Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-03
THE PRINCES INDIAN FRIEND.

The English in India are as everybody
knows, small community settled in tn,
midst of an overwhelming native popula
ton which does not love them. This cir
cumstance one might imagine, would
create among them feeling of common
brotherhood and a disregard of social diff
ferences A greater mistake could not BE-
made. Among Anglo-Indians srotherly
feeling is conspicuous by its absence
and social divisions are incomparably
deeper and more bitter with them than in
the most worm-eaten of Western societies.
The little community is split up into a
dozen petty coteries and circles, which af-
feet to look down on each other with a
contempt only inferior TO that with which
they all regard the ringers"
That was the state of affairs at Punka-
brandy when Mr.. Charles Oferproof ar
rived there. Leaving out the private
soldiers and other "meap whites" there
were about fifty Europeans in the city.
These fifty were divided into half-a-score
of classes-or rather castes-which barely
n,
First there were Colonel Teddy and the
officers of the white regiment, who formed
the creme dc la creme of Punkabrandy soci-
ETY.; they Just condescended to speak to the
officers of the native regiments, the lead
ing civil servants, and the magistrate and
barristers, each of whom in their turn
formed set by themselves, which re-
garded the others with jealousy, the Off
GERS of the white regiment with hatred,
and the planters and merchants who
formed the rest of the English community
with contempt.
It was to this last class that Mr.. Ofer-
proof had the misfortune, as he himself re-
garded it, to belong. He had come to
Punkabrandy as representative of the great
firm Of Messrs. Inter and Oferproof, wine
and spirit merchants The branch estab-
lishment at Punkabrandy, owing to the
habits of the inhabitants, was in pecu-
liarly prosperous condition, and if Mr..
Oferproof had been an ordinary trader. its
affairs would have fully occupied his time
and thoughts. But he was not an ordinary
trader. Though far from neglectful of
matters of business, he had a soul that
aspired after higher things. He thirsted
for social success. When at home in Eng
land he had not been more active in seek
ing orders for wines and spirits than in
cultivating the acquaintance OF the more
fashionable of the firms patrons. And
now, away in Punkabrandy, he was not
more eager for the extension of the
branch's business than he was for the
privilege and pleasure, as he styled it, of
mingling with the elite of Punkabrandy.
1t is not wonderful, then, that he regarded
his connection with an occupation which,
though profitable peeuniarily, excluded
him from the select circles of the station
as misfortune-and big misfortune, too.
However, it is the mark of great man
to overcome bad luck, and that is what
Mr.. Oierproof resolved to do. He soon
struck out plan of campaign by which
he hoped before long to succeed in forcing
his way into the best company in Punka-
brandy. As has already been limited, the
European denizens of that town were con-
yivial in their habits. All of them, and
more especially Colonel Teddy and the
officers of the white regiment, wanted no
mean quality of wines and spirits. All of
them, and more especially Colonel To-day
and the officers of the white regiment.
wanted also good deal of credit. 1t was
in these two circumstances that Mr.. Ofer-
proof recognized an instrument by means
of which he could before long force open
the gates of Punkabrandy society.
The previous representative of Messrs.
Inter & 0ferproof had been very averse to
the credis system. Mr.. Oferproof con-
tinued his predecessors policy, but with a
difference. He was very cautious in his
dealings with the lawyers and merchants
and civil servants, but the military were
never denied. The officers of the native
force could have almost what they liked,
and, as for Colonel To-day and the officers of
the white regiment, no length or breadth
or depth of credit was too much for them
The firms finest wines and oldest spirits
were at their command whether they hap
pened to have money to pay for them or
not. Consequently, before Mr. Ofer-
proof was six months in Punka-
brandy almost every man of them
was over head and years in debt.
Mr.. Oierproof felt that the time for ac-
ton had arrived. He began operations by
asking Captain Fuzelile of the Sepoys to
quiet little dinner. Now, the Captain
would have liked to decline, but he could
not afford 10 offend Mr.. Oferproof, as he
owed him some four or FIVE thousand rupees
which he was not prepared lust then TO
pay. So, after casting about for time in
vain to find an excuse for not accepting
he accepted Mr.. Oferproof had now his
chance, and he made full use of it. Ate,
he had softened Captain Fuzelile's heart
with a good dinner, and his head with
good wine. he poured into his ear a long
account ofthe various grand acquaintance
he had in England. He talked Familiarity
of the Duchess of Doublechin. Lord
William Moribund, Lord De Cellar and
the Hon. Frank Harrington an acquaint-
ance with whose characters and habits
he had contrived to pick up from
their butlers), in way that
amazed the gallant Captain, who, when al
/ home on leave, found himself very
unimportans parsonage indeed, and not
considered worthy of touching the hem OF
the garments of such exalted leings a:
these. At first Captain Fuzelile thought
his host ives only ''blufing" him, but as
he listened to the details of various Ions
conversations which Mr.. Oferproof professec
to have had with these and other lnmina
ries Of the fashionable world, conviction
began to be forced in upon his mind. Thi.
HIVSSsS was Hasteheu dHV coAlpieteu Ny
final coup on Mr.. Oferproofs part. He
actually produced letter from her Grace
OF Doublechin herself, couched in the ia
milfar strain her Ladyship is known Il
affect, which, after ordering some wine
gave the wine merchant straight tip
as to the winner of the Oaks Whei
Captain Fuzelile left Mr. oferproof'
bungalow that night he was convinced
that, whatever his host might be in India
in England he was much more fashion
able person than himself
Now, Mr.. Oferproof was an astute indi
vidual, and he had not selected the gallan
Captain as his first guest without reason
The fact was, Captain Fuzelile was tn
gossip of Punkabrandy, and Mr.. 0ferproo
knew that anything confided to him wonl,
800. - l.,.a..,, eyarrlr.iS.iI, .l. st,tia,.