The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-01-25


read. A group of as finely-forme
young men as ever saw SUI
rounded the venerable instructor
The last word of each sentenc
was intoned. There was in tn
whole scene an earnestness whicl
impressed me. Not able to under
stand word of what was said, ther
is look of language and information
that is the same among all races. Tha
the Buddhists have full faith in thei
religion no one can doubt. That is, IL
their opinion, the way to Heaven
What Mohammed is to the Mohamme
dan, and what Christ is to tn,
Christian, Buddha is to the Buddhist
We waited for pause in the recita
ton, and then, expressing our thanks
| retired.
Near by is Buddhist temple, on the
altar of which before the image Of
Buddha are offerings of flowers. A.
night was coming on we came up to O
Hindoo temple. First we were prohib
tied going further than the outside
steps, but we gradually advanced un'
til we could see all that was going
on inside. The worshipers were MAX
ing obeisance. The tom-toms were
wildly beaten, and the shrill pipes were
blown, and several other instruments
were in full bang and blare, and there
was an indescriba BILE hubbub, and the
most laborious style of worship 1 had
ever seen or heard. The dim lights, and
the jargon, and the gloom, and the fit
ting figures mingled for eye and ear a
horror which it is difficult to shake off.
All this was only suggestive of what
would there transpire after the
toilers of the day had ceased
work, and had time TO APP
pear at the temple. That such
things should be supposed to please
the Lord, or have any power to console
Or help the worshipers, is only another
mystery in this world of mysteries.
But we came away saddened with the
spectacle, a sadness which did not
leave us until we arrived at a place
where a Christian missionary was
preaching in the streets to group of
natives.
But passing up and down the streets
of Ceylon you find all styles of people
within five minutes; Afghans, Kafirs,
Portuguese, Moormen, Dutch, English,
Scotch, Irish, Americans; all classes,
all dialects, all manners and customs,
Eli styles of salaam. The most inter-
esting thing on earth is the human
race, and specimens of all branches
IF it confront you in Ceylon.
The island of the present is
luiet and inconspicuous affair compared
with what it once was. The dead
cities of Ceylon were larger and more
IMPOSING than are the living cities.
On this island are dead New Yorks,
and dead Pekins, and dead Edinburghs,
Ind dead Londons. Ever and anon at
The stroke of the archaeolog lists ham
ner the tomb of some great municipal
ty flies open, and there are buried cit
es that will yet respond to the explor-
RS pickax. The Pompeii and Hercu.
aneum underneath Italy are small
with the Pompeiis and
1erculaneums underneath Ceylon.
1onder is an exhumed city
which was founded five hundred
ears before Christ, standing in pomp
nd SPLENDID for twelve hundred years.
'tairways up which fifty men might
Ass side oy side. Carved pillars, some
f them fallen, some of them aslant,
ONE of them erect Phidiases and |
Wrens never heard of here
erformed the marvels of sculpture |
nd architecture. Aisles through which
oval professions marched. Arches
nder which kings were carried.
ity with reservoir twenty miles
i circumference. Extemporized
lkes that did their cooling
nd refreshing for twelve centuries.
.uins more suggestive than Melrose
nd Kenilworth. Ceylonian Karnaks
nd Luxors. Ruins retaining much of
randeur, through wars bombarded
hem, and Time put his chisel on every
lock, and more than all, vegetation
l all the crevices. Dagobas, or
laces where relics of saints
r deities are kept. Dagobas
our hundred feet high, and their
allen material burying precious things
Or the sight of which modern curl
sity has digged and blasted in vain.
recession of elephants in imitation,
'rought into lustrous marble. Troops
horses in full run. Shrines, chap
Is, cathedrals wrecked on the noun
lin side. Stairs of moonstone. Exquis-
e scrolls rolling up more mysteries
IAN will ever be unrolled. Over six
zen square miles, the ruins of one
ty strewn. Throne rooms on which
different times sat one hundred
nd sixty-fve kings, reigning in au-
lority they inherited. Walls that {
.itnessed coropations, assassinations,
lbjugations, triumphs. Affairs at
hich millions bowed ages before the |
-nIoSt..nr aala.tinl ..-al-a /.