The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-01-17
DIR. TALMAGE'S SERMON.
ISLAND OF CEYLON.
ssiieyed by Many to Have Been the Orig
inal Garden of Eden.


iah H.. y.
The Tarshsh Of mytcxt hy many common-
tptors Is supposed TO be tho island OF Cey-
lon. upon winch the seventh sermon OF the
round the world series lands us. Ceylon
was called by the Romans Tapobrane. John
Milton called II "Golden Chersonese. Mod
arms have called Ceylon ''the isle OF palms"
,the isle OF flowers" "the pearl drop on the
brow OF India" :'thc isle OF jewels" "the
t.land OF spicd. 4" ''the show place OF the unit
verse" 'tbe land OF hyacinth and ruby"
In my eyes. for scenery. Il appeared 20 he
mixture OF Yosemite and Yellowstone Park.
All Christian people want to know moro OF
Ceyon. Tor they have u long while been con-
,rhuting for its eyangeli2ation. As our ship
from Australia approached this island there
lowered over 1t clouds thick and black as the
superstitlons which have lowered here for
centuries, bu, the morning sun was breaking
through likethe gospel Hight which Is TO scat
ter the last cloud OF moral gloom. The SEA
las along the coast calm as the eternal pur-
poses OF God toward all islands and con-
tinpnts. We swing into the harhor OF Coom-
TO- which Is made by breakwater built az
vast expense. As we foaiei into II the
water is black with Loats OF all sizes and
manned by people oi all coors. but chiefly
Tamils and Cin;alese.
There are two things | want most 20 SEQ
on this island A heather temple with its
devotces in idolatrous w)r.hip and an audi
ence Of Cingal"se addressed by u Christian
Missionary The pntomologist may have his
catture OF brilliant insects. and the sports
riau his tent adorned with antlcr os rcd deer
AMI tooth Of wild boar and ths painter his
port OF gorge 5000 feet down and OF days
dying on evening pillows OF purple cloud
e;ched with fire. ana the botanist his camp
full OF orchids and crowioots and gentlans
and valorian and lotus | want most to find
ou, the moral and religious tr umphs. how
many wounds have been healed, how many
sorrows comforled, how many entombei
nations resurrecicd. Sir William Baker, the
famous explorer and geographer. did well
for Ceyion after his eight years residence in
this island. and Professor Ernst Heckel, the
professor from Jena,.did well when he swept
these waters and rummHged these hill and
took home for future inspection the insects
Of this tropical mir. And forever honored he
such work, but let all that Is sweet In rhythm
and graphic on canvas and imposing in mon
ument and immortal In memory be brought
30 tell the deeds ot those who were heroes
ami hcroinps for Chri.ts sake.
Many scholHts have supposed that this ISL
and OF Ceylon was the original garden OF
Elem where the snake first appeared on rep
iiliGn mission. There are reasons for belief
that this was the site where the first home
stead was opened and destroyed. IL is so
near the equator that there are not more
than twelve degrees of Fahrenheit differ
ence all tho year round. Perpetual foliage,
perpetual fruit and all styles OF animal lite
prosper. Whnt luXGrance and abundance
and superabundance of life What styles OF
plumage do not the birds sport What STYLES
Of scale do not the fishes reveal What
styles OF song do not the groves have in their
lbretto!
Here on the roadside and clear out on the
beach OF the sea stands the cocoanut tree
saying Take my leaves for shade. Take
the juice OF my fruit for delectabe drink
IN Ea
fiber for the cordage oi your ships. Take my
oil to kindle your lamps. Take my wood TO
fashion your cups and pitchers. Take my
leaves TO ihatch your roofs. Take my
smooth surface on whichto print your books.
Take my 39,000.G0O trees covering 500, 900
acres and with the expectation enrich the
world. will wave IN your fans and spread
abroad in your umbrellas. ! will vbrate in
your musical instruments. / will be the
scrub5ing brushes on your floors.
Here also stands the pain tree saying /:
81 am NJ your disposal. With these arms
fed your ancestors $50 years ago, and with
these same arms | will feed your descend
ants 100 years from now. l defy tho Gen.
tGries ~
Here also stands tho nutmeg tree saying (:
- am rea iyt TO spice your beverages and EN-
rich your puddings and with my sweet dust
uake insipi! things palaiahle."
Here also stands the coffee plant saying f:
with the liquid boiled from my berry
stimulate the nations morning by morning. 4"
Here also stands the tea plant saying
"W th the liquid boiled from my leaf
sooine the worlU'- nerves ana stimulate the
worlds conversation evening by evening""
Here stan Is til" cincTOna saying: IL am
Tho zoe Of malaria. In all climates my Bit
terness Is the slaughter Of fevers"
Nnht miracles OF proiuctiveness on these
Is ans Enough sugar 10 swecten all the
WORDS beverages. enough bananas TO pile
all mo worlds irut baskets, enough rice to
NIX all the worli's puddings enough cocoa-
nut 20 powder all the worlds cakes enough
Howers TO garland all the worlds beauty
But IN the evening" riding through Gin
hamon grove, first tasted the leaves and
bark OF that condlment so valuable and
delicate thar transported on ships the aroma
OF the cinnamon Is dispelled II placed near a
rival bark. OF such great value is the elm
hamoa shrub that wears ago those who it,
luTed It in Ceylon were put 10 death. But
that which once wis a Jungle OF cinnamon
snow u park OF gentlemens residences The
long, white dwelling houses are bounded
with This shrub. gpdal other styles o I growth
congregated III, re- max" u botanical garden.
Doves called cinnamon doves hop among
the branches, auG crows. more POLITICALLY
styled ravens. which never could sing bur
think they rtn, ny across the rold giving
lull test OF their Vocdbles. Birds which
learned their chanting under the very caves
- "''N u bN'llohf tll WIN lntlF kflnl
march OF the tropics. The hibiscus dapples
the scene with its scarlet clusters. All shades
oi brown an emerald aui saffron and brill
lance melons, lines, mdgnOsteens, custard
apples, guivns, plnrHppes, jasmine SO la ion
Wlh aroma they have to mold fist to the
wall, AMI hoSoniHs, g'oriosas ON lire aud
orchids 50 dcncaIo other lands must keen
then under conservatory, but hero defiant
oi AL weather, and flowers more or less akin
TO uSllens and honey,ucklrs and lioxes and
luchslns and chrysunthemums and rhoao-
ltndrons an ioxgoves and pansies whicn
Iy" the plains aud mountains OF Ceylon with
heaven.
Tho evening hour burns incense OF all
styles Of aromatlcs. Tbs conyo.valus, blus
Hs II the sky hal fallen, and butterflies
spanSlns the mir, and arms OF trees sleoved
with blossoms, Hni rocks upholstered OF
moss, commingling sounds aud sights aud
oiors until eye and ear and nostrils vie with
saca other Ms 10 which sense shall open the
uoor TO the most enchantment. A s,ruggle
between music and perInme and iridescence.
OlrhnueIs reellnLs IN lntOXiculiDn Of gOior