12 Aug 1893 : Swami Vivekananda
leaves for Boston from Chicago
12 Aug 1896 : Letter to Mr E T Sturdy - Capt. and Mrs.
Sevier and myself will expect you at Kiel.
I haven't yet written anything nor read anything. I am indeed
taking a good rest. Do not be anxious, you will have the
article ready. I had a letter from the Math stating that the
other Swami is ready to start. He will, I am sure, be just the
man you want. He is one of the best Sanskrit scholars we have
. . . and as I hear, he has improved his English much. I had a
number of newspaper cuttings from America about Saradananda —
I hear from them that he has done very well there. America is
a good training ground to bring out all that is in a man.
There is such a sympathy in the air.
Sister Christine writes : Our love for India came to
birth, I think, when we first heard him say the word, 'India',
in that marvellous voice of his. It seems incredible that so
much could have been put into one small word of five letters.
There was love, passion, pride, longing, adoration, tragedy,
chivalry, heimweh, and again love. Whole volumes could not
have produced such a feeling in others. It had the magic power
of creating love in those who heard it. Ever after, India
became the land of heart's desire. Everything concerning her
became of interest - became living - her people, her history,
architecture, her manners and customs, her rivers, mountains,
plains, her culture, her great spiritual concepts, her
scriptures. And so began a new life, a life of study, of
meditation. The centre of interest was shifted.
Feel the
spirit within you
