The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-13
THE DURSAR AT DELHI.

It Was a Magnificent Scene When the
Hindoo Princes Swore Fealty.
The man who was the master spirit Of
that imposing ceremonial known to his
tory as the Durbar of Delhi died pen in
hand, composing verses as a means OF
Willing away the tedious hours of what
was thought to be temporary illness By
the demise of the Right Hon. Edward Rob
ert Bulwer Lytton, earl of Lytton embas
sador to France, the British empire lost a
faithful servant and the world a graceful
poet, but future generations will hear oi
him chiefly as the viceroy who had the dis
tinguished honor of proclaiming Victoria
empress of India
No more picturesque task ever fell to the
lot of man, and that Lord Lytton performed
it with dignity and tact showed that he
was other than dreamer and greater than
a mere rhyme maker" as his enemies
termed him. On that memorable occasion
he displayed himself as man of affairs
and a competent ruler of 200 600, 900 people
1t was in 1876 that Disraeli put through
the measure which attached a new title t.
those already worn by the queen of Great
Britain, and at about the same time he sent
his friend and fellow author across the
seas to fill the place OF governor general OF
India. As they parted the premier said.
'Lytton, you are going to India to carry
out policy which u strong party in this
country will oppose You will be much
attacked by the papers. Never answer
them. Whatever yCF do, remember that
shall stand by you"
So the son of the famous novelist and
playwright sailed away. Hardly warm in
his viceregal seat, he made enemies of the
Anglo-lndians by declaring in the cele
brated Fuller manslaughter case his "ab
horrence of the practice of European mas
ters treating their servants in a manner in
which they would not treat men of theii
own race-a practice all the more cowardly
because the servants are unable to retaljate
and have the strongest claims for forbear
ance"
This protest against the white mans
right created an animosity that hoped to
satisfy itself when the pageant of Jan l
1877, occurred. 1t was gleefully anticipated
that Lytton would offend the native rulers
in some point of etiquette on that day
But he didn't. When he repaired to the
wide plain that lies beneath the walls OF
ancient Delhi and set up the viceregal
throne, he proved himself the worthy rep
resentative of a conquering race
With exact and minute formality be !
greeted the princes and potentates whose
ancestors had ruled in that wonderful land |
when Britain was barbarian. No courtesy /
was inadequate and none was exaggerated /
Each dignitary received the exact measure |
of recognition due his rank, and no blum /
der marked the splendid ceremonial with |
which Victoria was proclaimed empress OF |
India
Indeed, the occasion must have been one |
to stir the blood and fire the soul of the !
imaginative yet practical Lytton. The |
vast eXpanse was dotted by tents, gor-
geous with the magnificent evidences OF
oriental wealth. With each king or lord.
ling had come band of superbly equipped
retainers Silk and pearls and diamonds
shimmered or shone on every hand
Horses, elephants and camels, as we'll a.
men, bore costly trappings, and the feast.
ing, the pomp and the circumstance of the
hour have had no rival in the records OF
nations. And through all the complex re
quirements of the event the viceroy carried
himself with The lofty mien of a Roman
envoy who delivered the mandate of
Cesar.-Augusta (GaJ Chronicle