The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-05-03
THE NJ ILRATHS.
Interesting Description of Their
Extended Travels.

Illustrated by unique iviews and NOV
ing pictures, bylH.! Darwin McIlrath
at the Congregational church Tues
day evening certainly missed good
thing. Mrs. McIlrath wss on the
staff of the Chicago Inter Ocean, and
tie commission that was assigned
him was dangerous, the order was
Follow Lenz," justrthe same kind
of command that was assigned to
Stanley, who was on the staff of the
New York Herald, A"Follow Living
ston.'
Mr.. McIlrath went. to the Heart of
Asia" in obedience toIorders to per-
form the duty thatshad been assigned
him. Mrs. McIlrath went as ''vol-
pnteer."
On April 10th, 1895, these two left
Chicago onibicycles, iourneyed west
ward through Iowa, entertained al
reception by Des Moines wheelmen,
and on to Frisco, where they set
sail for Japan, which he says seems
like toy .empire. China was the
next countryavisited, where they re-
manned twelveEmonths. The name
"McIrath 'ilwassnot to be found in
the Ghineseslanguage, SO when they
secured theiripassport the name was
changed into one in the Chinese lam
guage which meant "The great pure
horse has come" Many cities would
not admitsthem, saying they wanted
none of the foreign devils who
brought their railways with them.
The speaker advised those who
wished to retain life, have bad nerves
or delicate senses, to keep away
China.
The peoples of Burmah believe in
almost acknowledgements, and yet
they are simple folks. The stage
upon which their theatricals are en-
acted is the Ecommon roadway-the
scenery natures own, or, if per-
chance, one scene is located in
forest musician who has been play
ing near by lays down his instrument
and breaking branch from a tree
lays it'll on the stage, and, as Mr..
McIlrath quantity expressed it, "any-
one would know that meant forest,
or if lake need to be represented
cup of water is poured on the mat at
the feet of the performer" 1t is SO
light in that country at night that
one maya read by the light of the
moon. The travellers witnessed the
cremation and attending ceremonies
of the last of the royalty ordained
bishops. Then through India, where
lepers go where they please and are
allowed to inter-marry, thus perpet-
uating such class of suffering hui
manity. They saw from II to 10000
famine children at time, friendless,
homeless, nothing to eat but grass
and leaves. India, the country of
famine, the cobra and the plague.
But it was in India that Rodney
the monkey, became one ofthe party
and was the Joy and comfort of his
new friends until in Turkey, where
he died.
Persia, the land of sandy deserts,
men and rocks and trouble. The
description of their climb up Mt.
Aararat and it's attending hardships
was very thrilling. Soon after this
the search was made for LEM, and
his cruel fate at the hands of the
Kurds was discovered amid great
peril. Then on through Turkey,
Asia, Bulgaria, Roumania, Germany,
France, to Paris, London and home.
The lecture was highly entertain
ing, the pictures being exceptionally
good and the descriptions fine, al
though at times the speaker was
hard to follow on account of peculiar
enunciation.
Mr.. McIlrath will sail again for
Persia, Armenia, Turkey and Asia on
the 10Th of this month for the pur-
pose of obtaining more information
concerning these countries and OBJ
tanning a larger assortment of NOV
ing pictures.