The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-18
a Skin Of Beauty Is a Joy Forever.

a can Of milk appeared in front of the Baroda
tent. The children became animated. The
Hindoo revived. lie came over to where we
were standing and informed that milk was
to be given to the feebler children We fol-
lowed him to the entrance and watched its dis
tribution. As as some of the tin cups
were filled the children scrambled for them.
There was not enough for more than a fourth
OF the number, and the more vigorous ones got
what there was The feebler ones went with
out it.
Some Of them were too weak to rise. They
cried inaudby, but their grief was more pitt.
full than if it had sought noisy expression. Per-
haps punishment awaited every demonstration on
their part, and hence they dared not complain.
God only knows. We protested against the to-
tally inadequate supply of milk and lack of
proper management. The llindoo explained
that more milk would be served in the evening.
Eight long hours And then perhaps only as
much more. How could these hungry ones sur
vive2
We asked the IIindoo how many Of the little
ones died daily. lie professed ignorance, but
volunteered the information that their bodies
were burned.
We crossed the square that led to the gate.
But before we reached it we were surrounded
by groups OF starving people piteously pleading
for few pice with which 10 purchase grain.
Tears actually trickled down the cheeks OF
many Of the supplicants as they held up to
our gaze their eulaciated, shriveled little ones in
ocular demonstration Of their deplorlhle condi-
ton. Mothers swayed to and fro moaning out
unintelligible petitions.
Children prostrated themselves 10 the ground
chattering in a strange tongue and with fright.
iul rapidity OF utterance the story Of their woes,
as though anxious TO tell all before we made our
escape ooh, my king" cried they, 'it will
be very well with you IL you will help US, for
we are very, very hungry" And driven to de-
spair at the thought that their appeal perhaps
lacked eloquence or eamestness, they slapped
their hollow stomachs and persulsively added
"l'm starving-if you will help me, God will
give you many children" My heart almost
sank within me.
Why should have been called to witness all
this sutering2 Why not some wealthy man,
who, with stroke Of the pen, could nh these
empty somachs and yet never miss the costP
I took one Of the children in my arms. The
mother said it was 10 years OF age. D. II could
not have weighed more than thirty pounds It
was a skeleton absolutely denuded Of desh. The
large gistoning eyes were fixed on mine, as
though eager to catch the promise OF help And
yet could not give any, for I remembered my
experience at the gate. A rupee given at this
moment might mean death, for these people were
desperate, They were beyond relsoning. Their
own suferings and their childreh's woes had
driven them nearly mad II help was TO he
given it had to be given generally and the coin
had with me would not have satisfied a meas.
urable fraction Of the requirements. I handed
the child back to its mother. II was but a
matter Of hours and long before left India
| for home the vulturcs had devoured or the
flames consumed all that was left when the ca
| tastrophe overlook It. r..
As l write this verify believe that not one
Of the 1900 who were in the Baroda poor house
1 that morning ever came out alive. II was a
vcritable dead house, and those who once entered
seemed hopelessly doomed.
Louis Klopsch