The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-03
G. ". STEVENS an INDIA"

~ W. S<ccveu1s tu0 CcIfccpUuucut WuVSo
letters rcssss such high literary merit that
they have lifted him out OF the rank and
nle and have placed him almost on a par
with Pierre Lott. and In tho Same class per-
haps with LNfcadio Hearn. Is out with an.
other book. entitled I'm India This IL one
OF the best perhaps this best, OF Mir. stecycns
published works. The nature OF the subject
leads itself very kindly to tho authors gen
ius for vivid word colorins And that luxu-
rious and fcrvid description which made his
with Kitchener to Khartoum' such an in
slant success. We quote few passages:
From tho steamer the sight OF the shore
werc muffcd. like It's sounds. In tho breath
less haze that expects the sun. We lay on
still. ~-colorless water In channel. To port
wcrc shadows OF ships. and presently. be-
hind them thicker bank of gray. where
from white faces OF ghostly buildings shone
without luster.
But TO stnrboard the mainland OF India
raised itself on Its elbow against horizon
that every minute grew roster Broad belts
OF black aud pink nred and fused into liauid
carminc; the elbows turned from gray TO
black. and the water began TO stir and laugh
over a mile OF shining dmpes. India was
awake.
| ! looked down tho broad avenue that led
into Romhay--a vista OF white. shining pal
aces set in green. tier and sable and turret
climbing skyward out OF massed trees.
| Tho white men and women worc white. as
beAttcd tho freshness OF the golden morning;
even generals aud colonies showed no othcr
color than the ribbons on their breasts.
| But the rich natives paid for ALL They
shone In the gathering crowd like rainrows,
There were women In purple and Yellow
green draperies. servants IN flaming scarlet,
masters ablasc with bullion and Jewels.
Nothing was too rcsplcndcnt for their mod
esty or too inconrruous for their taste.
black gown like olersymans. specialized
face under black ollcloth cap--its shape
like two hats. ono balanced upsdc down on
| top OF the other--only threw up tho neigh
boring butterfly in peaked turban o. YER
million and gold. u ring In his ear with n
bloated bunch OF pearls and emeralds, strings
OF pearls around his neck, aud gold-cn-
broidered muslin blouse which died away
nlas,-beiow the waist into shrunken pa
jamas. no socks and broken elastic sided
boots. With frayed tops napring modify be-
hind him.
4 The first sight OF India is amazing. en-
trancins. Supplying. OF other countries you
become aware gradually. Italy lends up to
the Levant and Egypt passes you on In
sensiby to the desert. Landed In Bombny,
You have strayod into a most elaborate dream.
Infinite In variety spinning with completely.
a gallery OF strango faces, buzz OF strange
voices. u rainbow OF strange coiors garden
of strange growth. book of strange dues-
tons Pantheon of strange gods, Different
beasts and birds In the street, different clothes
TO wear. different meal times, aud different
food--the very commonest things are altered.
You begin new life in new world
You pin your eyes to tho little fawn-col
ored satin skinned. humpen oxen in the carts.
to the blue crows that dance and spar in
tho cutters. They are the very commonest
things in india, but lust because they arc
common bullocks-yet with humps.-common
crows-yet blue,--their fascination Is cnthrall-
ing.
You sit In n marhlo-paved club. vast and
airy az Roman atrum. and look out over
gardens OF heavy red and violet flowers
toward choking alleys where half-naked idol
ators herd by families together in opon-frnnt-
ed rooms. and filth runs down gullies to
tester in the sunken street.
~
Cross but one street and you are plunged
in the native town. In your nostrils 10 the
smell OF the East. dear and never to be for
gotten: rapturously YOU snuf that blending
of incense aud spices and garlic. and sugar
and goats and dung. The jutting houses
close in over you. The decoration OF Bonn
bay henceforth Is It's people. The windows
are frames for women. tho streets become
wedges of men.
Forty languages, It 10 said are habitualiy
F,l,o IA afHo
derstands no word OF any OF them is more
curlous than interesting. But then every
race has tie own costume. so that the streets
OF Bombay are tulip garden of yermlion
turbans and crimson. orange and flame color.
OF men In blue and brown and emerald waist
coats. women In cherry-colored satin draw
ere. or nantes drawn from the head across
the bosom to the hip. OF blazing purple or
green that shines like grasshopper.
| II you check your eye and ask your mind
for the master color In the crowd, II ~ white
white bordered with brown or fawn or
amber legs. But when you forget that and
let the eye so again, the scarlets and yell
! lows and shining greens-eacb hue alive and
quvering passionately like the tropical sun
at midday-fll and dazzle II anew; In the
gliding light the very arms and legs show
/
damsons. You are walking in q Haring sun
set. and come out OF II blinking.
|
To the nervelessness of the Bombay native
one race furnishes an excepton-the Parsi.
The Parsi, as his name tells you, comes
from Persia, whence he was percecuted for
worshiping fire. Prosecuted races develop
their own virtues and their own aptitudes;
and now, under the British peace, tho Parsi
Hourisbes exceedingly. He ia the Jew Of the
East--ieaves other people to make things
while he makes money.
For the Parsi's rupees are very many,
Sir JamshidjI J1ihoy. tho richest is worth
about 100000 pounds sterling. Many others
hasten In his footsteps.
II must no said that II the Parsi knows
how TO get he also knows how TO give.
| Every Pars educational institution or char
lily, for men or women. r. endowed beyond
the dreams OF London hospitals. One cotton
spinner is said TO have given 100000 pounds
TO the University OF Bombay; many others ara
hardly less munifccnt.
At its first onset. two years ago, plague
killed its 2i0 day; now II has sunk to Atty