The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-05-20
The Castles and Trades in India.

The Oxford Boden Professor of Sanscrit,
Professor Monier Williams, c. |. f., lately
delivered lecture on the "Castes and
Trades of India, in the Assembly Rooms,
Ventnor. for the benefit of the Young Mems
Christian Association. The interest of the
lecture was much enhanced by the exhibit
ton of objects of Indian art, sent expressly
for the occasion from Osborne by Her Ma
iestv the Queen The authorities of the
South Kensington Museum and many res
idents in the neighborhood also sent speci-
mems. Prof. Monier Williams, in the course
of his lecture, stated that India was called
a poor country; but his travels had con
vinced him that India was a rich country
with a poor population. Her potential
wealth was incalculable. India was small
world in itself. 1t could yield every con-
ceivable species of vegetable and mineral
product. 1t had attained great industrial
skill when our ancestors were halt-naked
sayages. Yet India was now, commercially
and scientifically, far behind European
nations. The lecturer then traced the de-
velopment of Indian art and industry from
its germ in the organization of Indian vii
laces. The Indian village or township was
the original type of European divisions of
rural society. 1t had survived all religious
ana political conyulsions, and remained still
unchanged Three-quarters of every In
dian community were field laborers. They
cultivated their own plots, and received a
fixed proportion Of the produce \ single
laborer could be supported on produce val
ued at ; shillings a month. They enjoyed
complete local autonomy. They elected
their own head man, who corresponded to
the Mayor Of our corporations Then there
was the village accountant, the priest, the
astrulager. the schOolmaster, the barber, the
carpenter. the blacksmith, the weaver, the
potter. the Gilman, the washerman. the
DIVER. tie watchman, and many other hered-
itary functiouaries. Every man took a
pride aud pleasure in his own work, and
with the simplest tools did il admirably
In the towns innumerahlc trade caStes were
formed. Different trades were eongregated
in different streets The dclicacy Of their
manipulation WAS extraordinary. The lee
,urrr then pointed cut the beauty Of the
ivory and wo"d carving, and silver hhgrec
work lent by the Queen, the exquisite fins'-
ness of pacc.. muslin the admirable taste
displayed iH the patterns Of jewelry, IN
the designs and eoloring of shawls, car
pats. ~rarfs and textile fabrics The
kin ii the workman was handed down
fruu, father 20 -un. aud preserved for gen
rrafiorr, ia the same family The hand was
.,iI the chief implement employed. and in
the Interests II Indian art it was to be hoped
that no European machinery would ever
take IT, pk4ce. and that native traditions
wuuld ~, h. abandoned for foreign mere
tricia1S ideas The cotton cloth ot Man
chester wa TAR inferior t. that woven by
delicate Indian hands bat was much cheap
cr Hand work could not compete with
machine made god. NUMEROUS cotton
mill, hsd VI late year, becn erected in Bonn.
bay Would the I'D native industries Dis
APPEAR The lecturer thought not Caste
w. a strnng es,sg>sryaiiye toFes- Ii was a
f1Fm .J league which had done much sood
IN early times. and might still hc utilized
bnt anly a. 3 servant. nss A. a master. Tbs
Irlsh Land League had nut iayeutel
B0vrattin. ladia had furnished tx
arapls> og Boyco;teTs and Boycuttees
for many crumri,S- When the lecturer
was In India 4 eloih merchan, Ahncdeea,
had committed a hciRuus caste crime bl
marrying widow, and was thereupor
Royo;tcd Ne one would huy from
him. or .,ll To him, ~ speak To him. VI iy'
With him. and none ul his debtors woull
pay him their debts He could MT su'
them. for no one would give cvidenec N
in the Irish Land League. the members oi
an Indian caste had no individual liberty
uf action they were forced ;o subordinaI,
the LAWS 1T the State 10 the mandates o
th,.se who presided over their own organ
Estlou ProgresS was arrested, energy par
alyss,l. manly independence crushed. publi
opinion stiAed liberty destroyed Ii wa
true thai the antagonism oi caste had helpe'
u 10 govern India Our wtsesi plan woul'
be to defeat It's evil action BY corrective in
fuencss. e. e0unteract is false teaching b
! iull,arting true ideas of liberty, true prIn
/ ciples ot political economy justice and u'o
, r4hty, and BY helping the masses 10 anne
liurltp their own condition