Connecticut western news., 1888-07-04

A RAJAH AT HOME.

A RAJAH AT HOME. Story of a Visit to an East
 Indian Potentate.
 Caste Prejudices as They Exist / Among the Hindoos.
 { Iwent through labyrinth of dark corridors and drowning gateways, and lfouad the king in little room with a mud floor and whitewashcd walls. He had not thought it necessary to put on his brilliant robes aud jewels of state for an old friend, so found him Htting on bed with ablankot wrapped about him and his turban by his side; but as his servants approached him they took up tho dust from tho earth and placed it against their foreheads, and even a portly uncle who came in with mo touched tho kings feet by way of salu- tation. When had taken my seat l offered him cigarette; he watched his servants leave the room before he ac- cepted, adding by way of explanation "These people think that ought not to put into my mouth anything that you have touched" The ranh was fond of smoking and ho made an arbitrary dis tiuction between cigarettes and any thing o'se that passed bis lips. He would have been mortified if I had laid my finger on his hookah or touched his drinking vessel, but to the unclean hands that had fingered tho Egyptian cigarette that ho was smoking he paid 10 heed. Such exceptions to caste rules arc growing more numerous every day. All drugs and m:dicinos havo long beon taken by Hindoos without blame, and in some places ice aud soda water are consumed by rajpu.s who would not drink water drawn for them by an Eng lishman from tho we'll. Caste preju. diccs have always been capable of adapting themselves to necessities or very strong desires.
 The Hin doos arc an excluMve people, and many caste observances are devices to exclude foreigners. Even if Hin doc leavo his home and settle in another province his family will not always re- ceive him back into caste, though he has kept all the obscrvanccs; his sojourn among strange people has made him a foreigner in their eyes.
 As was talking about these things with the rajah, an ancient nurso hob bled out of the womon's apartments toward us. Her bent back and wiz zened, suspicious face would have made her fortune as witch oa tho London stage, but the aged dame had not out. grown her taste for ornament. Enor- nous gold earrings hung at the side ol her face, and in her nose was Q large gold ring, through which tho withercd lips smiled mo a welcome. She brought mo a plate of spices and perfumes with pretty speech from the maaarani, say ing that everything in tn, palace was mine, and hoping that should not be put to any discomfort in their poor home. She added that she had never seen European, and was very anxious to, SO that if I would walk into tho courtyard che would have much plea-ure in watching mo through tho trellis. So the rajah led me to tho courtyard. Behind the pierced stone work I could hear the lit tlo ladies tittering and the hurry oi small feet but could not catch sight of anything more than tho deep reds and golds of their shawls. I displayed n.y. self for few minutes from every point of view, but found it difficult to main tain a propor look of concern and natural dignity, for the rajah was twist ing and shaking with suppressed laugh ter. At last ho fairly bolted and roared immodorately, and had to leave the stage procipitatcly for fear of com. promising tho dignity of the British na- ton, of which was at the moment the accepted type.
 The maharani sent down to say that she had been charmed, but could not help wondering why rich English man should put on clothes "like an ass' skin" tried to excuse my gray tweed coat by saying that our poor northern complcxioas would not bear the gor- geous colors which looked SO lovely upon her countrymen, but found out afterward that had struck a wrong note, for she would rather havo been told that her own complexion was as fair as mine.
 As was taking my leave of the rajah I offered to shake hands with him, as we usually did, but he drew back, saying: 'I have just bathed and am going to eat my dianer. If I were to shake hands with you I should havo to batho again before eating. You won d2'-[Pall Mall Gazette.
 A Wanton Crime.