Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-10

painted In bright colors; on the third floor
of another house. which seemed built across
corner in some way, was roof garden,
gay with ported plants. and at one corner
fernery under bamboo roof, and huge
banyan tree stood in the middle Of what
seemed to be the common back yard"
and was, alas! always full Of rocks, who
made such a dreadful uproar all the time
that we became enraged and longed to
slaughter them all.
We had suspicious also that monkey
family inhabited that tree and was pos
slbly the cause of the excitement among the
birds. but never really found out this. AS
1t was known that we wanted a servant.
although how the news spread about al
ready we could not TELL three men presented
themselves at three different hours that
first morning. one being an oldish person.
rather slovenly, very respectful, humble and
very anxious to come In at once and begin
to count our clothes for the wash. which
made us feel that he was unnecessarily
ofhcious. and so he was sent away; the Sec
ond, very fine specimen of alert, self-re-
specting Mohammedan in spotless white
clothes and turban. and him we would have
taken but that he was engaged to some one
else In two months time; the third, Abdul,
appeared in a dark blue dotted turban, the
loose white draped trousers, very white, and
a gray wool coat, a very dapper looking
little being, neatness itself and with a
pleasant and smiling countenance. We en-
gagged him as soon as we had looked
through his references. and he has proved
treasure ever since. He squats at our door
on his heels all day. waits on US at table,
clad in spotless white from head to foot,
and, Of course, barefoot, spreads his bed
ding at our doors at night; brings US tea
and fruit at 7:30 in the morning. brushes
our clothes. blackens our boots and brings
us tea in the afternoon If we are at home,
pays all the tips from a sum given him
daily. and, in fact, is a comfort in almost
every way, although we are fully aware
n k1o mo yo trnf q q
commission. and we have suspicious that 1t
Is SO also with every tip he gives at our
command. AS we were naturally very anx-
ious to get our luggage we decided not to
wait until the things were all sorted out
and sent up from the docks, which might
be matter of day or two, but to go down
ourselves and pick them out from among
the lot of things sent from the ship, so
party Of us sailed forth in rickety gari.
Hunting Your Own.
The dock seemed to be divided into six
long counters, and over space on each
was a number. so we had at first to find
the one corresponding to the number which
had been put on all Of our luggage aboard
Ship and then as we found only one or two
pieces Of 1t there, we had to either look it
up on counter which seemed to be with
out numbers and where things had been
dumped promiscuously. or to sit patiently
amid the screaming, shouting crowd and
H..
the moraning had turned into pande-
monium: for it was full Of natives Of all
shades of brown. clad in loin-cloth and tur-
ban carrying enormous weights on their
heads and Shrieking to every one to get out
of the way, or accompanied by other ma
tives who howled for them.~Now and again
one of them got the trunk or box for which
another had been on the lookout and then.
high words, for words run verey high in
deed in Hindustanee, ensued and once free
fight began and continued until the talleSt
member of our party who had lived In In
dia many years pulled and kicked them
apart
After half an hour of this pandemonium
we succeeded in getting together all our
things, having them piled up on two bullock
carts, and. starting forth once more ana
by o'clock we were able to present
clean and suitable appearance to the friends
who came to tea with US, and much to our
surprise found it to be the custom to re-
ceive them in the large, airy bed rooms and
have tea served there, which we according
ly did
The pleasantest feature Of Bombay we
found to be the yacht club, really beau
tiful club house, with lawns and gardens
running down to the edge Of the bay, and
a large building outside the grounds, con-
tanning chambers for the members.
Taking Tea at Club.
If one Is fortunate enough to have a
friend who is a member, one is sure of be-
lIB luNllcu " lSd lllclc, WHICH 10 SCI SCu a.
a double row of tiny tables arranged along
the terrace overlooking the bay and Of an
invitation to dine in the beautiful dining
room on the second floor. Such was our
happy fate, and at 8 o'clock that first
evening we found ourselves at the entrance
to the yacht club house, in full dress, and
met in the most cordial manner by our
amiable hosts. The very fine entrance hall
is lined with photographs Of winning or
competing yachts, and opens on broad
veranda looking toward the bay. In the
dining room are rows of tables, three Of
which are reserved for the older members
Of the club and to which ladies are never
invited. The club chef is a chef. indeed,
and the dinner all that could be desired in
every way, even to the sailed pistache and
ground nuts, which are called rank-promo-
tiers by the young officers in token Of the
fact that they are considered extremely in
dgestible. They may be that. but they are
certainly extremely nice. The beautiful
room all in highly polished, reddish wood
from floor to ceiling, the troops Of white
clad and white turbaned servants and the
very interesting-looking club members
made the evening for us one OF great In
terest and pleasure.
We were asked to tea at the yacht club
a number of times, during our ten days in
Bombay aud always met acquaintances
from the ARABIA" who seemed almost like
old friends and welcomed us with the same
interest with which we greeted them.
Among the notable people who were
pointed out to us there was Major General
Sir Alfred Gazelee, the hero of the Chinese
war, a surprisingly young-looking man,
when one thinks Of his years Of service
and the many decorations he has received.
He is, they say, greatly admired and
loved and looks as If he deserved all that
and as many more honors as could be
heaped upon him.
"A Daughter Of Erin.
Lady Gazelee is beautiful and gracious
1,,opoop he daughter of an Irish earl
It is rather the thing at tea time for the
young men of the club to go from one table
to another, looking up friends, and to stroll
about the beautiful lawns with them In
the sunset A semicircle Of chairs at the
foot of the veranda is dedicated to club
members alone, no women being allowed
within the sacred precincts, and we were