The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-12-15
ORIENTAL SCENES
AS Viewed Through the Eyes of a
Hlndoo.
DR.. OLDHAM'S CHARMING LECTURE
Given ut tho Y. Sr. C. A. Hall Last
Evening to a Large and Appre-
cIatiye Audiencc-The Lifo aud
Habits OF the Natives of India Are
interestingly Described.

Last evening the Y. ". C. A. ball was
well filed with an appreciative audience
who heard DR.. W. F. Oldham deliver q
charming lecture on the subject:
"ske.ehes in the Orient" DR.. Oldham
is at present pastor Of the Butler NJ. E.
church, Of Pittsburgh. Keis magnetic
speaker, and his lecture was punctuated
with amusing incidents that made his
auditors frequently laugh at his quiet
wit.
DR.. Oldham was born in India, and his
early life was passed in that country,
where he was connected with survey
ing party attached to the British gov
eminent.
The Rev. DR.. Cunningham introduced
the lecturer, who gave fine lecture
upon the climate OF the country, and the
habits and religion OF the inhabltants,
endeavoriug to present picture oil
their life as viewed by Hindoo eyes. lie
spoke Of the need OF sympathy Tor the
race, who were descended from the
same Aryan stock as ourselves, ana told
OF the impossibility Of q casual traveller
reaching the true inner heart oil the
people.
Tho mythology OF the Hindoo as
illustrated By their historical beliefs
teens with the dei6cation OF almost
every natural agent. The Himalaya
mountains are regarded as the home OF
the gods, and the river Ganges IS be-
lieyed to be the tsess Of the Hindooo
goddess corresponding to the Venus OF
the Hindoo pantheon. The doctrine oil
incarnation Is an old one With tho Hin
doc and the story Of Brahma. the crea-
tive agent Of tho Brahministic deity,
is accredited their sincere belief.
The climate OF the southern portions
is divided into two seasons, the heated
term and the rainy season. During
the heated term vegetation is shriveled
up and the temperature is so high as to
make life very miserable, The noun.
tains, however, present every phase OF
life found in the temperate and rigid
Eones.
&c then devoted short time to a
minute description Of the dress and
social life Of tho people, their manner
Of cooking and their food. The clothing
problem is reduced to a very fine sys-
TEN, the average annual coat OF wo-
mans wardrobe not exceeding ten
cents. The mems attire consists OF
large turhan and small waist band.
while the dress OF the females is some
what more elaborate. Tho village life
aud the tales with which the fathers re.
gale their families in the evening, and
the tricks and performances OF n native
circus were also described in a manner
that was very instructive, while the in.
terestiug manner in which 1t was told
held the attention Of the audience. The
Hindoos' beliefin the transmigration OF
souls makes them very careful not to
harm anything possessed OF life in the
fear that dear friend may be incar-
mated into that being.
The speaker closed with description
of the responsiveness OF the Hlndoo
heart to sympathy. The manner III
which the Hindoo becomes enlisted III
the cause OF Christianity was depicted.
They are sometimes said to be stolcs,
but when the emotions become aroused
they are very demonstrative. A brief
account OF the Brahmin theology was
given and the different members OF the
Hindoo trinity were discussed. All
present were thoroughly delighted with
the speakers discourse and he was
greeted with liberal applause ut the
close of his address.