The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1865-08-02
Living In India.

Living In india.
Living here in McGregor We get accus-
toned to the habits and manners Of those
around us; the comfort Of our lives almost
depends upon living in just such = way as
We and those around us are accustomed to,
little dreaming that our antipodes on the
opposite side Of the world are just as differ.
ent in their customs as the $4,000 miles
that separate us can possibly make them.
These few thoughts were forced upon US
while reading a letter just received by Mr..
E. R. Barron from Rev. Mr.. jackson, who
is located at Allahabad, in North West
Provinces Of India. He cordially invites
E. R. B. to take two.year's furlough for
himself and troupe Of McGregorites and
pay him visit for a year, having large
house and an abundance Of servants, while
food does not cost much there. His house
FURNISHED by his church, would be a won.
derment here. The hall, running through
the center of the house, is "a feet wide and
AZ feet long, surrounded by rooms 20 feet
square and Is feet high, besides dressing
rooms, bath rooms, &C., &C., the whole
surrounded by high, wide verandah.-
The outside walls, as we'll as partition walls
are 20 inches thick, doors feet high and
At feet wide; Is doors open into the veran.
dab, besides those inside of the house -
Attached to the house is a garden of
acres, and around the enclosure is brick
wall What splendid residence we all
say, but it is no better than the houses OF
other residents. The size is not for splen-
dor nor luxury, but the necessity to for.
eigners who want to live and not die
Everything is done to keep cut the heat,
and yet at this season (June) I'VE are all
half dead from the tiercencss of the glow"
1--WE dare not leave door open after 8 A.
| ~, nor allow one to stand open before
! P. NJ. We scarcely dare put our heads
outside, between 9 A. NJ. and 6 P. NJ
This, however, is the hottest season. In q
fortnight we hope to have rains, when the
heat will be more bearable." "Of course
we are excessively languid and disinclined
to all physical effort. tits much plsasanter
to work hard in America than to lururiate
in India" We hope E. R. B. wont invite
US to ''luxuriate' there during the hot
season. Religious services there begin at
6 A. NJ. so that the congregation can get
safely home before the fierce sunGres up to
a furnace heat. 81 'a" I'D f.
We asked one of our Baptist friends how
a poor minister could support an abundance
Of servants. 1t is necessity that cannot
be avoided. The inevitable caste which
pervades India, has about thousand rami.
fcations (more or less) and each one of the
"ramifcations'' aoould die before being de.
graded to any lins of work beneath their
dignity, and they dare not aspire to any
above it. The gentleman" who saddles
your horse and runs by your side while
you ride, would not carry single message
to your nearest neighbor. The high digni.
tary whose sole employment is to count
your silver spoons and carry the key Of
your cupboard. would not offerto rub of
the slightest stain on them, and so on to
every conceivable duty in a family; each
duty demands servant. But then the ex.
pense is very light, for they won't touch 4
crumb of your food for fear of contamina.
ton, nor close an eye to sleep in 5 our house.
They live in their own houses ana are no
burden in any way except their presence
their wages range from rs cents to dollars
notwithstanding about Q dollars. A
family can live in plain, simple way with
about or 10 servants, the whole cost being
not more than one hired girl would cost
us here. These servants could give US
lessons in economy, for most of them save
money and become comparatively yell IF,
We have had many other items of living
there detailed to US, but the weather is too
hot here to write any more to day. One
hint, however, about keeping cool in hot
places: the food there is mostly cooked
with hot favors such as red pepper, must
ard, &C.; these may be very cooling in
their tendency! If any of our scaders,
after trying the experiment thoroughly, can
honestly recommend them for hot, July
dinner, as making one feel cool inside, they
may invite us to dinner some day. .a