The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-24
HOUSEKEEPING IN INDIA.
IN THAT COUNTY, THE TASK IS 4
THING OF MANY TRIALS.
Servants Have UnaIterable Rules of
Their own, which They Follow
ReIigiOuhIy.

Servants Have Unalterable Rules of
Their own, which They Follow
ReIigiousIy.
From the London Mail.
If you question the memsahib of the
ordering of her household you will find
that she knows very little about it. She
knows that the bearer Is supposed to dust
the drawing room and does not, and that
the khansamah presents monthly ac-
count. This account is almost the most
wondrous thing in India. A khansamah
who knows his business fits it to the
sahibs income with undertaking precision.
Servants at home know everything; in
India they know yet more. The quiet
men who wait at the table know more
English than they pretend. Usually there
is somebody in the house who can read
English letters. Anglo-1ndian life IS all
in verandas. behind open windows, trans
parent blinds and doors that will not shut.
Also, every servant knows every other
servant, as well as the clerks at the bank
and in the government offices. Therefore
a man will first hear of his impending
promotion or transfer from his bearer.
And when he IS promoted, his wife, hop
ing to save money to exc out the ever
nearer retirement pension, will discover
that the expenses have arisen in exact
proportion to the rise of pay. "The Pres
ence has more pay now says the virtuous
khansamah. Does it become the Pres
ence to live like a mere assistant COM
missioner? l have seen many sahlbs, and
l know what is fitting''
count from time to time the bangles on
the ankles of the khansamah's leading
VILE. You will notice that they enlarge
and multiply. The word for this process
is "dastur;" in French ii Is spelled mes
sous and in English "housekeeper's
discount You may say confidently that
no money changes hands. between the
sahlo and native without it has borne
commission. what is the price in the
bazaar of tin pail?" the memsahib asks
Oh a chaprussi. God knows | am a moor
man. so by making inquiries it can be
Known 80 he disappears around the
corner where he waits the pail merchant
and by making Inquiries 1t is known
Every man has his price.
sui II the rich mans expenses increase
Win mis- pay the poor mans remain steady
Inc plhched married subaltern gets ex-
aetly the same food and servants and ev-
erything as the plump commissioner THE
indian servant may be a tyrant, but he is
also providence. He saks no more than
your all; give him that honestly and he
viii see that you want for nothing. His
honor is in his sahb and his sahib's es-
adjustment. 1t is his pride that he never
steals, contrary to custom; he viii take
farthing commission on the expenditure Of
I'd, but he is safe as the grave with your
whole months pay In his pocket. When
the exile is over and the sahib returns
across the black water he weeps quite sin
cerely Behold I am grown old in the
service Of the Presence The Presence is
my father and mother; what, now. shall
this dust-like one do?r Then one dav. In
the riced and buttered cose of his native
village. he hears that his old masters son
Is on the way to India. God knows how
but he hears 1t. And when the bow lands
at Bombay an old man creeps up to him
bearing chit from his rather. Behold
it would be a shame to me if any but me
should be the Presence's bearer. seeing that
l have many times held him on NV knee
when he was so high" So he is the Pros
ence's bearer. The old man. who had re-
tired rich for life from a generals estab-
hshment begins again IN a subaltern,s
quarters and serves the young sahib An
MS intirmiues win let him serve no long
err Tnen he goes back to his village
asaln' with a pension and sends his son
20 serve the Presence instead