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INTRODUCTION.
xxi to meddle with it. * * We incur il great respon. sibility in attempting to interfere in the direct art cducation of a people who already possess the tradition: of a system of decoration founded on perfect princii ples, which they have Icarned through centuries of practice to apply with werring truth. * * 01 late thcsc handicraftsmen, for the sake of whose works the wholc world has been ccasclessly pouring its bullion for three thousand ycars into India, and who, for all the marvelous tissues and broidered work, have fouled no strcams, nor poisoned any air; whose skill and individuality the training of countless generations has developed to the highest perfection; these hereditary Namıicraftsment are being everywlicre gathercal fronti ticir democratic village community in hundreds and thousands to the colossal mills of Bombay to drudge in gangs at manufacturing piece-goods, in competition withi Manchester, in the procluction of which they are no more intellectually or morally concerned than the grinder of a barrel organ in the 'tunc it turns out.'”
The arts and sciences of India are not modern. Their origin is hidden in pre-historic times.. Religion and philosophy have been the great contributions of India to the world, and they have drawn savants and philosophers to her in times, ancient and modern. Is it improbable then, that Jesus, too, might have visited India? But if he did, how, especially in times when there were no convenicnces for traveling?
The ancicnt commcrcc of India with other countries had brought her people in close concction with those of others, who went to India cither by sca or by the caravan routc. Many people are skeptical as to ulicie laving been any intercourse, in those times, between inclia and the countries around the Mediterranean, but careful investigations of scholars have conclusively
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