The age-herald., 1901-02-24

70 o0 oo o00o00ee00 00oo9eoeVoS Q Q O and their wives, Chinese of wealth and other rich natives. The races are man. aged by the Singapore Sporting Club, and similar rules govern as on such occas- ions in England. In Singapore they are marked by great displays in new gowns and bohnets, and are the only times when the local press gives descriptions of dress. Women at "home" on visits, plan their returns for these times, bring ing with them wardrobes from London and Paris perfectly exasperating to those who were unable to order similar ones several months ahead from those places. To such an unhappy one it is left to pay double prices at the local shops and cultivate the sweet flower of patience While explaining at length to the dir zee," black-skinned Hindoo tailors in white coats and trousers, the fashion books with which she provides him, and after three or four tryings-on, and re- peated alterations, during which weeks elapsed time Is nothing in any part of Asia), garment is brought to you as remotely resembling those made by Flu ropean modistes as a monkey does a man. However, she has one consolation. She Is not the only one. There were so many such on evidence the night of the birth day ball that the others looked as strangely exotic as the roses blooming
 
 The races last through three days The horses come from Australia and are very pretty and trim. They re owned and run by Chinamen, as well as by merchants and officials. The young Sultan of Jo- hore, the last of the once powerful Malay princes left with semblance of authori- ty by the British always has the finest horses, and won the Governors cup at the May races last year. The horses have to be very carefully handled and trained In a climate where a horse cannot be safely driven more than ten miles a day and then lasts only ten or twelve years It was to me no enjoyable sight to see the poor creatures strain every nerve and sinew under the blazing sun whose light lay fiery yellow on the racing green More interesting was the immense throng of strange peoples in holiday at tire opposite the grand stand occupied by the ''Tuans' and Mems" For 1t IS a half-holiday for every one, only the syces (coachmen) being compelled to ser vice, and failing to object only because it carries them to the scene of interest There are many thousands of them, per haps ten, Malays in white jackets and saronies of red blue or bright plaids, Chinese in blouses and loose trousers of grey silk or of bright sky blue, heio- trope, purple, yellow or black; black Hindoos in white and brown Hindoos in white jackets and scarlet saronies; tall pale brown Sink policemen in yellow khaki and a regiment of soldiers of the handsome fellows scattered about in the throng; many Chinese and Malay women of the lower classes, the former in black coats and trousers, the latter with pink or white scarfs thrown over their brown heads and gay as kabaja and sarony could make them. The effect of all this color against the mighty green of the ocln Ia,l III, handful of pallid women and bronzed men in the latest fashions looked strangely out of setting, like the figures in some wonderful and bizarre dream.
 It was the night of the birthday ball and at the end of the great ball room was a dais and there on plush-covered divan next the governors chair sat the synosure of all eyes, the guest of honor. He wore a black swaiiow-tail coat and trousers and pointed yellow shoes. A gaudy sarony was caught up sash-wise about the waist On one lapel was a pearl as large a pigeon egg, and his turban front was ablaze with diamonds Behind him was a life-size statue of the Queen whose last birthday gave the oc- casion birth. The flags of England and America mingled their folds above him, and near throughout the evening, were two or three women, in Paris gowns brushing up against the young palms and orchids in the corners, who made in effectual attempts to converse with his highness, whose gift does not lie in lan- guages. His small beady eyes roved cur iously over the throngs, and he seemed quite amused at the dancers. When from time to time guests of prominence were brought up to be introduced to him a broad smile revealed two Interrupted rows Of teeth blackened from chewing betel nut. l myself had the honor CD of twice receiving that conde scending, bland blase, toothy smile, for 1t was our very own Sultan of Suu.
 The consul general had a few days be- fore paid an official visit to this little brown man in his filthy quarters in "Kampong Clam" a district of thickly set, boxlike shops and residences of the mercantile Malays, and so now he in- troduced his woman as one of the sul- tans ministers called me My slight knowledge of Malay did not permit me to talk with him, the sultan speaking one of the many dialects of the language and I did not think to try my faulty Spanish But later the governor having sought me out with the charitable in tention of giving me a close sight of the sultans jewels. I had the luck to have as interpreter one of the ladies in Paris gowns, whose knowledge of the language was extensive, from a long residence in the peninsula.
 I was informed that his felicity was profound at being under American con troll and that the one little thing nee as- sary to complete his bliss, was for the august President to send battleship to convey his unworthy self to America on visit. The willy fellow evidently un- derstood who I was, for it was the req son he had given the consul general Tor