Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-25
A VERY BIG OFFER.
PRINCE LAYS HIS POSSESSIONS Al
LADY CURzON's FEET.
ALSO The FREEDOM OF A PALACE.
With the Help of This Brilliant and
beautiful American Woman Indla's
Viceroy is Winning the Hearts of
the Native Rulers.

Correspondence of the Dispatch)
BOMBAY. June 1.-THE pretty. girlsh
creature whose beauty once captivated
the maTriageable men of Chicago society
circles, but who married an English lord,
and is now Vicereine of India, has just
added to her list OF unsought admirers
the Maharajah of Durbhunga. one OF the
premier noblemen Of Hindoostan. and a
trusted adviser of Lord Curzon This
Hndoo prince has respectfully placed at
the disposal OF Lady Curzon the splendid
herd of elephants that are among his
vast possessions, thus making Lady Cur
zon the possessor, pro tenn, of more Of
these lordly creatures than any other wo-
man in the world. Her Ladyship has
developed a great liking for the ele-
plants, and frequently takes advantage
Of the friendliness existing between the
Viceroy and the Maharajah 10 ride forth
on one of the neutrality-suspicious.
elephants Of state. With that happy spir-
ii Of frank friendliness in the company
of underlings that only an American wo-
man knows how to indulge without loss
of dignity. the Vicereine has made her
self the idol OF the attendants at the pail
ace Of the Indian prince. To penetrate
the reserve Of an Oriental of high degree
is a feat that not every white man or wo-
man. even among the upper ten Of India.
can boast of having accomplished. To be
given the freedom Of the magnificent pal
ace Of his Highness the Maharajah of
Durbhunga is a compliment even TO
Viceroy and vcereine. The MaharaJah
and his beautiful palace are worthy OF
description in detail in view OF the
friendliness felt by the former towards
the Niceroy and his lovely American
wife.
Thoroughly imbued with western prin-
ciples Of government, fluent English
scholar, and an able orator, Maharajah
Rameshwar Singh stands out among the
Indian princes as ruler of quite eNcep-
tional sagacity and tact.
The vast estates over which he has con-
troll have long been regarded as a model
Of good management, they extend over
an area of 2l52 square miles, with year
ly rental Of 80 lakhs of rupees, or $l,ZJJ,VOO
Enormous sums are yearly spent upon
their Improvement and development and
the palace and gardens at DurDhunga are
one Of the show places at Bengal Inc
gardens were originally laid out by VI.
Maharajah Scindia Of Gwalior. and are
deservedly famous for their beauty.
Everything connected with the estate be-
ing directly supervised by European man
ayers, there is none OF that squaior ana
splendor which IS so common among ORR
entails. In the palace itself the decora-
tons are harmonious and tasteful; the
magnificent silver furniture is free from
any faint Of vulgarity; there are no cheap
an
ornaments 10 distract from the effect.
This fact alone. indeed. would serve 10
render the Durbhunga Palace remarkable
among eastern residences.
Especially conspicuous are two massive
silver goblets, the "Niceroys Cup and
blue ribbon OF the Indian turf. twice won
by the late MaharaJah. whose racing sta
bles were managed by no less an expert
than Lord William Beresford, whose ac-
quaintanca was recently made by Amerl-
ca when he passed through the country
on his way home from China.
The elephants owned by the
Maharaiah. TO which Lady Curzon
has taken such strong fancy.
The elephant OF state is the
most magnificent creature Of the
herd. Whenever a rider dismounts
from, or mounts, this animal, the family
priests invoke a prOtracted blessing III
monotonous sing-song. In addition 10 d
silver goad resembling Neptune trident
the mahout carries a fiy-happer, while be-
hind is an umbrella Of white SILK, border
ed with pearls, both emblems Of Oriental
sovereignty. The curiOusy-carved how
dab is OF the finest silver. The head Or
naments OF the elephants are gorgeous,
even its tail being utilized in the general
scheme OF decoration. The covering Is
tnickly caked with gold, and two long
strings OF pearls are suspended from De-
hind the ears The elephant Is the finest
OF his Highness's herd, but IL Is only one
of the numerous fine animals which are
maintained at Durbhunga.
The elephants belonging 10 the RaJah
are under the control of an old man up
wards of 50 years of age. Each elephant
reioices In an appellatlon taken ifom the
names Of NEUROLOGICAL or historic he
roes: and il is their veteran keepers
boast that every elephant Is known 10
him by name.
The title dates back only TO 1908. when
the then Alaharajah Clutter Singh was
formally recognized and invested by the
british Government; but the origin Of the
family can be traced as far back as the
reign Of the Emperor Akbar, whose lleu-
tenants they were in the Province OF Be
har. ,.
The present Maharajah, Rameshwar
Singh. il now in his 42d year.
Few Orientals have more successfully
combined the apparently Incompatible
characteristics OF East and West and
the Maharajah stands out to-day as one
of the most statesmanlike Of Hindu
rulers in our Indian empire. Short as
his reign has been so far he has earned
the commentator OF all who have come
into contact with him. a prince OF Brit
ish India, his position is assured alike by
the extent OF his great influence and BY
The western character Of his ideas.
The growing friendliness OF such a man
for Lord and Lady Curzon Is Viewed with
Measure by those interested In the wei
fare OF India, for, II the hearts OF the ma
tive princes are with the Queens repre-
sentatives. the stability Of the govern
,nent Is doubly assured. To have won
80 emphatic a demonstration OF regard
from me Maharajah Of Durbhunga shows
that In the future OF the great Indian en-
nire the American wife OF Lord CurZon IS
destined 10 play significant part
nIs AEHIITlItRlt.