Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-05-12

stephens, "SOODOO' arrived on the Ger
manic late last night.
The subtlety of the Brahmins can be
appreciated by those h have read how
Dungara's Hindoo priest persuaded an
innocent German missionary to set his
children at work making cloth from q
poisonous weed. a cloth which, when
worn as a garment, burned the flesh like
fire. and convinced the wearers that they
were under a curse for having deserted
the faith Of their athers. Miss Stephens
fears that her young convert has been
made a victim in like manner, and that
"Sooboo," as she is ~affectionately called.
may prove a martyr to her new found
faith. 1t was about six months ago that
she began to pine away, without any ALL
ment that could be diagnosed. She grew
worse. symptoms of poison showed
themselves. In spite of all efforts, the
source of this poison could not be discov-
cred.
Forty days Of feasting followed the
birth of "Sooboo." She was a petted
child. Her jewels came from ancient
temples and were bought for her at fab
ulous prices. She early exhibited mental
precocfty. At the age of 10 years she was
married to her nearest manageable rel
alive. Although the husband selected
was a worthless hanger-on of the family,
he was of the purest caste. Ten thousand
rupees were spent on her wedding. Am
mar was ADDED to her name when the
marriage took place. 1t means simply
Madam" But Sooboonagam has a deep
significance to the Hindoo. being a COM
pound of an abbreviation Of Subraman-
lum,- God of Wisdom, and nagam, the
COBRA, which is the HindoO type of subj
lefty.
Belonging to a devout family, 500
BOO" had been it's most devout member.
In her mothers arm the sacred seal had
been Embedded in the flesh. "Sooboo'
asked for this distinction, but the priests
refused because of her youth. Instead.
they gave her a sacred powder to keep
always about her person.
Besides the Hindoo Lares and Penates.
~"Sooboo" had in her own room IL i'm
ages and 20 pictures of idols. 1t was her
duty to decorate all the objects of wor-
snip in the house with flowers, to drink
a. little of the holy water after placing
IL before each idol. and then, before every
one OF the images, to count a hundred
beads. saying a prayer for every one, I'M
til a thousand had been numbered
1t was the thirst for knowledge thai
brought about 'Sooboo's' change Of
mil dialect. and the only place to learn
1t was at the Christian mission. Miss
stephens at once saw what an interest
IN The mission would be created if she
could make an impression on a young
woman whose piety, from the Hindoo
standpoint. was SO we'll known. She did
not press the Christian doctrine upon
'Sooboo,' but led her to read the Bible
for herself. and it wa not long before the
girl had begun to doubt her religion. A
shocked. half comprehension of this
doubt led "Sooboo's' mother to persuade
the husband to send her to the Bangalore
Temple. There "Sooboo" made one more
effort to restore her confidence in the We
das by a course of fasting and prayer,
but without avail.
Secretly the young woman packed up
her wardrobe and left the temple. 1t was
on Christmas day. 1895, that she appeared
at the Madras mission, announcing her
intention to give up all for the Christian
faith.
Only a few hours later a deputation of
venerable Hindoos. accompanied by po-
lice officers, came to the mission. The
demanded to see the girl, n were per-
mitted to do so. They stormed and raved,
but could make no impression. On New
Years day "Sooboo's' mother, her aunt
and a little nephew of whom she was
very fond come to renew the entreaty.
They had with them a crowd of angry
men. But "Sooboo" remained firm.
The news of S~ooboonagam ANIMALS
expected arrival here was cabled to Mrs,
q. P. Dennier of No. 1854 Eleventh street.
Long Island City, the secretary of the
New York East conference. Mrs. Dem
nler and a party of friends met the Hin
doc woman n Miss Stephens, who is
with her, at the pier.-New York Herald.