The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-02
A DAY WITH A. l. O. {.
Interesting Facts About Her Who Has
Pleased the Children.

Few people are perhaps aware that the
popular authOress, who is known by her
initials simply as "A Lady of England" 10
not only still living, but actively engaged in
mission work in populous city in Northern
India. A visit 10 her, and morning spent
with her in her customary round of visits
to those whom she hopes to raise out of
superstition and idolatry, is refreshing
and interesting break in the somewhat
mOnOtOnOus events of ordinary Anglo Indian
society. And IL is not a visit as difficult TO
accomplish in these days of quick railway
communication as it was fourteen years
ago, when "a. l.. o. En- otherwise simply
Miss Tucker, first came out TO India, and
decided TO make the city of Batala the centre
Of her labOrs and the home of her declining
years; for Batala is now in direct communi-
cation by rail with Lahore, the capital OF
the Punjaub, and is about an hours jour
ney further north than Amritsar, the IA
nous centre Of sikh influence, the city Of
the Golden Temple of worldwide fame.
In the DAYS when Miss Tucker first knew
ii, I was reached by dak gharri or doll, both
of Which conyeyances will be familiar 10
rsnooDtf Me authOress' stories of Indian
liz and adventure. The railway, however,
although it has brought more trade 10 Ba-
tala, and made it, therefore, more p0pulOus
and wealthy, has not altered il much with
regard TO European residents; for i'm former
days, as now, the only English people in
Batala are the missionaries, some eight or
ten, who form little centre OF influence in
the city and villages around.
Miss fuckers home is about three-quar-
tiers OF mile from the city, close under the
shadow ofthe Barring High School, for native
Christian boys, in whom she takes the At
est and most loving interest. Her cottage, a
neatly arranged little building, with furni-
ture and decoration, simple and tasteful, as
BELTS the charming old lady who inhablts il,
has been christened by her "Gruft auf Tag
as therein she intends TO spend the sunset"
of her life, This little home, in which she
sleeps, lives, and writes all that she now
gives TO the world, adjoins larger house
Inhabited by other lady missionaries, and in
this Miss Tucker takes her meals, as well IS
spends her leisure hours, though of these she
has but few, as in spite of her age, which
she proudly tells one is only two years less
than Her Majesty's, she is more or less hard
at work from morning till night. Every
morning, except Sunday, after most frugal |
breakfast, Miss Tucker starts on her round |
of visits, "to deliver her message" This |
means that she will generally manage 10 |
visit and address little gatherings of women |
and children in some seven or eight Zenanas, |
no uncomfortable and easy work. even 10 |
any one Of robust strength, and 10 the fragile |
little lady who has spent fourteen years in |
India, without once recruiting her health In
England, is no small strain, although she
herself would be the last TO acknowledge the
fact. The word "zenana," 10 many English
ears, no doubt implies magnificent and
secluded set OF apartments. in which high
class EindoOs and Mohammedans alike.
keep their women folk ''purdah,v or
screened from the vulgar gaze of strange
male eyes. There are such zenanas, il is
true, but they are rarely found outside Of
palaces, whereas every house, even OF the
poorest citizens, possesses its zenana, or, in
plain English, It's apartments for women,
whether those women are purdah or not.
Il is chiefly TO the homes of the non-purdah
class, and, in fact, 10 very humble class.
hat Miss Tucker directs her footsteps
rhen she sallies forth about O'Clock in the
morning TO walk to the city, followed by a
mall doll, carried by two kahars or
'earers. The doll is very primitive oon-
'eyance, built somewhat on the model Of
cry diminutiye Chinese palanquin, the
'ase measuring some three feet by two feet,
md the roof and sides being covered by a
trong padded cretonne. Lengthwise
through the top OF the doll passes long