New-York tribune., 1902-02-25

ThIbet is still a forbidden land. though trav-
ellers in increasing numbers are writing books
about their experiences within its boundaries;
but it is still work Of much difficulty and dan
ger to travel there. Adventures in Thibet'
Omitted Society of Christian Endeavor), by Will
lam Carey, is largely devoted TO a reproduction
in full Of the diary Of Miss Annie r. Taylor.
English missionary. who in 1892 entered the
Forbidden Land alone; the first woman traveller
to enter IT, and probably the first European TO
approach the sacred city of Lhasa so closely as
she did. Her achievement unique in the
senderness Of her equipment; her motive was
Of pure missionary endeavor There is. in
deed. as Mr.. Carey says, something whimsical
In the thought OF this weak woman leading her
tiny expedition to accomplish so great an OBJ
ject. and the tranquil confidence that never left
her. Il am Gods little woman, and He will
take care Of me-" she writes: and on another
occasion: IAN must be we'll with the ambassa-
doris OF the Lord: in His charge" Three
Cinnamon accompanied her: one turned back,
another succumbed 10 the cold. the third tried
10 take her life She had also two Thbetans
with her. AS she approached Lhasa, they grew
more and more afraid. The hardest thing I
have to bear" she wrote. lis their fears" Her
diary consists of short, terse entries. but they
are vivid and picturesque in their brevity. The
story is genuinely human. sometimes with it's
humorous side.
To realize the setting Of the story" as Mr..
Carey puts ii. he writes a considerable descrip-
tion Of the land and the people. the religion and
its priests. The religion, "Lamaisn," is 'Budd-
hsm a dark ground-the old dread of de-
mons; and Buddhism in a fancy dress-be-
Howered and bejewelled by Hindoo forms of
polytheistic faith Its theology Is a tangled
sken: its bible consists of los volumes, of 1000
there are 225 volumes of commentaries. not TO
speak OF numerous legendary stories and a song
book containing 100000 songs.
Much of the common peoples religion seems
10 centre in the mystic formula, "Om mani
padme hum" printed on cotton rags and futter-
ing from every height rotated in prayer cylln-
ders, muttered by man, woman and child, morn
ing, noon and night; carved on mountain sides
painted on doors. engraved on stones. If you
ask what it means nobody can tell you but
everybody has unlimited faith in its efficacy A
literal translation of it is 30 jewel in the Iotos
Or But to whom the invocation is addressed
and why the words should be invested with
such extraordinary sanctity remains a mystery.
Mani walls long low lines of stone spe-
oially erected for the Judgement of slabs with
this inscription them. In some monasteries
there are huge cylinders with a million copies
OF the mystic prayer revolving inside them.
And Mr. Carey quotes writer on Thibet as
saying: IF you were TO introduce steam power
into Thibet tomorrow. probably the first use
made of IT would be to turn praying wheel"
The latest contribution 10 The Artists Ii
brary." Mr.. c. ]. Holiness Constable" Qlong-
mans. Green & Coz. is a direct and admira bly
Instructive little study of the famous English
painter Biographical details compressed
into six or seven Introductory pages. and al
though he has less than a score more In which
10 discuss the works Mr.. Holmes manages 70
peek within his narrow space a good deal OF
analysis and sound Interpretation. He takes
pains 10 show that Constable did not create
modern landscape out Of nothing that he owed
something to the old masters; but he lays stress
also. upon the training of the painters eye
which went on from the start, independently OF
his study Of the works OF his predecessors, and