Marble Hill press., 1895-01-31

ing groups of native children all clean,
bright, happy, laughing. They were
a Christian school out for exercise.
There seemed as much intelligence, re-
finement and happiness in that regi-
ment of young Cingalese as you would
find in the ranks of any young ladies'
seminary being chaperoned on their
afternoon walk through Central park,
New York, or Hyde park, London.
The Hindoo procession illustrated on
small scale something of what
Hindooism can do for the world. The
Christian procession illustrated on
small scale something of what Chris
tianity can do for the world, but those
two professions were only fragments
of two great professions ever march,
ing across our world; the procession
blasted of superstitition and the pro-
cession blessed of gospel light. saw
them in one afternoon in Ceylon.
They are to be seen in all nations.
Nothing is of more thrilling interest
than the Christian achievements in
this island The Episcopal church was
here the National church, but discs
tablishment has taken place, and since
Mr. Gladstone's accomplishment of
that fact in 1880, all denominations are
on equal platform, and all are doing
mighty work. America is second to
no other nation in what has been done
for Ceylon. Since 1916 she has had
her religious agents in the Jaffna
peninsula of Ceylon. The Spauldings5
the Howlands, the Doctors Poor, the
Saunders and others just as good and
strong have been fighting back mon
sters of superstition and cruelty great
er than any that ever swung the tusk
or roared in the jungies.
The American missionaries in Cey-
lon have given special attention to
medical instruction, and are doing
wonders in driving back the horrors
Of heather surgery. Cases of suffering
were formerly given over to the devil
worshippers, and such tortures inhict-
ed as may not be described The pa
tient was trampled by the feet of the
medical attendants. 1t is only of Gods
mercy that there is living mother in
Ceylon. Oh, how much Ceylon needs
| doctors, and the medical classes of ma
| hive students under the care of those
who follow the example of the late
Samuel Fish Green are providing them,
50 that all the alleviations, and kindly
ministries. and scientific acumen that
can be found in American and English
hospitals will soon bless all Ceylon.
In that island are thirty-two Ameri-
can schools, 30 Church of England
schools, 234 Wesleyan schools, 234
Roman Catholic schools All! the
schools decide most everything.
What though the spicy breezes
! Blow soft over Ceylon's isle!
| Among the first places | visited was
a Buddhist college, about 100 men study
ing to become priests gathered around
the teachers Stepping into the build
ing where the high priest was instruct
ing the class, we were apologetic and
told him we were Americans and would
like to see his mode of teaching if he
had no objections; whereupon he be-
gan, doubled up as he was on lounge,
with his right hand playing with his
foot In his left hand he held pack
age of bamboo leaves on which were
written the words of the lesson, each
student holding similar package of
bamboo leaves. The high priest first
read and then one of his students read.
A group of as finely formed young men
as ever saw surrounded the venerable
instructor. The last word of each
sentence was intoned. There was in
the whole scene an earnestness which
impressed me. Not able to understand
a word of what was said, there is a
look of language and intonation that
is the same among all races. That the
Buddhists have full faith in their re-
ligion no one can doubt. That is, in
their opinion, the way to heaven.
What Mohammed is to the Mohamme-
dan, and what Christ is to the Chris
tian, Buddha is to the Buddhist. We
waited for a pause in the recitation,
and then expressing our thanks, re-
tired.
But passing up and down the streets
of Ceylon you find all styles OF people
within five minutes: Afghans, katfirs,
Portuguese, Moormen, Dutch, English,
Sc tch, Irish, American; all classes,
+ nj aialacts, all manners and customs,
| a. stvles of salaam. TThe- most inter-
e ting thing on earth is the human
race, and specimens of all braches OF it
confront you in Ceylon. The island OF
the present is quiet and incon-
spicuous 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, and dead Lon
dons. Ever and anon at the, stroke of
the archaologist's hammer the tomb of
some great municipality flies open, and
there are other buried cities that will
| yaf racnouJ IN fba ayplornr's piclx