The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-31
An Earthly Paradise.

There is corner Of the earth whose beauty
has been celebrated with fervor alike by
naturalists and by poets. which has challenged
unstinted admiration from observers in an
cient. MEDIEVAL and very recent times. and
which is equally interesting to the student Of
natural history and to the arch9ologist. Among
n hundred traditional asprants Ceylon is ac-
knowledged to possess in respect Of climate
and natural productions the strongest claim
to the title Of the Earthly Paradise. Its charms
have often been described In sober works OF
travel as we'll as in romance and poetry. but
the work Of vivid delineation and illuminativs
comment has never been so thoroughly per-
formed as it is by Miss C. F. GORDON CUNNING
in the volumes entitled 7too Happy Years in
CevlOn tscribners. These volumes are the
record OF n recent sojourn in the island. during
which. besides taking innumerabie notes. the
author. who is an artist in water colors. made
hundreds OF drawings. many OF which have
attracted much attention at colonial exhibit
tions in Great Britain. It was. indeed. the
light thrown by these sketches on the beauty
and distinctive character OF Ceylonese scenery
which gave rise to q demand that the author
should supplement the brush with the pen
and recount her Impressions in oomprehen-
sive narrative. The book. which Is q response
to the demand. Is o mine OF various informa-
ton. and ia In truth so exhaustive that 1t
almost deserves the name OF monograph. 1t
is hard to pass over any Of its 900 pages. so
packed are they with interesting material. but
since selection Is indispensable We shall
dwell principally on the authors pictures Of
tropical scenery and Ceyloness life aud on her
visits to Handy. the present native capital. and
to the ruins OF Anuradhapura, the magnificent
metropolis OF ancient Ceylon. We should also
wish to accompany her in her tour through the
planting districts. where the substitution OF
tea for coffee has had such remarkable eco
nomical consequences We must ikewise at
lenst. refer to the writer's account OF the
ancient manuscripts relating to the religious
and civil history OF the island. and whose con-
tents. after having been long hidden. even
from the natives. have at last been disclosed
by English scholars.
1t was at Point do Gale that tho author got
her first glimpse OF Ceylon. and she tells US
that long before the beautiful isle was sighted
the breath OF its tropical forests met her out
on the sea. Lest her readers should smile in
crcdulously ut the idea OF spice laden breezes.
che assures us that again and again when OF
Ceylon. even when out OF sight OF land she
has been for several hours rogaled with balmy
airs blowing from the shore. like tho atmos-
scent OF primulas. What she saw after land
ing ID recounted with an enthusiasm which,
after the lapse OF years. bears witness to
the intensity OF the original Impressions.
Her first resting place WAS Il bungalow
with WIDE pllared verandas cmbowered In
gardens where all lovely things grew in rank
profusion. yelling tho pillars and half cover
ING the roof. exquisite blue citoria. orange
vcnusta. purple passion flowers. lilac and
white clematis mingling their starry blossoms
with those Of tho glorious crimson tacsonia,
and splendid blue or white convolvulus. and
luxnrinnt fuchsias. while hellotrope. Gardeniu.
and rosos blended their fragrance with that Of
the .oquot aud orange blossoms and with the
breezy freshness OF the sunny soa. Going
presently for drive. she found her road lying
through groves OF graceful and luxurlant
palms. bread fruit. and jak trees. with their
glossy foliage and glorious fruit, and thickets
OF towering shrubs whose delicious perfume
scented tho air. Here and there clumps OF
graceful bamboo waved their fsathery
branches. and broad. shiny leaves OF the yam,
or OF the still larger and more glossy plantain.
around the picturesque native huts.
Now and then one passed group OF Hamboy-
ants. magnificent trees. we'll named tho flame
Of the forest. so gorgeous aro the masses OF
scarlet and gold blossoms which In May and
zling green. Especially fascinating to the
author was the hibiscus n,utabiiis. q shrub |
whose masses OF roso-like blossoms daily
change from white to crimson. Each morning
secs the bush covered with newly opened
flowers. cleaning like freshly fallen snow, and |
ere tho sun sets all have assumed lovely rose |
color. Through the poisoning forest OF |
this summer world exquisite living creatures |
hit and skim on wings OF gossamer. Amid the |
and golden blossoms dart |
splendid butterflies some pale blue. some |
yellow. others vevety black with crimson |
spots. and brilliant. metallic looking dragon |
files. During daylight hours. however. the |
silence which would lend q supreme charm to |
tho surroundings is broken by jarring
sound. the everlasting hum of the cicala.
which holds its noisy revcl in every grove and |
garden Of Ccylon. But the ear finds tho longed.
Tor relief when the sun sinks below the hori-
lon. for then hush falls on all insect life like
he sudden stopping Of machinery. Now beau.