The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-03

vicinity OF the pIeSl0fUCy an OilCeF mas lnrppr
circle of friends and acquaintance, and a
greater diversity of objects OF interest," EVERY
thing Is on larger scale. He does not see
eternaIly the same faces, or from weeks end to
weeks end hear the same style of conyersation
But in an "upcowltry" station, II a man is
bored, there is no escape; If he is enntie there
is no relief. An absorbing occupation is an
antidote against the poison OF petty provo
cations. But there is seldom any such safe
ggard In the accompaniments of military
life In Mofussil station. We ali know
what are the iealousles and animosities-the
tlvaliles and malignities-the scandals aud
interchangeable "evil tongues and rash iudp-
mentso-whtch often make society in remote
rural districts as unlovely and uncharitable as
the spots on which they dwell are lovely and
,itilSe ,Tfnen ii but m IN the me metropolis people have
ened against small aggravations The attrition
of the world soon rubs off the mark left by pal.
try annoyances. But In small communities and
In remote places these annoyances stick to men
like burrs, because they have seldom fsufIiclent
occupation to wear them of. So Il Is in our
more remote Indian military stations Idleness
begets and nourishes strife.
Another illustration of this may be discerned
in the fact that we seldom hear ANYTHING of
these scandals among the members of the
Indian Civil service, who for the most part are
occupied from morning till night in the per-
formance of important duties. Take such pic
ture asthls-and it is not an exaggerated one
Of the daily life OF revenue officer In Inda:-
We see him exerting daily, and with no VAN
or fruitless result, all his faculties of observa-
ton, OF research, of penetration, of Judgment.
1t is a strange sight-a wonderful proof of the
power of intellectual and moral education-to
watch the respect and confidence evinced by
greS-headed men towards that beardless youth.
We zee him, in the early morning mist stretch.
ing at an inspiring gallop over the dewy fields.
Not unmindful is he of the hare, which scuds
aWav from bis horses feet; of the call of the
partridge from the brake; or of the wild fowl on
the marsh The wellearned holiday will arrive,
when he will be able to follow these, or perhaps
nobler games but at present he has other work
on hand. He Is OH his way to some distant
point, where measurements are to be tested,
doubts resolved Sor objections investigated. This
done, he returns~to his solitary breakfast,
cheered by the companionship of q book, or
doubly welcome under such circumstances. The
forenoon is spent in receiving reports from the
native officers employed undcr him; in directing
their operations; in examining, comparing,
ahaly zing, and arranging the various Information
which comes in from allquarters. AS the day adj
vances, the widespread shade begins to be
peopled with living figures. Group after group of
villagers arrive in their best and whitest dresses;
and hum of voices succeeds to the stiffness,
before only broken by the cooling OF the dove
and the scream oil the parroQuet. The carpet Is
then spread in the open air; the chair Is set;
ht1gants and spectators take their seats on the
ground in orderly ranks; silence is proclaimed,
and the rural court is opened. AS case after
case is brought forward, the very demeanor of
the parties, and of the crowds around, seems to
point out on which side justice lies. No need
here OF eT pd'te decisions, or claims lost through
default. All are free to come and go, with little
trouble, and at no expense. No need OF
heightened pleadings. A few simple questions
bring out the matter of the suit aud the grounds
on which 1t rests. No need of lists of witnesses.
Scores of witnesses are ready on the spot, alike
unsummoned and untutored. No need of the
strong in Indian breast Vie @Seno ob truth is
from counteracting influences; still more So
then, when the sanction of public opinion as
sists and protects the rightful cause. In such
court Abraham sat, when arbtrating among his
simple-minded herdsmen. In such court was
justice everywhere administered in the child
mood OF the human race: before wealth in
creased, and with wealth complicated interests,
and law became science requiring hfe's
study to understand. Strange must that mans
character be, and dull his sympathies who in
the midst OF occupations like these, does not
ind his heart accompanying and tightening his
This is a sketch of civil work written by a
distinguished civilian, and the truth of it has
oeen amply confirmed. by other writers of the
teItainmg and instructive volume entitled
Notes on the Northwestern Provinces aud
In Mr. Edwards more recently published work,
distinctly the character OF civil work in India
how varied and important, and, above all, how
deeply interesting 1t is. AS the extract which
we have given represents this work on the rev.
.
OF the judicial, and Mr.. Edwards of its political
aspects.
Men who spend their lives in this way are not
likely 10 be mixed up with petty scandals -
But very different is the existence of a military
officer at an up.country station. During the
greater part Of the year, the heat of the
climate, forbids regimental exercises OF
any kind whatever, except in the
morning and the evening and even in the cold
weather they occupy only few hours of the
day. There is boOk-club and a band and
billiard-table perhaps not all OF these), and
little or nothing beyond to occupy and amuse
the mind. There is good soil, therefore for
the growth of strife. The beginning may be
very small; but 1t grows apace, and soon as
sumes portentous dimensions. And the worst
of 1t is that In this view of the case, looking
upon idleness as the root of the evil, there is
every prospect Of an increasing number OF
these scandals. The recent changes in the Or
eanlzation OF the Indian Army have necessarily
had great effect upon military society. The
indian otficer, pure and simple" looking upon
lndla as his home, taking deep interest in the
languages so as to prepare himself for useful
and honorable work, proud of his Dro-
fession and content with his way of life.
Is now giving. place to the general service
ohcer, The bird OF passage, who looks upon his
residence in India as period OF hated exile
and only cares to kill the time until the hannS
hour OF his release from the bondage which his
soul aohors. with sixty or seventy thousand
OF European soldiers IN India, the country must
be oVeTun with officers of this 0lass-bonor-
able gentlemen and good military leaders-hnt
with tastes and dispositions utterly uutuned to
tne enylronments OF Indian life. Exceptions
may, doubtless, be found. Among the MANY
there may be some who, looking seriously at
their position, begin to discern attalnshia
objects not unworthy of their best endeayors
and gradually open their eyes to the fact thai
an indian career may not be SO bad a thine
after all. But that very large majority viii
always be found who can by no means recon