INDIA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 449, 15 December 1930, Page 6

INDIA

Sir,—Please permit a word of cxplan ation regarding the Missionary Pageant givi i. by our Bible Classes last Tuesday and to be repeated to-morrow evening. Numbers of those who packed St. Paul’s Hall have asked whetla j the s-’enes and costumes and statements are true. The compilerms, Alisses H. Rice and E. F. Arnold, assure us that they are taken from actual life as they have seen it in East Bengal. When the page: nt was given in Dunedin last Uc tobcr tnere wtie eight ex missionaries present, and they were unanimously agreed that each character was vividly real When 1 came on as Nagarbashi f> master in one of our mission schools, a lady who 1 nows him wen. exclaimed: “That is N. g'nbashi to the very life.” Aly brother, who is equally well acquainted with him, said: “Yes; only Nagarbashi has a tartar of a wife!” Aliss Arnold states that the girl who takes the part of the elder widow, reminds her in every way of a widow whom she constantly visits in Brahiraubaria. The saris and dhotis worn by the performers are the every-day dress of the Indians and arc not donned for special occasions, as our Maoris put on rheir old-time mats for the entertain mi nt of visitors. The characters in the pageant—Ignorance, Disease, Child Bride, Purdah Lady, Outcast, Child and Elder Widvws, Superstition. Political Unrest and Holy Woman—all faithfully typify the classes they represent. The only possible exception is Child Widow. In actual life the girl is dressed like ordinary children until the age of full development, which is never later than twelve years. Then she must don the widow’s saris and can never discard it. The characters portrayed in contrast — Santustha, Joy, Girl’Guide, Dr. Amiran, Nagarbashi, Anil’s Ala, Magna’s Ma, and Teacher—are products of the missionary work in the Tippcrah districts of Chandpur and Brahmanbaria. Their life stories are true in every- detail. AU the facts and figures embodied in the pageant are authentic. The idol which occupies the central pageant is the goddess Kali. It was brought specially from India by Miss E. F. Arnold, of this city. I trust this will be sufficient tu assure people that the performance is in every feature true to life.—l am. etc., H. G. GORING. Baptist Manse, Wanganui, Dec. 13, 1930.