The age-herald., 1898-09-18

London, September 14.-In December an American girl goes to reign in the queerest court in the world.
 This court governs SOO.OOO,OOO of people, or fifteenth of the whole population of the earth.
 The American girl represents the em- press, who is unavoidably absent. Her title is vie-queen or vicerine, and the peo- pie of the court treat her as though she were the queen herself.
 In 1878, long after the famous siege of Lucknow, and after Lucknow had fallen and been taken and retaken, India was re- Vised and re-arranged under English ru e.
 THE ORIGIN OF THE COURT.
 England came in supreme possession Of India and the English army was divided into four commands to keep peace over the four quarters of India. These were called the commands of Punjab, Bengal, Madras and Bombay. Each command was under a lieutenant-general, and the manner in which the commands were governed by military board in London corresponds somewhat to our own armies ruled by the board of strategy at Washington.
 But England was a long way from India and India is big and hard to govern; therefore the queen decided that she must establish a court and maintain king and queen in 1t to represent herself at all times.
 The creation of the office of vceroy and vicerine followed soon after, and Que Victoria dispatched a vice king and vice. queen to govern India. The vice-king W to represent the government of England in India, and the vice-queen was to hold court and assist in maintaining the peace and dignity of the country.
 The office of viceroy or vice-zing has al ways been considered since it's c-eaticn, one of the proudest that could be given by the United Kingdom; and the officer is not only given a large salary, but he holds political position second 10 none. Politics however have been singularly free from entering in the e'ectlon of the incumbancy of this office and those who have been se- lected to the position have been selected. as in the case of MT. Curzon, by fitness rather than by favoriteism.
 The court to which MT. CurZon and hs American wife will go in December is held in a magnificent palace in Calcutta Tn which they will live. The palace with Is adjoining houses and magnificent groun is called a "compound," which means al the members and attaches. ircluding the buildings and animals, are one family Ire horses are a part of the comp 1und, also the dogs and the immense number of na- tives who serve the family.
 HOLDING COURT.
 Tn the court room of the palace there is an immense chair of throne. in which the empress of India will sit if she ever jour neys to India; but it is very unlikely tn she will ever occupy 1t and the chair stands vacant. By it's side is a throne SmauPr and less imposing This is for the vice king and by it's side is another throne which the vce-queen occupies.
 Seated in these chairs they receive the native Indian princes who come to pay tribute and to give in their reports, and here they are seated when they hold cIn- sultation on great matters.
 The etiquette of India compels the vic'- roy and vcerine to hold receptions at fre- ouent intervals and at these rec 7ptions the vicerine must be arrayed in magnificent splendor. She wears a crown and is dress ed in the regular court dress of England with short sleeves and bare shoulders. Her train is several yards long and in her ha r there are the court plumes. She stands at the right hand of the vicerov and the princes are brought up to her lowing and salaaming. At these tines they bring gifts which are to be forwarded to the absent empress. They also bring presents for the vicerine At the close of these receptions magnificent feast is spread upon long table and the viceroy and vicerne preside as host and hostess. The whole affair is conducted with the greatest dignity and there is every display of wealth and power. The empress of India realizes that she is dealing with a people who are half saw age and wholly Oriental; they judge wealth and power by the display of it, and sne knows that the queens reign in lnda