The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-28

merchants welcome the splendid fund. not
because of it's help to the poor. but for the
sake of their own market manipulations
(D that no two natives tell the same story
on this subject.
The newspaper correspondent who m
out to send home narrowing copy must
stay his hand at present. have been Tor
days among those engaged In the stone
breaking and other. tasks. and with every
so far. in every place ! nave visited the
organizations have been able 10 reduce SUI
fering TO a minimum. The other day at
Nagpore / took most careful note OF the
human ants at their labors. To say that
they were a light-hearted gathering would
be untrue. for sounds of mirth and laughter
are always rare here. except among the
children. The simple fact is that they were
in evey way as are their fellows. The wom-
en- wore the same silver the
men smoked as contentedly as any others
l have seen.
immense sums in private charity. but L
doubt il. The local list of contributions
from the wealthy rajahs and merchants
are. with exceptions. s~hockingly mean.
Knowing, as one does. that the wealthy
native rarely loses an opportunity or ad-
nrivafe aims exist only in the fertile East
ern ~imaginations of the native journalists.
Charity is a charming trait OF the lndlan
character. if one can ascribe any particular
complexion of disposition TO a number or
races extending over so vast an area. The
comparative absence OF native assistance
may, therefore, be due TO an intentional
waiting for the worst
This much in order that the notion that
all India is famine stricken may be dis
PEELED. Diligent inquiry over a large area
convinces me that. so far as Anglo-lndia is
concerned. its interest in the anime is as
yet comparatively slight. Some of native
India is on short and is discuss
ing the price of rice and grain and talking
plague. Missionaries are preparing for the
bad time, and the anti-English press, with
some exceptions. hopes, by means of its
half-educated writers, to stir up it's half-fed
readers. One paper advocates the supply
~f asrne 80 the n n ftxrAG ftn GhnnN zn.n II
BIRDS an idea almost humorous to one
who has just come from Delhi. Cawnpore
and Lucknow and on IA par with the sug-
gestion that in order 10 reduce the expense
of the already painfully inadequate Indian
army. corps OF native volunteers should
be raised.
In my next letter / shall deal much more
minutely with the provisions now being
made against the terrible time when the
existing stories OF foodstuffs are used.
Just now. of course. the people are living
on their surplus. both OF money and grain.
a reflection that must somewhat cheer
donors 10 the famine fund is the thorough
out. There would appear to be none of the
wasting of money that is usual in many
home charities. There are no officials or
commission TO reduce the volume of relief
ere IL reaches the people. The amount of
work put in by the officials is a great
of the Anglo-Indian at work was distinctly
unjust. On the score of work / have no
hesitation In saying that such officials and
journalists as | have encountered here
and L have met many-get thrOug much
more business tlan their confreres in
Whitehall and Fleet street. Perhaps be-
cause there are not so many distractions