Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-12-03
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.


Henry W. French, OF Boston, arrived in
this city from Liverpool by the City Of
Brussels, bringing with him troupe Of
dancing girls, musicians and iugglers from
India. These girls perform the nauteh
dance, aud IN connection with the other
members Of the company are TO appear at
Days Theatre.
Ihere are fifteen persons in the company
live women and ten men. The women
are some Of the principal performers OF
India and belong 10 the only class Of
women in that country who are taught to
read aud write. The oldest is called Bhoo-
ribai, and is 20 years old. She Is one OF
the principal dancers. The chief dancer
is IS, and isone Of the greatest performers
in India. These two belong to the famous
temple dancers. No Mahanajar ever en-
tertalns a guest without giving one Of
these dances. The nauteh dance is q feat
ure Of all religious and holiday festivals.
The youngest Of these girls is 10 years old.
They spsEk no English, and are the first
hahometans who ever came 10 this coun.
try from India. The native manager of
this company is manager Of the Bombay
Theatre. Oomerkhan is one Of the best
Of Indian jugglers, and one Of bis com
panions is a knife player-he juegles with
long knives, keeping large number cir
cling about bis head at one time. Apotb-
er is a snake ehaFmer, and brings with him
Two cooras, scorpion, and little ami
NAL called 'mongoose," which is used to
stir up the snakes, it being very hostile to
them. All food for the Hindoos and Ma
hometan must be cooked by one Of their
number. The men sing and play on their
native instruments while the women 20
through their peculiar movements. The
women also sing continually while dancing.
The company left Bombay October 10Th.
The members Of it were in excellent spirits
during the trip, after their first uneasiness
left them. They were much petted by the
passengers. The beauty of the women Is
matter of taste. In India they are con-
sidered very handsome. Three of them
are married. They are all very modest.
They wear a satin vest which does not COW
er their throats and is fastened behind.
/ They also wear satin trousers reaching
nearly to the ancles, over all they throw q
long guaze cloak. They wear rings on
their fingers and toes, strings Of pearls
about their ears, and aBklets and nose
rings Of solid silver. They wear no dia-
monds as those stones are not fashionable
in India. 1t was very difficult to get these
people together and to persuade them to
leave their country. Mr.. French saws il
a native friend Of his had not consented to
come to America on visit the Others
would have been afraid to come. Just be-
1 afn iVtr A. : l. a
| they were coming to America to be sacri-
| feed at festival, and almost refused 10
come. Their chief duty at home is to par
| tIeipate in festivals. The first rank OF these
women is never permitted by the priests to
leave the temple. They all reverence as
their special patron and protectress, Holy
| Mother BhOWance, supposed by them to
be the most beautiful dancer in the para
disc Of HindOO religion. Their dances do
not resemble what we call dances, and con-
sst Of 1.-the and graceful WhirIing, marvel
| lOus in its quickness, and also in mystic
weaving and pantomimic contortions ex-
planned by their songs. Each dance has a
meaning, and thesentiment is always made
plain. They have one dance which repre-
sents railway train, and the clatter Of
the engine is heard all through it.
| The statue Of Alexander Hamilton, pre-
sented to the city by Colonel John q.
Hamilton, son OF the great statesman, was
unveiled on Monday in Central Park in an
appropriate manner. The cold weather
did not prevent the attendance of many
distinguished persons, but caused SO much
discomfort that the throng adjourned to
the museum Of art, where addresses were
delivered by Ex-Governor Bullock, Chaun-
ceY NJ. Depew and others.
The first snow Of the season in New
York put in its appearance promptly on
Thursday morning, in order 70 complete
necessary preparations for Thanksgiving.
The sum shown for a few moments at
noon, but before night clouds again began
to shake their white coats over the earth.
Nov. 20, 1880. AMP.