The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1939-08-03

His hand was to light the fire! The fire that would consume his living
mother and dead father!
her hands: Her daushter-whose husband had Just ded-was about to
mother to save her.
Miriam's Mother Starts on Mercy Errand.
left t tn su, staf oxer at Ga1e a = ef,tas, s-,hsed ~ " ;sntnrn al I'M
distracted native woman led the way through a wild jungle path.
came AZ" to a st clearing % iS% by hand torcses. 1" around 'e "'' 'n'
In the center of the clearing. Miriam says, was a funeral pyre-a
prepared bonfire Of dried wood O. which reposed the body of the dead
man. Around it. at respectful distances, thronged the native crowd.
bearing the painted ghastiy gray ashen marks Of their calling eA '~
Miriam nnhe v4 nseve .S Sem'n m p %n m M s mother to MI the t, %ome rsms ausfte Tt b
the men in a effort to dissuade them. In the center of a waiing group of
beating her BIZ breast a% with her fists Nv FROM o't the " dull III e eus ~ of hr eyes'
mother knew that she had been drugged and hardly realized the fighfu
fate that was in store for her.
Mother went straight to he. and putting an arm around the
enough for the effects Of the drug to yea of S o that she could
reason ssen with 18th, the d distracted ..s s, girl. Once .es. a little sI noy7 hi n, naked body
widows son. He carried a lighted torch in bis little hands and he
was to light the hre!-the fire that would consume his living
Can you imagine how that kind of a proposition would appeal to an
American mother? An innocent youngster being hoodwinked into thinking
W Tii MS RsF o " sA : holy act by actually burning his mother 'hve'
Responsibility Shifted to a Child.
Of the whole fanateal sacrifice to a Child E'''N " 'A'' '' @'''N''D
;sm. We mot sayw rsgcu h sight e e9 Of the = little tlen child III with. with the torch ! made sastl Mir;
the conversation to the mystical side OF Christianity. She sang hymns
losing the effects Of the drug: A painted priest appeared in the doorway.
His eyes flashed in fanatcal anger. Come, it is time" he said.
But the determined American mother drove him away, too.
She knew that priests r forbidden the sanctity Of the womens
quarters. de LETT muterlng threats IS III spoke to his victim of
the God he hated. The widow crying quietly now and listening.
Meanwhile. Miriam's father a doing his part He was going from
group to eroup-pleading with some-threatening others: A few native
Christians appeared and helped him. The priests ragged but all feared
the heavy hand Of British law and soon the missionary had his way. The
torch was applied to the funeral pyre WITHOUT ITS LIVING VICTIM.
Body of Husband Burned Alone.
The fire cracked and roared, Miriam says. Scorched human flesh
smelt heavy on the oppressive jungle air-priests sulked-but the body
burned alone.
1t was not until the last ember had fallen and the last tomtom had
ceased its savage strain that her mother and father started back through
the jungle over which the first signs of dawn were creeping. The native
mother and daughter went with them and cried out their gratitude at
every step. They promised to become converts % a faith that could win
against the power of the Hindu priests.
But" Mrs. Richardson ends, "te arm of the Hindu priests
in that supersttion-ridden land, is long. Thwarted once, it luhhed
At Its victims again. The women were spirited away later and
when last heard of were living . 5 temple women in the power
Of the priest whom they feared more than the God Of the
ChrisHans!'
Mrs. Richardson lives in New Jersey now-far from the sounds of
the jungle of India-but I'll bet she still hears in her sleep the mysterious
throbbmg OF the Hindu tomtoms. Don't you?
CReeased by Western Newspaper unon)