The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-27
THE PRINCES BEARD.
Soldiers from India and the Sights
They See in London.
London Mail.

London Mail.
There is one sight in London for which
the Indian soldiers at Hampton Court
would barter every other sight they have
seen-and that is the sight OF their En-
peror, the King
Life will be as nothing if we do not see
the King, said an Indian soldier on Sat
urday. But there is now hope that the de-
sire will be gratified. Orders have been
issued for the coronation contingent at
Hampton Court TO prolong their, stay in
England until after July Is, the date pre-
viousy fixed for their departure
So taken UP are they with this one alb
sorbing question that it is difficult 10 get
them TO talk of anything else.
Yes, we like England very much; il is
very nice, but life is nothing if we do
not see the King" So a great Sikh said,
shaking his head sadly; and whether you
talk TO Gurkha or Burman or Afridi the
tale is the same They came to see not
England, but the King Emperor
Next TO the King the Prince of Wales is
they saw the prince on the Horse Guards
parade his royal highness has greatly risen
in their estimation. When the princes
name is spoken your Sikh smiles expan-
sively. showing his cleaning teeth and eX-
cltedly says something which, being trans
lated, is that the prince is a very fine man
because he wears beautiful beard.
The prince with the beard" has won
every Sikh's heart, for the Sikh never
cuts his own beard, but curls 1t with care.
But If the princes beard is excellent,
liceman. Nothing that the Indians have
seen in London has impressed them with so
mucn wonder as the power of the man in
blue.
He holds up one finger and London
stands STILL is how a turbaned giant puts
it. That policeman should possess such
power over multitudes is a thing which no
Indian can contemplate without amaze
ment The kindness of the policeman has
charmed. When, out beyond Hampton
Court Indians have lost themselves in the
roads. policemen have passed them on from
beat TO beat until they got back TO camp.
Never will the great and good constable of
the metropolis be forgotten.
Another source of wonder and delight has
been the koh-i-noor at the Tower. When a
party OF Indians were told the other day
that that was the great jewel of India they
shouted for Joy. I'VE almost had to push
them out of the room" said officer who
went round with them, ''or they would
have stayed there all day talking about it, -
The apparent wealth of every one in
London has also been matter for astonish-
ment The Indians declare that although
they have driven all about town they have
as yet seen no poor people. Every one. they
say, looks rich. and they ask where all the
money comes from.
The horses and cows in England have
won warm place in the Indian heart.
This is because of their sleeky fairness.
They are so much thinner in India, the
native explains.
Most of the native colonial soldiers at
Alexandra Park have little interest in Lon
don and it's ways Very big" sums up
the impressions which the Central African
has formed of the metropolis. To him the
village of Wood Green is a great city of
marvellous delight, but London beyond,
with Its millions, is too big for his COM
prehenSiOn.
The West India regiment, although of
negro blood, are of another breeding They
talk English fuently, and are rather con-
temptuous of some of the folk who go up TO
them las If we were a menagerie." IL
asked one Englishman the other day where
he was born, for he spoke such bad Eng
lish," said one of the contingent.
Even Saturdays race meeting was not
beyond the scope of the West Indians in
tellect. What will be the best horse?''
one asked with an insinuating smile; and
then. with a broad grin, he added II
should very much like to know all the
'bes'es