The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-03-15
A VISIT TO THE GANGES.
Miss Alice Wishart Tells How Hindu S
Wash AWAY Their Sins.

CNNh Wv A'AC1tAOAs W 49, - -
waiting on my PundIt, LII begin
your next weeks letter. This
morning had an engagement
with Francis and DR.. Lucas to go
to the Mela' at 8 o'clock. When
| got to the Lucas, found two
American young men staying ov-
er Sunday, on their way around
the world-the elder, a young
Presbyterian mlnister-Prlnce-
ton man Mr.. Erdman by name,
and the younger, Chicago man,
who will enter Yale this year.
We all piled into garl's and
started for the Ganges about $3.50.
The sun was hidden behind
heavy clouds-an unusual thing
this time of year, and the air was
damp and chilly in consequence.
We alway take gospels and tracts
when we go, as it is a great OPP.
portunitv to spread the message,
for people come here from hun
dreds of miles away-as many as
5000 came IN on one train. They
then walk from the station to the
river. We passed hundreds of
men, women and little children
on the way down: and as far as
we could see ahead, down the level
stretch of road, was a moving
mass of red, green, yellow and
crimson turbans and chadders
wells which The women wear).
Many-almost all-were carry
ing water jugs to bring back holy
water from the G'tnges. Tired,
foot-sore and eXpcctant women,
weary little children hanging on
to their mother s or fathers hand,
men of every caste with the mark
Of some god on their forehead -
all goipg for one purpose, and
wlthoneend IN view-to be cleans
ed from sin in Mother Ganges.
AS we neared the level plain
this eide of a slight elevation be-
yond which Is the PLAIN sloplng
down to the river, the crowd grew
denser. Here we got out and
while waiting for our elephant to
come, gave gospels and looked in
te the numerous booths where
merchants of every kind sat
jewellers with all the great varie-
ty of such things Hindu women
wear; kaprawalas, with garments
of every hue and color; basket
makers, bottle makers, glass bead
sellers, candy. men, with piles
and piles of Hindustani sweets;
men selling red and yellow pow
der to mark foreheads, flower
sellers and grain men-all plying
a brisk trade. Our American ac-
qualntances were much interest
ed IN all this.
Just before the elephant came,
Mr.. Grace, the =. Nj. q. A. Sec
retary, brought Mr. Fred Smith.
of New York, one of the most
successful workers among men
known now, who is taking tour
around the world, and wanted to
see this famous Fair, as he said,
he never expected to see anything
like 1T again,
We were introduced all around
and then the elephant came lum-
berlng up-a great mountain of
a beast with a padded quilt and a
meek looking driver on hls back.
A ladder was set up against him,
after he kneeled down, for us to
crawl up. We all G 1t settled com
fortably (D and held our breath
while the huge beast arose-first
ION it's fore feet, t'ltlng us at such
"a perilous angle, that / was sure
we would all slide off backward
on our heads, then slowly, oh, SC
slowly arose and am bled off, with
us holding on to the ropes for
dear life. 1t wasn't so bad after
the first terrible rising sensation
Then we went up over thehll
and down among the throng tC
the junction of the river. Faklrs
and gods to the right of us, gods
and faklrs to the left OF us, the
crowd of one hundred Thousand
souls ia front and behind us
Horrible idols, IN front of which
men and women we're placing OF
ferings of riceand money; mel