The sun., 1894-09-09

tary commander. He wins great victory fo'
his prince. but absolutely declines 70 receiv'
honors or reward for winning II. When the farn'
Of his holiness Is at its height Caiva, deter
mined To test his affection, assumes the form o.
the Terrible Destroyer" In this form
smeared with ashes, savage and formidable u
look upon, the deity meets the hOwly devotee II
forest. Despite the repulsIve aspect OF thi,
fearful being, tho lowly devotee, loyal TO the
absolute self-sscrfice Of his religion, offers him
hospitality at the little hut in which he lives
with his wife, vino is the type of perfect sub
mission and devotion. The terrible guest &C.
cepts; but when food is pressed upon him he In
sists that he shall I've served not only with
fesh. which the lowly devotee regards with alb
horrence. but with human flesh. and that
the flesh OF spotless child OF nve years, slain
for the purpose by its own father and mother.
and by them prepared for him. The lowly de-
votee and his wife, shuddering but submissive
TO the will of Caiva, as expressed by the advent
Of this fearful guest. acqulesce. Tho dreadful
meal must be prepared they find lgy themselves,
and to furnish IL forth their own only child
must by themselves he slain. But they are not
yet at the end Of this CHASTITY ordeal. Tho i'm
placable guest will not be content until they
themselves appear TO sit down with him and
partake OF the meal. 60 forth now" ho then
says In n terrible voice, land call your little
child from his school to join us at this
feast" The father and mother horror struck,
but silent, stand In the doorway and call by
name for their child. Instantly from the neigh
boring wood. radiant, beautiful, and smiling.
his long black curls floating over his shoulders.
the little lad. whose life they had given at the
behcst OF Saiva, emerges, unconscious and de-
lighted, and running quickly leaps into their
arms. When they return with him into the hut
10, the terrible guest has vanished. and on the
board smokes the harmless. wholesome. familiar
morning meal of rice.
In reply to my questions as to the actual
gurus Of to-day, Dr. Pope assures me that
within his own experience not few of
them really lead lives governed and mod
elled by the spirit of this ideal legend. One
story in particular which he told me, too long to
be introduced into this letter, of his friendship
and intimacy with an eminent guru Of southern
India, who after suffering total blindness for
two years, was induced by him To submit, de-
spite all the prcjudices and repugnances Of
caste and race, To operation for cataract. per-
formed with the help of chloroform successfully
by an English surgeon, assuredly proves that,
under the influences Of the Cavan religion and
literature, men firmly accepting the principles
and the traditions OF faith far more widely
from the forms of Christianity than
the faith OF Islam. may be educated into an Alb
soiuto harmony OF Instincts and feelings with
the best types Of Christian character and there
by prepared to cooperate heartily. II properly
and treated, with Christians of the |
English race in organizing government Of law
and Of practical liberty. To be sure Of this, 1 |
Ihink, would be for England much stronger |
of her position and her preponder- |
'nce In India, than can be found In her arms or |
n her diplomacy. Perhaps the most i'm |
'ortant OF all the works OF DIR. Pope for |
general readers In other countries than England |
$ his metrical translation with notes. gram
mar. lexicon, and a concordance OF Tho |
sacred Kurral" of Tiruvalluv- Mays yanar, a work
which more accurately, perhaps, than the
'Quatraius," may be regarded as the Bible of
he Tamil-speakng races. can do no more
han allude to 1t In this letter. for It deserves
md demands careful and independent treat
nent II any adequate idea OF its character and
II its place In the ethical history of mankind is
o be given to western readers. may recur to
In future letter, but shall be satisfied for
he present II what have had to say Of Dr.
'ope and OF his labors in field. so far, almost
Wholly his own. shall suffice. imperfect and in
dequate as 1t necessarily is. to attract to this
ubject tho attention OF students and thinkers
n America more competent than myself to
Measure Its significance and it's Importance
rom many different points Of view
AN AMERICAN TRAVELLER.