The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25 00:00:00

CARRYING BACK PLEASANT
RECOLLECTIONS.

The Standard, in a leader, remarks :—" In last
Tuesday's London Gazette it was announced that the
Prince of Wales had been pleased to appoint Resealdar
Sirdar Anoop Singh, Bahadoor, 4th Prince of Wales's
Own Bengal Lancers, and Ressaldar Sirder Mahomed
Arzul Khan, Bahadoor, 11th Prince of Wales's
Own Bengal Lancers, to be native orderly officers
to his Royal Highness, These distinguished native
officers arrived in England in the suite of his Royal
Highness, and started en their return to India last
Thursday, so they have spent nearly seven months. in
this country. It is impossible to doubt that dunng
that time their minds must have expanded largely, and
that they have been much impressed by the power,
riches, resources, and orderly government of the
paramount state in the British Empire. They
cannot but have acquired also a strong feeling of
personal loyalty to both her Majesty and the heir to
the Crown. Now, personal loyalty is the only
sort of loyalty which Orientals ever feel. That
abstract attachment to the Sovereignty merely as
the representative of a system has for them no mean-
Afzul Khan and Anoop Singh have likewise
enjoyed greater opportunities than ever were afforded
before to any of their fellow-countrymen of mixing
with European gentlemen in the ,homes of the latter,
and of learning to appreciate the private character of
the ekes which sends forth those who rule and admini-
ster India. We may, therefore, fairly believe that
they have carried back with them to their own land
many pleasant recollections and the grateful remem-
brance of much attention and kindness shown to them
during their visit. The eight, too, of our ironclads and
fortresses must have left a strong impression on their
minds of our power and resources. It would be inte-
resting to know what they really think of us, but it is hope-
less to expect to read the true reflection of an Oriental's
mind. We may be sure, however, of one thing, which
is, that the Prince of Wales, by bringing these native
officers with him to England, has secured at least two
devoted supporters of our Eastern Empire, and pro-
vided a leaven which both in the India army and
among the more intelligent classes of India generally
will work much good. It was a happy thought to
bring a representative of each of the two great popu-
lations—i.e., the Mahometans and the Hindoos. In
our opinion, the precedent so wisely set by the Prince
of Wales might with advantage be followed. Why
should not there be always in England one couple of
native officers attached to the suite of his Royal High-
ness, another couple to that of the Queen, and a third
to the staff of the Commander in Chief? Were only
one appointed he would find it dull. These might be
relieved every year. They would go back to their own
country not only better soldiers, but more loyal sub-
jects, and would serve as civilising centres in India.
The expense and possible inconvenience of such a
scheme are far too email to be weighed in the balance
against the advantages which would accrue.