hours, for the strait is narrow which
lies between US and the delightful land
beyond-and since he placed US here he
has never returned and probably never
will return to inquire about US"
But Eve refused to disobey.
And so, day by day, the controversy
went on until Eve, wearied with Adams
persistence, one day replied "But how
can we 20. We are surrounded by water,
and if we seek this more beautiful shore
we shall surely be lost"
But Adam answered: Not so, have
already gone nearly across, and it is very
shallow and easily compassed. Come"
But she would not. Nevertheless, it
came to pass finally, that wearied with
his opportunities, Eve yielded, and one
morning as the snn was rising they start
ed to cross the strait that severed them
from the mainland, Adam eager and
triumphant, Eve reluctant and afraid.
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