St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-12-16
CIVIL RULE IN INDIA.
The Service for the Government II
competitive and Reasonably
Well Paid.

/ 'Ihe Indian civil SERVICE" said r. T.
Ashford-Berk!ey, Of Bombay, India, ''is
the best and highest paid in the world
and is competitive. Naturally only the
cleverest boys from the great public
schools get the appointments. Great
fanaticalfeeling exists in India between
the Mohammedans and Hindoos, which
occasionally eliminates in riots SO Sc
rious that the rioters have to be fired
on by the British soldiers. But this is,
of course, only done when it is absolute
ly necessary. believe that the natives
thoroughly recognize the benefits of
English rule, as railways have opened
up the country and English capital has
started factories and various industries.
India is to-day beautifully irrigated,
one ditch alone being 3,ocO miles in
length. The production of all kinds of
cereals is on the increase and our grains
are shipped to all parts of the world.
Sinde, which but n few years ago was
barren desert, has through irrigation
now become beautiful grain-produc-
ing country, and through Karrachee
ships large quantities of wheat to for
eign countries. The poor ryot (farmer),
under our rule, can now earn a living.
whereas previously if he got anything
more than a bare subsistence the ra-
jahs or their agents swooped down on
him and took it away in exactly the
same manner that the mandarins now
do in China. India is magnificent
physically and during the cold
season it is visited by large number
Of Americans. and all l have met ex-
press themselves as charmed with it.
With its famous mutiny scenes and
many of the Mogul emperors hundreds
Of years ago, it is historically a coun-
try of absorbing interest. Authorities
sty that life in those parts of India as
yet undisturbed by the Cacausian in
vasion is going on in precisely the same
way that it was thousands of years ago.
They are a wonderful race. Schools
are on the increase and some of the
natives are extremely brilliant and we'll
men. recognized the world over
as authorities in the particular lines
which tney nave CHOSEN.
1.-THE fanaticism of the people is no.
where displayed more than in the case
# the fakirs, a fanatical people, who
nave devoted the rest of their lives to |
iod. This devotion takes peculiar |
'orms. Some of them think it fine
way to crawl through the rest of their |
ives on their stomachs, and never again
10 they rise from this posture. Another
lolds his arm aloft until it withers and |
emains immovable in that position.
lnve seen man sitting on sharp spikes,
vho had been SO sitting without moving
or years. They are, too, wonderful con-
urors. have seen the mango tree
rick, where the seed is planted in the
round, the tree sprouts into life, at
aims its full growth and gives forth
ruit of which you partake, but it Is
My an immensely clever trick and not
case Of wholesale hypnotism, as many
eople have maintained.
! "The roads throughout India are so
ood that you can ride bicycle from
ne end of the country to the other.
"My business not only carries me
rom India to this country. but to Japan
J well. / was at Yokohama, Japan,
hen Capt. Charles Vernon Gridley of
our navy died. 1t was he who fought
ne Olympia, Dewey's flagship. in the
reat battle of Manila bay. If ever a
ian gave his life to his country's serv-
e Capt. Gridley was that man. And if
e he had to, it seems almost a pity
lat death could not have come to him
ut a short month sooner. and his lie \.
one out amidst the noise and excite
ent of battle. When he went into the /.
yht he was very i'll and knew he was
ractically signing his own death war
mt, but he felt it to be his duty, and
such he did it. Already almost for
,tten. it seems a pity and shame that
e memory of this gallant officer
lould not have received better treat
ent at the hands of his countrymen.
lille, of course. am an alien, I knew
lpt. Gridley well. and was at his
neral. I would dearly love to see !
mething done to perpetuate his name
I'd fame and there could be no more =.
'portune time than the presently.
Tribune.