The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-24
United States. .But bevond all this benefit

United States. but beyond all this benefit
to your commerce." he continued, ''you
should be interested in the missionary work
Of India, because every European race orig
mated in India. We who remained
at nome have been buried in
superstition for centuries, but are
now beginning 20 shake off the old supersti-
tons. You whose ancestors loft the home
OF our mutual forefathers have had many
advantages that were not given to us. When
you educate our women YOU educate a
sister. LII you convert the women of India
the men will soon follow. Our forafathers
laid out the plan for astronomy and were
tar advanced IN architecture and other arts.
DO you wonder that | am proud of my
country? 1t has a bright future, and its
success depends upon your MISSIONS" Mr..
Singh began his formal lecture by describ-
ing chlld life in India. He is the son of q
wealthy farmer in Napaull, in the northern
part of the country. He told how he had,
according to Hindoo ways, been taught the
love the former and hun the latter. He
was taught to fear the gods, love his par
ents. respect the aged aud adhere to all the
institutions of his ancestors, social or relig-
lous. Most of the Indians thus trained do
and say many things that they have no
conception OF, much as a parrot is
taught to utter words. In early life
children were taught to nave a terror of
vooths or devils, the spirits of men,
women and beasts dying under pe-
cullar circumstances these spirits are
believed to be innumerable in counties
through which the sacted Gauges river does
not pass. Most of the rich people carry
their dying friends to the Ganges countr
to due, SO that they will not encounter devils
anu be enabled to reach heaven. Mothers
sing the names of devils as lullabys to chill
dren. tie remembered his mother singing
to her children when they were fretfu! and
would not go to sleep, II am Ear Cutter,
1--we on burr trees, and cut the ears of of
noisy children" So firm was tho belief of
the children in Ear Cutter that in terror
they ceased to cry asthey poked their heads
under their mother arm to protect their
ears. AS children grow older they are
soothed with songs made up of the stories
OF the acts of devils, lions and tigers upon
bad children. 1t is the custom for servants
to gather children about them after dark
and tell them how devils wander about the
village at night and require the people they
meet to recite their prayers They do all
sorts of horrid things to those
who can not do as required. The
children IN great fear learn all the PRAYERS
and the names of tho Idols that they NAV
avoll the evil of the devils. While knives
ana forks are not used at table the lecturer
wanted it understood that the table man
ners were of Il high standard. Children
learned to use their fingers delicatalv in
handling food. The hand ia not put into
tho mouth. To leave ones seat before
others have finished is an insult, and the
meal Is then abruptly terminated. Hindooa
must not touch ench other while eating. and
should TINS o. done by accldeut the eldest
at the meal CEASES to eat and fasts until
tho next is ready. What is not eaten Mt a
meal IL given to sthe poor. The first and
great duty of a child is to reverence its
parents by words, deeGs and actions. They
40 not utter the names Of thor parents IN.
iess IL lsior something important, and their
two or three respectful terms ara usea both
before and after the name. To addrass n
person Older than one'a self by name ia to
insult hlm. Ayounger brother does not adj
dfeas ms sister or brother ms Mafyor James.
Dut as iirst sister or second b otlsr.
Inarrlei woman will not utter the name of
her husband or her elders. and in speukino
OF these she changes the iirat letter of the
name and will speak of silva ns Fiva.
Nilie the tilndoos love music their ideas
OF respect Will not permit them to sing
before elders. Persons of the Same age
sing among themselves, and when n yirl ia
induced to sine Tor her companions these
iatIer While listening to the music must nlso
DO alert to catch the footstep Of any one
VINO may approach. Public singers NAV be
heard by ali. but taere are no women a,nou,
These. proficiency in music or dancinp ia
not considered an accomplishment amouo
society women In India. Her accomplish
nltnts consists in keeping silent before her
friends, III abstalniug from wild laughter.
IN paying attention to tho regulations Of
heF sex. IN Offering due regard to others. in
hel lathillarlty with tho art of coDniup and
nef reverence Tor all holy aud good tuinas.
me lecturer expressed his Arrangement nj
society men and women of this country