Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-07

even known as governor, although ne is the
great boss, with almost all powers of a
king. Instead, his title is that Of elder
brother to the king or datto.
The Javanese prince is a holy person in
deed to his subjects. They approach him
only with awed veneration, and hts wish is
sacred. -.t
Princes in Golden Cages.
Almost all Of the twenty-five native rulers
are immensely rich. Indeed If 1t can be
said that any human being can have with
out stint whatever he desires, be it what 1t
may, 1t may be said of these Javanese
greatnesses whose divine authority is rec
ognized by the majority Of the 30, 0OO.O 600
people who dwell in the Dutch East Indies.
There is only one execution to the list Of
what they may have. That one exception Is
freedom. The Javanese ruler is a precious
bird In golden cage. To do him honor, a
squadron of square-shouldered Dutch cav
airy never fails to escort him when he goes
out.
To make sure that he shall not incur Ill
ness or fatigue by going out too often, the
elder brother has so arranged 1t In each
residency that his royal highness shall
| never venture from his golden palace until
that good elder brother shall have consid-
cred the wisdom Of 1t. Neither may his
royal highness be annoyed by improper per-
sons. The elder brother takes care OF that,
too, by scanning the names Of intending
visitors before permitting them to call.
Palaces and Forts.
To DO still further honor to the Javanese
princes, the affectionate Dutchman has
built very pretty forts, so situated that
every Javanese palace is commanded neatly
and completely.
Once the Javanese princes started to move
their palaces, or kratons, which is the ma
tive name OF the big groups Of buildings
brilliant life. The princes declared that it
was religious law that the kratons must
not remain on the same site for more than
a century, and the century was about up.
Whatever the Dutchman may have
thought about the religious part Of the ex-
PLANTATION, he did not wink an eyelid. but
agreed cheerfully. Only. he remarked, OF
to honor the princes by moving the Dutch
forts also, SO that they should still protect
the kratons in their new site. And, OF
would, no doubt, be borne by the princes
The princes have not changed the loca-
ton of their kratons.
The Javanese Bismarck.
The Dutchman is not always in absolute
control of the situation, however. There is
a Javanese Bismarck. He is SO clever that
the Dutch have given him the name.
His right name Is more difficult to remem-
Der. It is Raden Adiapati Sosrodiningrat.
He is the husband Of the sister of the
Soesoehoenan, the Emperor" of Surakarta,
and occupies a position in that grand court
that is similar to the post Of premier or
imperial chancellor in European courts.
The Importance Of his Office can be real
lied more clearly when 1t is understood
that the rule Of the native chiefs is direct.
They govern the people under native laws
and the Dutch hide behind them, SO that,
although they pull the strings Of govern
ment, the Europeans, as well as the ma
tives, are judged and ruled by the princes
AS 1t is the policy of the Dutch, in addi-
ton to this to concliate the native popula-
ton by making it feel that it's interests are
protected particularly, the tendency is al
ways to give the native the best of 1t In
disputes between natives and white men.
Consequently the character of the imperial
chancellor at Surakarta Is OF vast impor-
lance. All leases, contracts and other trans
actions connected with plantations come be-
fore him. He musf stand between the
princes and the Dutch government, and
that is no sinecure, for the Javanese prince
is an autocratic and naughty person, who Is
spelling for scrap with his elder brother
and also the great father at Batavia
A Powerful Great Father.
The great father is the governor general,
and he is a governor general indeed. He can
do practically what he good ana well
pleases He can declare war within the
East Indian possessions OF Wilhelnina,
sentence persons to death, exile anybody
who doesn't suit him, forbid foreigners or
natives from travelling from one town to
another, and otherwise run the machine at
his sweet will.
His immediate representatives are the
residents, one of whom is installed in each
province. They, too, have great powers. If
a person doesn't happen to have passport
emitting him to visit to any Of their towns,
they can look him UP; and they often do.
1t is sight quite overwhelming to behold
state function under one OF these Dutch
autocrats.
In the rear of the great reception hall of
his residence is a magnificent throne, await
ing the arrival of the prince.
When he appears the resident leads HIM
to his seat with all Difference. page with
a great peacock fan places himself behind
| the prince and another one kneels before
him. holding golden stool as a foot rest.
Then the big "gamalang music is set up
| before the ruler, surrounded. by forty mu-
sicians, each OF whom plays one particular
instrument.
AS soon as the music strikes up twelve
beautiful princesses. step out Of the side
| door and. begin to dance. These are true
| princesses Of the bluest kind Of blue Java
nese blood.
Two by two they dance toward the prince.
Behind and in front of each pair there go
| four older women, also princesses, whose
| duty 1t is to pick up any flower. pin or or
| nanent that may fall from the dancers and
| to fasten it again in its proper place with
out interfering with the dance.
These dancers must amuse the ruler
whenever he wishes 1t. They are trained
from early youth for the purpose. The
| ing of their joints in unnatural directions,
SO that the dance has something serpentine
| in its grace
The grace Of these women is wonderful
Each motion is like that Of winged crea-
| ture. Add to this, not only the beauty of
| face and form, but the brilliancy Of the
magnificent costumes and the eye Is bewil-
: dered with the gorgeous scene.
Difference Due to the Dutch.
| The immobile Dutchman 'lets her rip
with complete equanimity. He doesn't
care. as long as he knows that he IS the
real ruler. And he knows that Despite
| his amiabiity in letting the Javanese rulers
| lord It with their poInp. he takes care the
low-born Jayanese shall never forget the
Difference due to him.
When a putchmau rides through Java,