Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-01-21
"CEYLON, THE ISLE OF PALMS. "
WORK OF CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES
IN THIS PARADISE.
Natures Luxurinnce Adds Weight TO
belief That II Is the site of the
Garden of Edcn-christianity Must

Palms" the text selected being, Tho
ships Of Tarshish first" (lsniah k, o.
The Tarshish of my text by many com
montators is supposed to be the island OF
Ceylon, upon which the seventh sermon oil
the round the world series lands u.s. Ceylon
was called by the Romans Taprobane
John Milton called II Golden Cherson-
ESQ" Moderns have called Ceylon 1.-THE
islo Of palms, 1.-THE isle OF flowers, "the
pearl drop on the brow Of India, tho isle
Of Jewels" "the island OF spice, tho
show place Of the universe" "the land OF
hyacinth and ruby" In my eyes, for econ-
cry it appeared to be mixture Of Nosom-
ito and Yellowstone park. All Chris
tian people want to know more Of Ceylon,
for they have long while been contribute
ing for its eyangoli2ation. As our ship
from Australia approached this island
thoro lowered over It clouds thick and
black as tho supcrstltions which have hoy
cred hero for centuries, but tho morning
sun was breaking through like the gospel
light which is TO scatter tho last cloud OF
moral gloom Tho sea lay along the coast
calm as tho eternal purposes Of God to-
ward all islands and continents Wcswing
into tho hnrbor OF Colombo which is made
by a broakwater built at vast expense, As
we flonted into it the water IS black with
boats Of all sizes and manned by people OF
all colors, but chiefly Tamils and Cinga'
leso
There are two things l want most to see
on this island-a hunthon temple, with Its
doyotocs In idolatrous worship and an nu-
dience Of Cingaleso addressed by n Chris
tian missionary The entomologist muy
have his capture Of brilliant insects, and
tho sportsman his tent adorned with mt
Ter Of red deer and tooth of wild boar, and
the painter his portfolio OF gorge 1900
feet down and Of days dying on evening
pillows Of purple cloud etched with fire,
and the botnnist his camp full of orchids
and crowfouts and CONTAINS and yaleriGn
and lotus. / want most to find out the
moral and religious triumphs--how many
wounds have bucn healed how many sor
rows comfortod, how many ontombed ma
lions rcsurreotod. Sir William Baker, the
famous explorer and geogruphor, did well
for CcylOn after his eight years residence
in this island, and Professor Ernst Heck
ell tho professor from Jena, did we'll when
he swept these waters and rummagcd these
hills and took home for future inspection
tho insects Of this tropical air And for
ever honored bo such work, but let all That
Is sweet IN rhythm, and graphic on can
vas, and imposing in monument, and i'm
mortal in memory, be brought to tell the
deeds Of those who were heroes and horo-
ines for Christ's sake.
Site Of Paradise.
Many scholars have supposed that this
island OF Ceylon WINS the original garden
Of Eden where the snake first pcarcd on
reptilian mission. There are reasons for
belief that this was the site where the first
homestead was opened and destroyed. 1t
Is so near the equator that there are not
more thnn IL degrees OF Fahrenheit differ.
enco ull the year round. Perpetual foliage,
perpetual fruit and all styles Of animal
lifo prosper. What luSuriance and abun-
dance and suporabundanco Of lifol What
styles Of plumage do not the birds SPORT
What styles Of scale do not the fishes re-
veal What styles Of song do not the
groves have In their librottol
Here ON the roadside and clear out on
tho beach OF the sen stands tho ooCuanut
tree, saying Take my leaves for shade
Take the juice CT my fruit for delootahle
drink. Take my saocharlne for sugar.
Take my fiber for tho oordago Of your ships
Take my oil to klndle your lamps.
Take my wood to fashion your cups and
pitchers, Take my leaves to tbatch your
roofs. Take my smooth surface on which
to print your books Take my 80, COO, 600
trees covering 800, 900 auros, and with the
expectation enrich the world. will wave
in your fans and spread abroad in your
umbrellas l will yihrate in your musical
instruments ] will DO the scrub in
brushes on your floors" Here also stands
the palm tree, saying; II am at your dis.
posal. With these arms fed your ancos.
tors 100 years ago, and with these snmo
arms / will feed your descendants $50
years from now, l defy the couturiesl"
Hero also stands the nutmeg tree, saying,
Il am ready to spice your beverages and
enrich your puddings, and with my sweet
dust make iusipid things palntahlo."
Here also stands the coffee plant, saying,
with tho liquid boiled from my berry
stimulate the nations morning by morn
ing" Here stands the tea plant, saying,
with the liquid boiled from my leaf l
sootho the worlds nerves and stimulate
the worlds conversation evening by even.
ing"
Here stnuda tho cinohona, saying; II
am tho foo of malaria. In all climates my
bitterness is the slaughter Of feyers."
What miracles Of productiveness on
sHtau ihAo4iuni LhhhBH sugar W hNctAtu
all tho worlds beverages. Enough ba-
nanas to pile all the worlds fruit baskets
Enough rice to mix all the worlds pud-
dings. Enough oocoanut to powder ali the
worlds cakes Enough flowers to garland
all tho worlds beauty.
Natures Incense.
But in tho evening riding through a
cinnamon grove, first tasted the leaves
and bark Of that oondlment so valuable
and delicate that, transported ON ships, tho
aroma of tho cinnamon ia dispcllod II
placed near rival bark. OF such great
value is the cinnamon shrub that years
ago those who injured 1t In Ceylon were
put To death But that which once was a
jungle of cinnamon Ia now park of gen
tlcmen's residences Tho long, white
dwelling houses are bounded with this
shrub and all other styles OF growth con.
gregatcd there make botanical gar
den Doves called cinnamon doves hop
among tho branches, and crows, more
POLITICALLY styled ravens, which never could
Sing, but think they can, fly across the
road giving full test OF their vocAhes.
Birds which learned their chanting under
tho very caves OF heaven ovorpower all
with their grand march Of the tropics.
The hibiscus dupples tho scene with It's
scarlet clusters. All shades OF brown and
emerald and saffron and brillihnoe; mel.
ons, lines, inugnustcens, custnrd apples,
guavss, pinespples, jasmine so laden
with aroma they have TO hold fast to the
wall, and hegonias, gloriosas on fro and