Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-07-29
MaIlarajah Duleep Singh.


MaIarajah Duleep Singh.
In a very interesting conversation with
an English gentleman last evening, who
had resided in India several years, he gave
IL al his opinion that, while no misunder
standing between England and Russia
could give rise TO any immediate attitude
of belligerent character, still it was to be
apprehended that should Russia make
war on India, with view Of conquest Of
the territory, England would be compelled
TO take aggressive measures.
In winding up the evening our English
friend told the following romantic story
about the marriage the Prince Maharaiah
Duleep Singh. of India some years ago
the truth of which is vouched for, while it
throws no little light on the policy OF En-
gland in acquiring territory in India:
1t appears that it has long been the Gus
tom OF England, when they wish to ap.
propriate some principally in India, to
offer to the Prince certain wealthy an
nuity. allowing him to retain his title,
provided he agrees to cede his lands to the
crown and come to live in England On
one Of these occasions the Prince Duleep
Singh. having accepted the proposition of
the crown, came with his mother to En-
gland. where he received thorough En-
glish education. He had ali the manners
of an English gentleman, and was received
at court with great Difference, he taking
precedence in rank as royal hlghness.
Besides the immense annuity he received
from the English Government he also had
very large fortune of his own in India.
He was consequently looked upon with
great favor by the fair women Of England,
and indeed, many titled lady would
have been far from Directing TO him as a
husband whose position of royal high
ness was sustained by such dazzling
wealth.
Well, one day his mother took suddenly
i'll and died, and, she having previously
expressed desire to be buried in her ma
tive land, her son set out for India with
her remains. On arriving at the Isthmus
of Suez he was obliged to remain two or
three days for the steamer, and, not know
ing what to do with himself to pass the
time he concluded to visit the missionary
school established there, being much in
terested in such institutions On present
ing himself to the superintendent, who
had no idea of his rank or position, the
children of the school were shown off and,
among the rest, brighteyed little mulat
to girl, about thirteen years of age, repeat
ed a piece of poetry in such manner as
10 excite great interest in the Prince
On retiring, the Prince presented the su.
perntendent with twenty guineas, whose
surprise did not last very long before dis
covering that the noble donor was Prince
Of India
On the following day the Prince again
presented himself, and requested that the
little mulatto girl should repeat the poetry
before recited After she had finished il,
and been put through all her PAGES, the
Prince told the superintendent that, II 1t
was possible to be accomplished, he de
sired to marry that girl. AT first the
Princes declaration was received as a
complimentary joke, but the earnest man
ner of the Prince, to their surprise, soon
convinced them of the contrary. He
then told the superintendent that he was
on his way to India and that, If no obsta-
cles presented themselves, he should re-
turn in six weeks and claim his bride.
The missionaries though proud OF having
one OF their pupils so highly appreciated,
deemed it prudent 10 inform the Prince
that the young girl OF which he was SO
enamored was the Legitimate child of a
banker at Cairo, who had afterward mar
ried wealthy lady, and who still sent a
small annuity for the maintenance of the
girl and her mother, who was in very
humble circumstances The Prince re
piled that as his own father had had forty
wives il would be no objection to the girl
he should marry if her father had Only
two wives So the Prince left large sum
of money with the lady missionary, with
instructions to have the young girl ready
by his return.
Although the missionaries believed that
| it was mere freak, and that they would
| probably never see the Prince again, still
| they went TO work To teach the girl what
| they could in SO short time of English
| manners and customs. for she hardly
knew how to use knife and fork even,
| and to have prepared for her a proper
| trousseau. Before the time had elapsed
| Prince Duleep Singh had returned; so
| great was his impotence that he could not
even wait for the regular steamer, and so
chartered one expressly to bring him
| sooner. But on pressing his marriage he
was told that the laws of the country re.
qnired a residence of at least fourteen days
before marriage could be celebrated, so the
prince was obliged to submit and wait
patiently for the time to elapse. In the
meantime he took two large houses, oppo.
site each other, and had them handsomely
fitted up, placing his afiianced and mother
in one and himself in the other. In the
meantime he visited her daily, making her
costly presents, and enlightening her in
European ways and the customs Of life.
Finally the day of their nuptials arrived,
and according 10 report the recent diamond
weddings OF the United States would pale
before the gorgeous splendor Of this affair.
The Prince had endowed her with all the
magnificent jewels inherited by his ances-
tors, and on her wedding night she shone
in blaze OF glory. He took her to En-
gland, where she has since been enjoying
high life, spending her summers at the
Princes magnificent country seat She, of
course, is entitled TO the pas of all mobiles
at court and elsewhere, and has been for
years toast Every year since his mar
riage the Prince has sent CO 900 to the mis-
sionary school at Suez, which he promised
to endow. Here is matter for a first.class
romance of an Indian Prince. London
Cor. ~. Louis Globe Democrat.
Justice of the Peace Northrup, of FL
licottville, n. Y, feels very spiieful to-
fgV1tl l..