The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-09-17
THE GARDEN OF EDEN.
Many Believe That the Island OF Cey-
Ion Was the Home Of Adam.

Millions ald millions of the devolt
Christians OF the Orient and all the
followers of the Prophet Mohammed
believe that the island OF Ceylon is
the Garden of Eden in which the hui
man race first came TO consciousness.
Connecting Ceylon with India and the
mainland of Asia is low lying chain
OF islands and sand banks known as
Adams Bridge In the southern part
OF the island is a beautiful mountain
which has been known for centuries
as Adams Peak.
A railroad built ike the Florida
Keys road TO Key West will soon run
across Adams Bridge TO connect Eden
with Asia, and the angels with the
flaming swords who stand guard at
the gate will be made TO do signal
tower service for Government rail-
way. The high slopes of Adam 5
Peak are devoted to growing tea for
the afternoon delectation Of some
daughter of Eve, who has long ago for
got the garden. the serpent and the
exile. But despite all these modern
Improvements and developments Cey-
Ion is still Garden Of Eden, although
II is much confused as to who is the
master of the garden.
Near the top of Adams Peak there
is a depression in the stone which
resembles a footprint-the track left
by a giant in the form of a man. Good
Moslems and the vast majority OF
Oriental Christians firmly be ieve that
it is the footprint OF Father Adam
when he turned TO leave paradise
Good Buddhists believe that il is the
imprint OF the bare foot OF Gautama
Buddha. who brought the enilghtcn-
ment Of his wisdom To Ceyion. De
yout Hindoos believe that the foot
priat is that OF one of the Thousand
and eight manifestations of the sec
ond in the Brahminical trinity
So pilgrims OF every religion make
their way TO Adams Peak TO pray tor
the salvation OF mankind at the spot
where many OF them believe the first
sin came into the world
Twenty-Five years ago Buddhism
was morbuDd in CeylOn. Hardly a
monk could be found the temples
were given over to the PROCLAMATION OF
the Hindus and their disgusting wor-
ship. Everybody recognized that
Buddhism was dying out in Ceylon
just as II had already died in India.
Colonel Alcott resolved TO reform
Buddhism Enough Of his Christian
training and Occidental heritage re-
NAMED with him TO convince him that
faith. If 1t have not works, is dead. ="
He established Buddhist college. in
which bows and young men were TO
be instructed in the ordinary branches
Of learning aud IN the pure precepts
OF their fathers ancient faith Soon
after came Mrs Marie Higgins, also
an American. who established a SINH
lar college for girls. The yellow-robed
monks rubbed their eyes In wonder
and then they. too caught some of the
inspiration OF the Western blood in an
Eastern religion.
In this same Garden Of Eden the
American labOrers in the Christian
vineyard are also hard at work The
American mission in the north of Tho
island is taking outcast boys and
girls. educating them. giving them
English names and setting them ont
on the road TO prosperity.
In Colombo there is an old Dutch
PRESBYTERIAN Church. the congrega-
ton dating from 1913 The present
church building was erected in 1910
and Is the largest and haadsomest
building in the city II contains the
tombs Of the Dutch Governors. Gen
erals and Admirals-a mighty host
It's people are all 'burghers" descend
ants Of the old Dutch colonists
Whether the footprint on the peak is
that Of Adam or Buddha or Vishnu
only the pilgrims care But there is
f,,U
ence is the most potent in the con
fused religions OF this island Spring
field Ulion.