The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-04
AN EAST INDIA SOLOMON.
How He RecOnciled Pair Of Unhappy Mar
ried People.

In "A Fly on the Wheel; or, How Helped to
Govern India" by Lieutenant-colonel Thomas
H. Levin, the author tells this quaint story: Il
was sitting with the rajah, Oh the raised plat
form in front Of his house. drinking tea in the
cool of the evening. Suddenly our peaceful,
silent smoking was disturbed by young and very
pretty girl, with flowers in her hair and silver
ornaments on her meek and arms, who rushed up
the ladder and threw herself at the rajah's feet
in passion of tears. After her assembled slowly
one by one, number of villagers wrapped in
their long, homespun mantles who quietly sat
down on the platform to the right and left of
the chief. The rajah smoked on silently
until the womans sobs had grown some
what less violent, when he remarked
quietly: Weeping is good for women few
more puffs OF fragrant tobacco, and, as the Sob
bling still continued he added with solemnity
Three condltions are to be avoided: First, not to
be able to weep; second, to weep without knowing
for why; third, to weep too much The last con-
dition pronounced with impressive distinct
ness and all asserting mnrmnr went around the
assembly. The girl raised her head My
father! I.cannot live with Tawngey hate
him. What has he dones Has he beaten your
No. he has not beaten me; that | should not
have minded. He suspects me- He watches
me- and will not endure it. ! demand to be
divorced. Oh, my father, be it on your head"
'Iawngey, come forward, thou son of foolish
ness What is this l hearp Tawngey ap-
peared, sinking shamefacedy from the depths
of the crowd First making lowly obeisance.
he sat down before the cnlet MY lorC,' SAID
Tawngey, i saw her flirting with - 1T is
false--t is falsee vehemently cried the girl,
dashing away her tears. i went with the other
girls to draw water in the stream and Adults
sweetheart Pawthee came and began laughing,
and so we splashed him with the water Then
this man (pointing with concentrated scorn at
the wretched Tawngey,l this man was spying
behind tree, and he came and dragged me by
the arm and abused me before them all. have
never suffered such shame. Release me, oh my
father. l will not live with him. Here she
again Frustrated herself at the rajah's feet
dead silence ensued. broken only by the girls
sebs Tawngey looked as though he wished
the earth would swallow him, but he said
not word. Suddenly the rajah spoke
again and gave orders % you and you point
ing to two or three elders among the spectators
/ take away these two wicked ones. who did not
obey the holy law. Strip them of all their
clothes, save one cloth only to the woman, and
shut them up together in the great empty guest
house In the morning will hear them again.
Enough! have spoken So the young couple
were hustled off and shut up in bare, empty
house, with but one garment between them.
The night was very cold, and as I pulled my
thick wadded quilt over my shoulders before
going to sleep, admired the shrewd wisdom of
the rajah. In the morning when their clothes
were handed in TO them. and the door was
opened to conduct them to the chief, they quietly
slipped away hand in hand, and departed peace
ably to their own abode"