The evening times., 1900-09-19

Thc cargo 5f corn sent b. the Christian
Herald 10 the starving people of India
some months ago, on the steamer Quito,
has been distributed among those who most
needed it, This introduction of American
grain into India shows that India as a mar
ket for our cereals offers vast possibilities,
and the arrival of the corn in good con-
dition, after so long voyage, further
shows that there need be no longer any
doubt that cereals will withstand the sew
cral climatic changes of the voyage
This donation of American maize WIS in
deed a great benefaction. 1t was great in
conception and great in the reach of its
benefcence. a venerable Hindu, watching
the issue of the corn TO the poor, eIna-
ciated creatures, turning to missionary,
asked:
Was this grain sent out of pure char
ity?'' '-Out of pure charity replied the
missionary WAS ii given outright,
without any pay for it, Not 4 piece Of
pay for it: given outright for the love Of
God and man - We'll, sir he said, Il am
an old man, but l have never seen anything
like this
The fact is the sending of this corn from
America has more or less affected the
whole Hindu eommunity-those who have
received no help at all as we'll as those
who have. As the people have carried ii
on their heads all over the strckn dis
triet, along the highroads. through country
lanes. by footpaths, through the fields, twen-
y, thirty, or even fifty miles 10 their dis
tGnt homes it has attracted the attention
and touched the hearts of the remOtest vii
layers. So far as attracting the attention
Of the people TO the foreign help India is
Il, -g--~,ar
it has been more effective than thrice the
value of the corn invested in native grain
and distributed would have been. The fact
that it was sent by people living thou
sands of miles away, across three seas, out
of pure philanthropy. has, il is said moved
the hearts of the people as a thousand ser
mons would not have done.
\ practical tribute of appreciation of
American generosity has also come to
hand in letter from the United States
Consul at Bombay. Mr. w T. Fee. He
writes that the railroads which carried the
corn from Quito to the interior districts
originally charged largely reduced rates
for the freight Since payment was made,
the directors have met and having heard
from Mr.. Fee the circumstances connect
ed with the gift they promptly refunded
to the committee thirty-ffve thousand ru
pees (about $I1 ,666j. which meant that
they carried the cargo below the actual
expense involved. They said that they
made the rebate to show their apprecia-
tion OF the gift OF the big hearted Amer
lean people,.
grand reception greeted the Quito on
her arrival at the wharf at Bombay. Tne
assembly thus gathered was extremely
picturesque. Hindus of several castles,
Mahrattis ana Guiaratis, Parsees and Mo-
hammedans, laingling with the sober
suited Europeans and the native Chris
tian and Pa4se ladies in their graceful
costumes pointing to a time when all the
womanhoC / of India Will be free and en-
Ifghtened. While the ceremony was in
progress. news that something unusual
was on spread to the neighboring popula-
tion. and whole swarm Of the common
people perched themselves along the top
of the pile of bags. forming a scene which
millions in America would have given
much TO see.
On the table before the chairman lay
two silver dishes containing samples OF
the Quito's cargo, salted and parched III
the American style This had been done
the previous night by ladies OF the Ameri-
can Methodist and Alliance Missions
working in Bombay. The corn in this
style was quite novelty. and was tasted
and pronounced Al by most of the com
pany The native gentlemen were paTti-
cularly struck with the size of the grains
which were three times as large as the
maize grown in India.
Said the chairman: The good ship
Quito has Just arrived in the nick of time
so as to supply the cultiVatoTs with food
Just between seed-time and harvest Ii
has not only brought grain, but also the
most welcome rain, and we are grateful to
it for its double harvest. There is a pro-
verbal saying that no one should ever
look Oif b0TSa he mouth
are reasons, and good ones, for refraining
from such inspection in the case of ordi-
nary gift horses, but this particular gift
horse cannot only be looked in the mouth
with perfect satisfaction but taken into
the mouth with even greater appreciation
It consists Of splendid gift worthy OF
America. of the very best kind of two
year-old American grain
Hindu official then addressed the
meeting He stated that there was an
Impression in certain parts of India that
American maize was not a staple food to
be distributed in famine time He would
show that it was good food, and one
which the people would gladly accept His
experience of the last famine convinced
him that people liked the corn sent from
America on that occasion. and he was
certain it would be acceptable on the
present occasion as we'll. American maize
had become more and more widely known
in this country; it was superior III Hour
ing quality to Indian maize
During the distribution of the corn in
the country districts a missionary is said
10 have observed the following remark
able story of how a little foar-months-
old baby was sold by its Hindu father for
small quantity of corn. 1t seems that
Hariha. a blacksmith. living in the vii
lage of Arphal, was burned out of house
and home. He would, perhaps have been
able to put out the fire but there was
no water in the stream and consequentIy
none available anywhere. His tools. his
cooking vessels, all his worldly posses
sions, were burned, and he deprived of
livelihood.
Then Hariba carried the baby about in
his arms begging milk until he lost pa
tience with the bother of it all and made
up his mind to be free. he offered to sell
it to the Christians for four rupees. COM
ing down finally to two rupees But a
Christian Hindu named Vithoba told
Hariba that such a transaction would be
Illegal.
Well" persisted the fond father, IF
you will not take it I will sell it to the
bad women"
VfthOba tried to frighten him out of
this idea, but not very successfully. SO
in order to save the child he reported
how matters stood to the magistrate.
Two policemen were forthwith seat to
bring back the father and child The
magistrate threatened him with punish
ment if he should carry out his infamous
sART TRAs The best med