The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-06-23

entered upon His service with all her youth
full ardor. From the first dawn Of the new
life, wonderful love and yearning for the
women of India filed her heart and her
life has since been spent among them. She
says they are gentle, sweet and lovely amid
all they are called to bear, and her fathers
official position obtained for her access to
many places where missionaries in ordinary
would not be admitted.
Mrs. Hard pictured some scenes among
Indian women, the first being mother in
her teens trying to quiet her babe eight
months old which was disturbing meeting
of about twenty Indian women anxious to
learn of the new religion. In came little
boy with tiny opium pill and at the sight
of him the baby laughed and crowed and
Immediately upon taking the drug 1t became
quiet. In this way children are made slaves
to the opium habit from infancy. Other
drugs and leaves of plants having narcotic
effects are also commonly used by young
and old, and when the mental and moral
faculties are deadened in this way, it is hard
to reach them with the gospel message.
Another scene pictured was that Of a
mother painting her baby boy all sorts of
hideOus colors and giving him the worst
name that she could think of SO that the
Gods would let him live. She had already
lost three boys and only her three girls were
left, and girls were of small account in In
dia. Again she spoke of witnessing some
men bring out the horoscope to determine
whether 1t would he we'll or not for a certain
man of forty-four years to marry girl baby
less than year old. Another view she
brought up was house containing five
little widows between the ages Of five and
eight years with all the degredations and
hardships which were theirs because of I'M
toward superstitions.
Mrs. Hard had great variety of the idols
which are worshipped by the lower castles
of India, one being that which had belonged
to government policeman who had wor-
shipped it for twenty-five years. He was
converted to Christianity and gave her the
idol as a curiosity. Another idol was from
a priest now working in their mission. The
most interesting of the collection was tray
used by some of the devotees which was
made of brass and all the vessels it con-
tanned were of brass. 1t had bell to ring
to wake the god up, covered kettle with
spout which was used to pour water over the
idol, tiny lamp which must be lighted and
set at its feet and dish containing oil and
colored paints which are rubbed over it
with their fingers.
Prince Swamee Nand, native of India
of the Brahmo-Sumaj caste, now student
at Battle Creek college, was present and
spoke briefly but quite pointedly about some
of the vices of the American people and
the ''idols" which they bowed down to. He
rightly feels that there is room for amend
ment in both countries, referring to drink
ing and other narcotic habits. He says
that tiny opium pill to a baby in India is
no worse than dose Of soothing syrup"
to baby in the United States which no one
could gainsay. The prince is highly eiu-
Gated, especially in knowledge of languages
and the caste to which he belongs are not
worshippers of idols. He hopes to return
in the near future as Christian missionary
to his own people, although, of course, he
has broken his caste in his acceptance of the
Christian religion and his affiliations with
foreigners. HELEN l.. MANNING.