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Review and Herald, Vol. 80, No. 15.

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Earlier text: The Bible and “Patriotism”

Feeding on Ashes

By W. C. Wales

W. C. WALES
As I used to pass to and from the office of The Southern Watchman, my path lay in full view of the city dumping grounds. Here all the refuse and ashes from a large city are deposited. I never cast my eyes toward that unsightly place without seeing a number of poor people overhauling the rubbish, dissecting each ill-smelling cart load, in order, if possible, to find something of value. In my heart I pitied these poor people thus reduced to search among dirt and ashes for things which could be at the best of only questionable value or use.
Over this pitiful scene I saw the great, grand blue sky, through which the glorious sun was running his majestic race. A little in the distance were beautiful trees with their waving branches, where the happy birds were flitting and singing their songs of joy and gladness. All this beauty and glory were near at hand, but these poor garbage pickers, with bent forms and downcast eyes, saw it not; they were feeding on ashes.
A company of young people are gathered for the evening, having the precious opportunity to encourage and inspire one another, to develop and strengthen their social, intellectual, and spiritual natures; but the entire time is spent in frivolous talk, trashy stories, idle games, and loud laughter; they are feeding on ashes.
In a church looking for the soon coming of Jesus to gather his people home beyond temptation, sin, care, and tears, in a church professing to bear a final message to a lost world as God's holy, commandment-keeping ambassadors, we sometimes find gossiping, backbiting, envy, and soul-devouring jealousy; they are feeding on ashes.
In the home, which should be a type of God's pure paradise above, which should be the dearest place on earth, we often find unkindness, impatience, harsh, cruel words, and jealousy,—feeding on ashes. What would we think of a person who was invited to sit down and partake of a bountiful repast, but would refuse, and instead would partake of ashes?—We would think the appetite of such a one alarmingly depraved.
O, how many of us have depraved spiritual appetites! Do we choose the companions who are frivolous and worldly, rather than those who are strong, spiritually minded, and helpful? Do we select light, trashy, or even secular reading in preference to that which is devotional, elevating, and in harmony with the solemn truths of which we are the messengers? Do we talk and think upon the failures of our brethren, depreciating the efforts of this zealous sister, or deploring the faults of that consecrated brother, instead of thinking and speaking of the good qualities of our brethren, and feeding the mind on higher and better things?
What are we feeding upon? God has made wonderful provision for his remnant people. In this fearfully degenerate and worldly age, when men's minds are busily occupied with everything except God and heavenly things, the Lord has opened our minds to themes of unspeakable grandeur,—the wonderful events which are daily fulfilling his Word, the multiplying evidences of the fast approach of redemption's morning, the great message, so broad and uplifting, which we must sound everywhere, the work of earth's short to-day, the rapturous prospect of heaven's glorious to-morrow, the change to sinless immortality, the celestial journey to Zion's gates, the meeting before the throne on the crystal sea, the harp, the crown, the mansions, the communion of saints, the tree of life, the Saviour's companionship, the honor, the glory, the everlasting song, every day a joy, every hour a rapture, every moment an ecstasy.
Surely here are themes to engage all our thought without resorting to trash or trifles. May God help us to gird up the loins of our mind, and be like unto men that wait for their Lord when he shall return from the wedding.

Communion With God

PRAYER is not simply petition. It is largely that, to be sure; but it is more. It is communion with God. It enables the believer to become familiar with God. The child does not simply ask his father for gifts; he communicates his ideas and sorrows and joys. And his father does not only say, “I will grant this or withhold that;” he talks with his child of various things; he lifts up the child’s ideas by the power of his own. Child and father hold communion—become intimate.
Just so it may be, yea, ought to be, with the child of God. In proportion to one’s Christian experience is his desire for this communion and fellowship. The devout soul echoes the psalmist’s words, “My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.” This communion increases one’s Christian experience. There is no better method of growth in grace than the habit of constant communing with the Father of spirits.
Paul says, “Pray without ceasing.” It is the secret of progress heavenward. It explains the difference in the rate of advance of Christians. One halts along; another runs. One is of comparatively little use; another is abundant in every good word and work. The reason is, one is content with simply offering few and feeble petitions; the other holds communion with God, pouring out his soul before him, and there comes to him an elevation of spirit, a heavenliness of mind, which makes him joyous and strong and effective.
In numberless instances has the promise been fulfilled, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.” What privileges! What possibilities! But, notwithstanding all this, how unbelieving we are at times when we enter the spiritual realm. High above the gateway of prayer we see written in imperishable characters, “Ask, and it shall be given you.” The Author of our being invites us, yea, even beseeches us, to hold sweet communion with himself.—Selected.

Salvation in a Look

God says, “Look unto me, and be ye saved.” Salvation is in a look. “There’s life in a look.”
When the children of Israel were dying of the bites of venomous serpents, “the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.” Num. 21: 8, 9.
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 11: 14, 15. Looking in faith saves us. “We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory.” “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.” 2 Cor. 3: 18; 4: 17, 18.
While we look at the Lord, he looks at us, and the light of his countenance saves. The light of the knowledge of the glory of God shines in the face of Jesus Christ. When Peter denied the Lord with cursing and swearing, Jesus turned and looked upon Peter, and immediately Peter received repentance and forgiveness. No one can possibly be lost while he is steadfastly looking unto Jesus.—Selected.

Forenoon, Afternoon, and Night

By Edward Rowland Sill

FORENOON and afternoon and night,—forenoon And afternoon and night,— forenoon and—what? The empty song repeats itself. No more? Yea, that is life: make this forenoon sublime, This afternoon a psalm, this night a prayer; And time is conquered, and thy crown is won. — Edward Rowland Sill.

Mental Hygiene

Some of our conscientious friends — zealous for health reform — forget that “a merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” They sit at their unsocial meal in solemn silence, brooding, perhaps, over the possible result of the meal, or worrying about business matters or about their own misdeeds or those of their neighbors. Some, perhaps, feel that a hearty laugh would be out of place. I have even known people who took on mental trouble (and stomach trouble with it) because people at an adjoining table were enjoying themselves.
Such things are responsible for a large amount of poor digestion. You do not see merry-hearted dyspeptics. Mirthful or happy dispositions do not engender indigestion. You rarely see one who has brooded or worried for any length of time who is not a dyspeptic. It is true that dyspepsia causes worry as surely as worry causes dyspepsia. Sometimes it is a question which comes first. But in any case, depressed mental conditions work disastrously on the digestive functions.
While the writer has for a long time believed this, he has recently seen it demonstrated in such a striking manner that he is fain to say it matters not so much what one eats as how he eats it. Some people eat dietetic abominations, and yet maintain fair health because of their sunny dispositions. Others, who are careful what and how much they eat, careful as to time of meals — overcareful, perhaps — have indigestion. These are not altogether isolated cases. There are many of them. We should adjust our theories to facts as we find them, and not attempt to bend facts to theories. There is probably no factor so potent as the mental condition in determining the quality of digestion, and we may as well recognize the law and adjust ourselves to it.
The meal hour should be looked forward to as a time of real enjoyment. Nothing should be introduced conversationally that will not contribute to this end. At meal-time, more than at any other time, one should enjoy himself, and do all in his power to help his companions to enjoy themselves. If one finds no other missionary work to do, he may count that his time has not been altogether wasted if he succeeds in cheering up some of his messmates at meal-time. In addition to the good he does to others, he is at the same time doing some missionary work for his own stomach.—Pacific Health Journal.

How to Live Cheaply

One of the subjects talked and written about a great deal at the present time is how to live cheaply. Prices of all the great staples of life are high. Rents are enormous. Fashions are exacting. Wants multiply while resources diminish. How to make strap and buckle meet is the problem which presses on hundreds of housekeepers. It is what is done to keep up appearances that destroys the equilibrium between outgo and income, and makes life a drudgery and vexation. How to live cheaply is a question easy enough to answer if one will be content with a cheap living. Substitute comfort for show. Put convenience in the place of fashion. Study simplicity. Refuse to be beguiled into a style of living above what is required by your position in society, and is justified by your resources. Set a fashion of simplicity, neatness, prudence, and inexpensiveness, which others will be glad to follow, and thank you for introducing. Infuse dignity, sincerity, kindness, virtue, and love into your simple and inexpensive home, and its members will never miss the costly fripperies and showy adornments, and they will be happier in the cozy and comfortable apartments than most of their wealthy neighbors are in their splendid establishments. It does not follow that in order to live cheaply one must live meanly. The best comforts of life are not costly. Taste, refinement, good cheer, wit, and even elegance are not expensive.—Domestic Magazine.

Simplicity of Diet

By A. E. LEMON

A. E. LEMON
Simplicity in diet and dress characterized the lives of the pioneers of present truth. They had a great work to do which demanded all their energy and means, and so it was necessary that their manner of life should be simple and abstemious.
Their work was great and important. But the work we are now called to do is the greatest and most important work that any people was ever called to perform.
Our people have, for the most part, nobly endeavored to adopt a wholesome vegetarian diet. But it is ever the tendency of human nature to carry even good things to extremes. So there has been a gradual and increasing tendency to excess in the preparation of appetizing and nutritious foods to supply the place of meats and other discarded articles. The result of this overreaching is that the table is too often heavily supplied with vegetable roasts, “mock chicken,” purées, nut loaf, and many other articles, prepared with a great deal of labor and some expense, which, being tempting to the palate, lead to overeating, and on account of their complexity are hard to digest.
If we place these complex and tempting dishes before children, or even hungry grown people, how difficult it will be for them to keep from overeating! And overeating is the most common and most harmful of all dietetic errors.
Simple foods, prepared as nearly as expedient in their most natural state, in moderate variety, but not in complicated mixtures, should constitute, for those who are not sick, a diet that will amply sustain the physical and mental powers, largely overcome the tendency to overeating, and allow the housewife to spend in a better way the time now used in the preparation of complicated dishes that are inconsistent with a life devoted to the proclamation of “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
The Lord has instructed us on this very point, but we have not closely followed the instruction. Let us read the plain word of the Testimony: “Mixed and complicated dishes are injurious to the health.”—U. T., Nov. 5, 1896, in “Healthful Living,” par. 373. “I advise the people . . . to eat the best home-madebread, both graham and white, and with dried or green fruits, and let that be the only course for one meal; then let the next meal be of nicely prepared vegetables.”—U. T., Oct. 29, 1894, in “Healthful Living,” par. 375.

—Elizabeth Barrett Browning

By Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Serving

THE sweetest lives are those to duty wed, Whose deeds, both great and small, Are close-knit strands of an unbroken thread Where love ennobles all.
The world may sound no trumpets, ring no bells, The book of life the shining record tells. Thy love shall chant its own beatitudes After its own life-work is done. A child's kiss Set on thy sighing lips shall make thee glad, A sick man helped by thee shall make thee strong; Thou shalt be served thyself in every sense Of service which to men thou renderest.

—Elizabeth Barrett Browning

The Proper Time for Sleep

“If it be good,” said the late Dr. Richardson, “to make all possible use of sunlight, it is equally good to make as little use as possible of artificial light.” Artificial lights, so far, have been sources of waste, not only of the material out of which they are made, but of the air on which they burn. In the air of the closed room the present commonly used lamps, candles, and gaslights rob the air of a part of its vital constituent, and supply in return products which are really injurious to life. Gaslight is in this respect most hurtful; but the others are bad when they are long kept burning in one confined space. The fewer hours after dark that are spent in artificial light, the better; and this suggests of itself that, within reasonable limits, the sooner we go to rest after dark, the better.—Selected.

Effects of the Use of Alcohol

By T. D. Crothers, M. D.

The increased action of the heart, with the feeling of warmth and exhilaration which follows the use of alcohol, has always been considered evidence of its medicinal value. The diminution and cessation of pain, with the relief and buoyancy which followed, have been interpreted by both laymen and physicians as stimulation. Yet certain phenomena appeared that were unexplainable. Thus the depressions of vital force, acute inflammatory states, sudden deaths from heart failure, profound anemias, and other symptoms have been attributed to the quality and dosage of the alcohol. These give rise to minute studies and directions concerning its use, and cautions as to when and where it should be given. Elaborate experiments were made in the laboratory on the physiological effect of alcohol on the organism of animals.
The most common of all symptoms is the increased heart action, which is found to be four thousand beats in twenty-four hours for every ounce of alcohol used. This is found to be not the outcome of a new force, but the calling into activity of the reserve powers and force of the heart. The heart action normally is the result of arterial pressure and nervous action. The latter is diminished by the narcotic action of alcohol, and the former deranged. The flushed face following the increased activity of the heart is due to loss of the nerve control, calling into action the reserve heart force. This is clear from the diminished force, measurable by instruments. The more rapidly the heart beats, the weaker it becomes, so that alcohol is first an irritant, then a depressant and paralyzer. This is also proved by the symptoms of exhaustion which follow, and muscular measurement. Destree, of Brussels, concluded as the result of most elaborate studies that alcohol on the heart and muscular power has at first a slightly favorable effect, but a very transient one. The heart's force begins to decline at once, depending upon the amount of spirits used. The muscular power reaches its maximum in thirty or forty minutes, and after that it is with difficulty kept up. The paralyzing effect increases, and its measurement becomes more and more exact and certain. Literally, alcohol does not supply any new energy to the body, but liberates the existing stock of energy with greater loss and exhaustion.
The action of alcohol on the stomach is physiological, and not well understood; if in large doses, muscular contractibility is arrested, flaccidity and dilation result. Digestion is interfered with; the food is passed on partially digested, and undergoes putrefactive decomposition. Sensation is blunted, and satiety is lost.
The action of alcohol on the senses and mental phenomenon has been examined with much exactness. Here instruments of precision yield similar results, and but little difference of opinion prevails. Paralysis of all the special senses follows; the functional activity of the brain is lessened down to complete narcotism.
The conclusion that all authorities agree on is that alcohol is always a depressant and anaesthetic. So far, these anaesthetic effects are found to appear very soon after spirits are used, and to follow a certain uniformity of progress depending on the conditions and dose. These facts are being rapidly increased and confirmed by both clinical and laboratory observations. Chloroform, sulphuric ether, chloral, and other well-known anaesthetics all exhibit, in an extreme degree, the physiological action of alcohol.
From a pathological point of view, alcohol is shown to be one of the most insidious and destructive of tissue poisons, and its use is followed by certain cell and tissue degenerations that are uniform in their progress and growth. The theory of a tonic and stimulant value or a force producer or conserver can not be sustained by any facts that are unquestioned.—T. D. Crothers, M. D.

Predisposing Causes of Consumption

By N. S. Davis

THAT the specific cause or causes of tubercular disease exist now, and have existed for many generations in nearly all the inhabited parts of America and Europe, is conceded by all who have investigated the subject. Consequently there are but few persons of adult age in any part of our country who have not been repeatedly in contact with the tubercle bacillus on the streets, in public conveyances, public assemblies, in family and social circles, etc.; and yet a very large majority of the people live, and die from other causes, giving no sign of tubercular disease. No other evidence is needed to demonstrate the fact that the healthy living human body possesses a natural vital resistance or immunity to the influence of the tubercle bacillus sufficient to enable a large majority of people to go through life unaffected by it. If this is true, then the question, Why do the minority yield to its influence? becomes of great importance. What are the causes or conditions that so far impair their natural immunity as to enable the bacillus to find in them not only lodgment, but a ground for multiplication, and ultimately to bring destructive consequences? Of course this is only another mode of stating the old and familiar question, What are the predisposing causes of tuberculosis? And the equally familiar answer comes, Living and working in overcrowded, ill-ventilated rooms; neglect of outdoor exercise; insufficient or badly adjusted clothing; persistent depressing mental emotions, as grief or anxiety; and the habitual use of alcoholic drinks or other anæsthetic and narcotic drugs. In other words, these conditions greatly diminish the individual’s natural immunity or vital resistance to the action of the specific cause of tubercular disease.—N. S. Davis, M. D.

God’s Sunshine

By Emma C. Dowd

God’s sunshine! How it can illumine a heart! How it cheapens every art! Tell me, is there any grace, Anything in form or face, Anything that can endure, Half as beautiful and pure, Aught that is the counterpart Of this radiance in a heart — God’s sunshine! — Emma C. Dowd.

Foods Grown in the Dark

WE have been asked to give an opinion regarding the theory that vegetables growing under the ground, such as potatoes, are unwholesome, because deprived of sunlight. Now the potato is simply the storehouse for the potato plant. The material of which the potato is composed is combined in the leaves, under the influence of bright sunlight. It is then carried down to the cellar, as it were, for safe keeping. The farmer often puts his apples in the cellar for winter, without any injury to the apples. Neither the flavor nor the nutritive properties of the fruit are affected by the change.
Again: the center of an apple or a grain of wheat is not exposed to direct sunlight. The changes which take place in the foods as a result of the sun's action take place in the green cells of the leaf, and it matters little afterward where this material is stored.
Physiological tests conducted by the writer showed conclusively that the starch of potatoes is digested by the saliva more rapidly than the starch of the cereals,—wheat, corn, and oats. It is an excellent food when properly cooked, but should be eaten in connection with some food containing an excess of nitrogen, as peas, beans, or lentils.—Pacific Health Journal.

What You Can Do

“I THINK a Christian can go anywhere,” said a young woman who was defending her continued attendance at some very doubtful places of amusement.
“Certainly, she can,” rejoined her friend; “but I am reminded of a little incident that happened last summer when I went with a party of friends to explore a coal mine. One of the young women appeared dressed in a dainty white gown. When her friends remonstrated with her, she appealed to the old miner who was to act as guide of the party.
“‘Can’t I wear a white dress down into the mine?’ she asked, petulantly.
“‘Yes’m,’ returned the old man. ‘There’s nothin’ to keep you from wearin’ a white frock down there, but there’ll be considerable to keep you from wearin’ one back.’”—Selected.

The Cause in Fiji

By J. E. Fulton

J. E. FULTON
During the year 1902 we had many evidences of the working of the Lord upon the hearts of the people in these islands. The literature and the preaching of the word of past years are now bearing fruit. A number of companies in different parts of the group have begun to keep the Sabbath, some as the result of reading our little paper Rarama. Scattering literature in different parts of the group has been our work there for the last two or three years. The results are now, to some extent, apparent. We are very much encouraged.
THE CORAL STRAND, FIJI
THE CORAL STRAND, FIJI
We have been hampered in our printing work. Our little paper has been published on a small lever press, which is large enough to print but one page at a time. This has taken much time and labor. The Lord has opened the way for us to have a larger press, the Avondale Press having kindly donated one to us. For this we are very thankful to the Lord. We shall now be able to print two pages at once, thus saving much valuable time and wearing labor in that hot settlement climate.
Brother C. H. Parker is located in the eastern part of the group. He writes that his time is fully occupied in the many and varied duties that fall to the lot of a missionary. Brother and Sister Parker have many difficulties that we in this country know nothing about. They have been compelled to live where, to say the least, it has been very uncomfortable. I am afraid that it may be very trying on their health. Let us pray that they may be sustained. The Mission Board has decided to procure better quarters for them.
Brother Currow has a very busy life, visiting different parts, printing the paper, preaching, and of late he has been tied down by a school for children and another for young men. A very cheering report comes of the work in his district. Brother Currow calls for help in erecting a church which our brethren are building there. The cause is a worthy one.
We have a young native Fijian attending the Avondale School. He is a Christian, and we believe that he will become a worker for his people. The Lord worked wonderfully in opening up the way for him to come. We have had a very hard time getting native students from the islands because of the strict supervision the island governments take over the natives, so that they are not allowed to leave. Again, the Immigration Restriction Act of the State of New South Wales is equally as strict. So the way has been hedged up. This was especially true with regard to Fiji, where the former governor was much opposed to having the natives leave that colony. But the Lord “removeth kings, and setteth up kings.” We have now a new governor who was favorable to our plan of bringing this native to Avondale to be educated. The New South Wales government, too, which formerly refused to allow us to land boys for this purpose, has, in this case, given us a permit, to be renewed annually until the boy completes his education. He is then expected to return to his country.
The Avondale Press is now printing “Great Controversy” in Fijian. This will be an abridged edition of about two hundred and fifty pages. There is great need of this book in the islands. Catholicism is making rapid progress there. We need a book that will tell its past history. We know of no better work than “Great Controversy,” and this book links the present message with the history of the past, thus preparing the people for the great conflict before us. We need more means with which to carry on this good work. We have received some donations toward it. Will others help? Consider the matter, and if you see that the cause in Fiji needs help, send something to assist this work.
Cooranbong, N. S. W.

Iceland: Its Names and Its People

By David Ostlund

DAVID OSTLUND
FJOLIKONAN, Isafold, Fron, Snowland, Gardarsholme, and Iceland are some of the names by which this island has been known. The last three date from the time of its discovery, and concerning them I will speak briefly.
The first reference we find in history to the discovery of the island is after the middle of the ninth century. At this time a Viking, Naddoddur by name, started out to find the Faroe Islands. Losing his course and being driven to the northwest, he reached this island, and found it to be what he called “a large land.” But as it was not inhabited, he had no desire to remain, and returned home after a short time. As he left the island, it snowed heavily on the mountain tops. From this fact he called it “Snowland.”
The next who visited the island was a Swede, named Gardar Svafarsson. He remained there one winter, and then returned to his own land. He called this new-found land, after his own name, “Gardarsholme,” and had a great deal to say in its praise.
A few years later a Norwegian, Hrafna-Floki Vilderdarson, set out on a voyage from Norway to this far-off and uninhabited island. He also remained there one winter. In the spring he went up on one of the highest mountain tops. He saw from this height a fiord full of ice. This he called “Isafjord,” and named the land “Iceland,” by which it is now commonly known.
These trips were made in troublous times for Norway. Its many small kingdoms were being dissolved, and the country was being gathered under one king, Harold Haarfagre (872). That Harold had great difficulties to encounter for the accomplishment of his aim, is evident. One of the greatest was the dissatisfaction among the many chiefs of the tribes, who were called upon to give up their authority, and to yield obedience, instead of enforcing it from others.
Many of them felt that they had been mistreated by Harold, and that his rule was hard and arbitrary. And when the news of the discovery of this great unpeopled island, which Naddoddur, Gardar, and Hrafna-Floki had visited and later described, reached Norway, there was immediately a desire among these to go to “Iceland” and settle, so that they might be free from the rule of their king.
The desire was soon put into action, and in the year 874 the first emigrants began to settle there. The first settlement was made near the river Faxa, in the southwestern part. There the capital, Reykjavik, was afterward built. Their hope of independence was fulfilled, andthey were joined by others from Norway. Some Scotchmen also came over to Iceland and remained there.
Hardly more than a year after the settlement of Iceland, two large expeditions for discovery were sent out from the island. In 982 Erik the Red found Greenland, and in 1000 his son discovered America. It is, therefore, proper to say that as regards discoveries by the different countries, Iceland has given large contributions.
From the settlement of the island until the middle of the fourteenth century the Icelanders enjoyed their greatest prosperity. They were independent, and ruled themselves. The lawmaking and judiciary power had been gathered at Thingvalla, one of the most beautiful places in the island. Between two large openings in the mountain there was a comparatively small, flat strip of land, surrounded by deep chasms, from which the clearest water flowed forth. This must have been a place full of solemnity, as it is even now, in its natural grandeur.
When Norway was united with Denmark in 1830, Iceland was also passed to the latter, and has since remained in the union.
The nineteenth century, and especially the latter part, saw many developments for Iceland. Just as Norway experienced her great developments in that century, from the time of the adoption of her constitution in 1814, so it was with Iceland, though on a smaller scale. The island was granted its constitution in 1874.
That year was the thousandth anniversary of the settlement of Iceland. This event was celebrated over the whole island. There were special services in all the churches, and a great festival in Thingvalla, and there was great rejoicing for the progress made and the liberty enjoyed.
Seydisfirdi.

Central India

By W. W. Quantock

W. W. QUANTOCK
AMONG the many districts of India that are waiting for the truth for this time are the Central Provinces. To get an idea of the exact location of this territory, draw a straight line on the map from Calcutta to Bombay, and it will pass through the center of it. The Central Provinces are very irregular in shape, but cover an area of about five hundred miles north and south and four hundred miles east and west.
It was my privilege about a month ago to spend a little over two weeks traveling through this district, calling at the principal places on the Bengal and Nagpur Railway, going as far west as Nagpur. This place is near the western border, where the Central Provinces join the district of Berar. Nagpur is the principal city of these provinces, and is where the chief commissioner lives. He is the head man of the government. The provinces of Bengal, Burma, Punjab, and the Northwest Provinces have a lieutenant governor, and the Bombay and Madras Presidencies have a governor something similar to the States and Territories in America.
I made this trip in the interest of the Oriental Watchman and the book work, and obtained eighty subscriptions for the paper, and sold about twenty-five dollars' worth of books. These places were canvassed about two years ago, and as a result I found many who liked the paper very much. We need workers stationed throughout India, so that every place where there are Europeans can be visited annually during the cool season. When we canvass a place for the paper, many of the people expect us to come again the next year to get their renewals. It was only the other day that I visited a place where I had been two years ago. None of our workers had been there since that time. Many say to me, “You did not come last year, and I did not get the paper.” By visiting the people from year to year we can become acquainted with them, and be a help to those who become interested in the truth.
INDIAN GIRLS Orphans from the Famine of 1897. Pupils of an American School in Bombay.
INDIAN GIRLS Orphans from the Famine of 1897. Pupils of an American School in Bombay.
Bilaspur is the principal place in the eastern part of the Central Provinces. At this place I met a Disciple minister who had been there for twenty years. During this time he and a number of other workers had raised up a church of two hundred natives. From the experience, of those who have been here for twenty or thirty years, it is evident that it takes time to do much for the native people. For this reason workers ought now to be scattered all over India, to hold up the truth, and to teach these people the love of God, for the time is short.
At Bilaspur and in the surrounding country the main crop is rice. The season that has just passed, the rice has not amounted to anything, because of drought. Consequently many are at the point of starvation. The poor people are dependent upon what they raise, and if one crop fails, they are left without anything. The government has already started famine works in several places, in order to give the people work, that they may earn a livelihood. It has been some time since India was entirely free from plague or famine. Every year hundreds, and even thousands, become victims of these life destroyers.
At Nagpur, the principal place in the western part of the Central Provinces, cotton is the main product. The past season they have had what they call a ten or twelve anna crop (about three fourths).
This part of India is a great timber country. Much timber is cut every year, and shipped to other parts where timber is scarce. The name of it is “sal;” it is very hard, and much heavier than any hard-wood timber that I ever saw in America. The Central Provinces are quite hilly. Another occupation that has been begun within a few years is the mining of a kind of iron ore called “manganese.” This ore is being mined and shipped to Europe and America by ship loads for manufacturing purposes. This is a blessing to the country, as it furnishes work for many of the people.
Our work has been almost wholly among the European people. Here is India, with its three hundred million; and just across the border is China, with its vast multitudes. What is being done for these lands? As we see the greatness of the work, let us as a people reconsecrate our lives to God day by day for service. Those of us who can not go to the front can help in this great work by giving of our means as the Lord has prospered us. In doing this we shall receive a blessing. Let us all be united in this great work, and by the Spirit and power of God it will soon be accomplished, and we shall all share in the blessings of the harvest home.

Chalmers and His Cannibal Friends

“THE heroic spirit of Chalmers, the martyr of New Guinea, is illustrated by a passage in one of his letters, just brought to light, in which he refers to his purpose to visit those whom he calls ‘my cannibal friends in the Namau district.’ He says: ‘The Akerave friends of that district killed eleven Maiupuans lately, and left nothing but their bones. We must get among them as soon as possible.’ There are those whose first thought in view of the savage nature of these cannibals would have been to get well away from them. The Christian zeal of Chalmers led him to exactly the opposite conclusion. Men so wicked and cruel must be reached as soon as possible.”
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