Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-08-06
LIfe I'm Indln.

"0nce a Week furnishes an amusing
description Of society in India. The
writer says:
There is always croquet going on
somewhere or another, either at private
parties or else at one OF the military
messes. Very few grounds are turfed.
You play on the gravel, which is wa
tered and rolled, and the sun having
baked it, il is something like playing on
brick flooring. People play in a used
up sort of way, as if it was even too
much of an exertion TO hold their NAL
let's; however, it is capital vehicle for
closing little quiet Irritation, as also an
excuse for a stroll afterward into the re-
freshment tent. Some people will per-
sist in bringing their children. There
is quite background Of ayahs and
bearers carrying babies, while every
now and then a precocious infant Of
more advanced age dashes in and car
ries off a ball that perhaps has just been
put into position. AS it is too hot TO
play much before six, and as it gets
dark an hour after, games have TO be
finished by the light of lanterns, which
native servants carry about. Poor
things they have no easy time of it,
called hither and thither. Many sting
ing blow do they get on their face and
ankles from hard-hit balls. / should
think that they were glad that the days
of tight croqueting had passeds saway.
Meanwhile the ladies', who are too ell
derly or too lazy to play, sit apart and
indulge in little quiet scandal OF not
always the most good-natured descrip-
ton.
Wehave a nice little theater, teo, well
ventilated and commodious. The drop
scene is decently painted, and has the
conventional lake, mountains, and ltal-
ian villas, with gorgeously dressed, lack
adaisical people lolling about in the
foreground, playing guitars. With a
tasteful arrangement of flowers and
ferns, the proscenium looks very pretty.
Performances take place usually every
six weeks, two months, or even at longer
intervals, should the ever-changing in
habitants be of n-theatrical turn of
mind. The acting, in some instances,
is above the average, but the great draw
back is the want of actresses; some
trumpeter or youthful drummer has to
take the part of Rosalind or Lydia
Languish, and though painstaking
enough, yet deficiency or redundancy
of the letter H, together with gruh
voice, well squared elbows and thick
waist, spoil the effect, to say nothing OF
transient glimpses Of anything but
twinkliRg ankles. However, the spec
tators are not very critical, and there is
always plenty of good natured applause.
There are several balls during the
year. Each regiment gives one or two,
then the bachelors give one, and the
married people return it. Military balls
are similar to those in England, mas
much as the rooms are decorated with
all the spare arms and flowers that can
be obtained; but what is especially no.
ticeable is the paucity of ladies to the
number of gentlemen. Even in the most
favored places they are as one to three.
There is a tale told that once at an up
country station a ball was given. At the
last moment, lady after lady sent an ex-
cuse. Whooping-coHgh, measles or what
not, kept them at home watching over
their little darlings One spinster-the
only one in the place-however, went.
To her horror, she found that she was
the only lady in the room. There were
nearly a hundred gentlemen present,
and these were crowding round, asking
for the pleasure of the first dance. 1t
was too much for her. She had only
lately arrived from England. Gazing
wildly about, her, she burst into food
of tears, and had to be removed. 1t is a
lucky thing when a military station can
boast Of ballroom with boarded floor.
In a great many places they have no
such things. Canvass stretched over the
floor and chalked is the substitute; but
it is very Indifferent one, as tits always
tearing, the seams become unsown, and
down come the dancers. However,
tailor with few needles threaded and
stuck in his turban, is in readiness, and
speedily repairs the damage. Dancing
is mistake, l think, in India. tits too
hot even under a punkah; and it is not
pretty sight to see Captain Jones and
the lovely Miss Smith waltzing past you,
the perspiration rolling in torrents down
their faces. / don't wonder at the Hin
docs astonishment at the Sahib's Gus
tom of dancing, and thinking how much
better their plan was Of having it done
for them.