The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-08
MISSIONARIES.
Editor Howe Says He Honestly
Tries Not to Be Unjust.
Does Not Hear a Friendly Word
for This Glass.
ACCOMPLISH NOTHING.
Sees His First MOhammedan
Church at Penang.
Passes a Lonly Island Where
Millions of Birds Live.
Thursday. Jan. i.

Thursday Jan. /.
The surface Of the ocean was as quiet
today as is the surface of Bean lake
on quiet hot day in July; the weather
is about equal to an average July day
at home. Tomorrow. when we pass into
the Indian ocean, We may pass into
rougher water. We finally left the Pa
cihc at Singapore. The trip to Calcutta
from Colombo viii be in the Bay OF
Bengal Look at a map, and you will
be surprised at the interesting places
we are passing without stopping; siam,
Sumatra, Cochin China, etc. To make
a trip around the world, and properly
see all there is to be seen, would require
several years. We are seeing only the
more noted places and these very
briefly.
This has been the very dullest day
ever spent al sea. by anybody This al
ternoon ] made tour and the few pas
sengers who were not asleep, were VIII
ing. While I was in the smoking room,
alone, the captain came in, and we tax
ed for half an hour; this was possibly
the only conversation going on on board
at the time. The captain is an elderly
man and very polite, though little IS
seen Of him. 1 never see him in the
dining saloon. I believe he dimes IN his
cabin. If a bad accident should nap
pen to the 'Simla," the captain would
be expected to come out strong. If the
passengers should be compelled to leave
the ship, as the result Of fire or other
unexpected thing, the captain would
be the last to leave, if he left at all:
When a ship is lost. there is a tradi-
ton that the captain should be lost
with 1.-THE should stay with it. and
take the remOtest chance of saving hull
and cargo. This is one of the tradi
tons of the sea that is seldom violated.
If, in case of accident, "A captain is not
perfectly composed, and brave, and an
example to crew and passengers, he is
forever disgraced.
1t will no doubt occur to the reader
that I have grumbled a good deal about
the missionaries I do not wish to be
unjust to them but it is perfectly true
that since my departure from home, I
have not heard a friendly word for
them. Travellers have told me repeat
eddy that they were MethOdists, or Bap-
fists or Presbyterians. at home. and had
always been friendly to the mission
aries but that in future, they WOULD op-
pose them. This you can depend upon:
the missionaries are very unpopular
where they do their work" this I'M
popularity Is one of the surprises of
Oriental travel There are many
worthy pastors Of Protestant churches
In the Orient, but the missionaries
proper do not enjoy the respect Of a
single traveller 7 have met These men
have accomplished nothing in China.
where they have done most of their
work" they have only irritated the
Chinese and brought on international
trouble Japan, which has progressed
most, has known least of missionaries,
and Japan's progress has been along
lines Of war, relic of barbarism.
The money changers catch travellers
"going and coming" as they say in
Kansas. At Singapore, a money
changer came on board as soon as the
ship arrived and charged a profit for
Straits Settlements money. When the
ship departed, the money changer was