Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-01-18
WONDERS OF CEYL0N.
REV. DR.. TALMAGe AT THE ISLE OF
PALMS.

The Show Place of the Universe-The Great
Preacher at the Harbor OF Colombo-A
Glowing Picture Of Remarkable Coun-
try-The Lesson.
New YORK, Jan. 13.-In continuing
his series of round the world sermons
through the press Rev Dr. Talmage
today chose for his subject "Ceylon,
the Isle OF Palms., the text selected be-
ing. THE ships of Tarshish first" lisa
iah *, 81.
The Tarshish of my text by many
commentators is supposed to be the Is
land of Ceylon, upon which the seventh
sermon of the round the world series
lands u.s. Ceylon was called by the
Romans Tapobrane. John Milton called
it Golden Chersonese. " Moderns have
called Ceylon 1.-THE isle of palms, " 1.-THE
isle of flowers, the pearl drop on 1.-THE
brow Of India, 1.-The isle Of jewels,
"the island Of spice, " 1.-THE show place
Of the universe. " 1.-THE land Of hyacinth
and ruby" In my eyes, for scenery
it appeared to be a mixture Of Yosemite
and Yellowstone park. All Christian
people want to know more OF Ceylon,
for they have a long while been con-
tributing for its evangelization. AS our
ship from Australia approached this is
land there lowered over it clouds thick
and black as the superstitions which
have hovered here for centuries, but the
morning sun was breaking through like
the gospel light which is to scatter the
last cloud of moral gloom. The sea lay
along the coast calm as the eternal pur'
poses of God toward all islands and con-
tinents We swing into the harbor OF
Colombo. which is made by breakwa'
ter built at vast expense AS we fioated
into it the water is black with boats OF
all sizes and manned by people of all
colors, but chiefly Tamils and Cingalese
Two Remarkable Sights.
There are two things l want most to
see ON this island: A heather temple
with its devotees in idolatrous worship
and an audience of Cingalese addressed
by a Christian missionary. The en-
tomologist may have his capture Of bril-
liant insects, and the sportsman his tent
adorned with antler of red deer and
tooth of wild boar. and the painter his
portfolio of gorge 3, 900 feet down and
of DAYS dying on evening pillows of pur-
ple cloud etched with fire, and the bo-
tanist his camp full of orchids and crow
foots and gentians and valerian and To-
tus | want most to find out the moral
and religious triumphs, how many
wounds have been healed, how many
sorrows comforted, how many entombed
nations resurrected. Sir William Baker,
the famous explorer and geographer, did
we'll for Ceylon after his eight years
residence in this island, and Professor
Ernst Heckel, the professor from Jena,
did we'll when he swept these waters
and rummaged these hills and took home
for future inspection the insects OF this
tropical air. And forever honored be
such work, but let all that is sweet in
rhythm and graphic on canvas and inn
posing in monument and immortal IN
memory be brought to tell the deeds Of
those who were heroes and heroines for
Christ sake.
Many scholars have supposed that this
island of Ceylon was the original garden
of Eden where the snake first appeared
OH reptilian mission. There are reasons
for belief that this was the site where
the first homestead was opened and de-
stroyed. 1t is so near the equator that
there are not more than l2 degrees OF
Fahrenheit difference all the year round
Perpetual foliage perpetual fruit and
all styles Of animal life prosper What
luxuriance and abundance and super
abundance Of lifel What styles Of plu-
mage do not the birds SPORT What styles
of scale do not the fishes reveall What
STYLES of song do not the groves have In
their hbrettol
Here on the roadside and clear ont on
the beach Of the sea stands the cocoanut
tree saying: Take my leaves for shade
Take the Juice Of my fruit for delecta-
BILE drink. Take my saccharine for sug-
ar Take my fiber for the cordage OF
your ships Take my oil to kindle your
lamps Take my wood to fashion your
cups and pitcherA Take my leaves to