The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-07-09
MOURNING IN cEYLoN.


Colombo, Ceylon. Lette-
An impressive memorial service Ton
the late queen-empress was held at
church in the fort, but far more novel
and imposing was the great meeting
of all races which took place on Gale
Face, the extensive green facing the
open sea, where a grand stand draped
in purple and black had been erected
to accommodate his excellency the
governor, Sir West Ridgeway, the gen.
eral commanding the forces in Cey-
Ion; the chief justice, the bishop and
other leading British and native menu
bers Of the community. A vast con-
course Of many races and religions lis
tened to speeches by the governor and
others, including addresses in Tamil,
Singhalese and Moorish by representa-
tlves of the legislative council. Four
massed bands played suitable music
and there was a fine military display.
Free Lepers a Mensee.
An agitation is being carried on here
in favor of stricter segregation OF
lepers. An ordinance to this effect is
now before the legislative council It
is alleged that, though the total num-
Der of reported cases in Ceylon is only
sol, there are many more lepers who
avoid reporting themselves for fear Of
segregation.
| It is proposed to establish several
leper hospitals in different parts OF
Ceylon, and to make it punishable for
any one to fail to give information
concerning people who are afflicted
with the disease. The argument
against this is, that INSCRIPTIONS ma
tives will report their enemies out OF
revenge and it will be necessary to
have many experts to decide if sus-
picious cases are genuine or otherwise.
Await the Duke and Duchess
The duke and duchess of Cornwall
and York viii spend four days in Cey-
Ion, arriving April II, on the Orient
liner Ophir, specially chartered and
fitted for the royal voyage to Aus
tralia. On account of the general
mourning the ball proposed to be given
by the tea planters in Handy has been
abandoned, and the festivities will con-
sist of a grand "perahara," or native
procession, of which elephants and
devil-dancers will be the chief features.
There will also be fine illuminations
both in Handy and Colombo. The
duke and duchess, who will be accom-
panied by suite of thirty ladies and
gentlemen, will be the guests of Gov.
and Lady Ridgeway.
Guarding the Prisoners.
There are nearly 5000 Boer pris.
oners now at Diyatawalawa camp in
the hills, many hours by rail from
this port, but the 'mercenaries'
among Observation-Disclosures French
and Germans-have been removed Il
a new camp near Colombo. The mer
cernaries, between 200 and 800, ar
guarded by almost as many men o
the Worcestershire regiment Man!
of these prisoners, who are more in
telligent and cleaner, but more un
ruly than the Beers, have large sum
of money RENTED to them by friends
They are allowed to purchase com
forts and Injuries Letters are con
stanlly being written to the local pa
pers to protest against permission be
ing given these prisoners of war t
live better than the British soldier
who guard them, and they are re
ferred to sardonically by colonists a
"our guests"
There have been many escapes. Tw
men got as far as Burma, but all hav
been recaptured. Several German tray
elers not speaking English fluently
have been arrested by jealous polio
and railway officials, and some of tn
S last-named have also been suspende
s for not detecting escaped prisoner
e travelling on the railroad.