Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-16

are no more frnnodest than knitting or
quilting a comfortable are Just about
as exciting. Each dance is supposed to be
a poem expressed by gesture and posturing
the poetry OF motion-a sort of senti-
mental pantomime, and ina ginative Hindus
claim to be able to follow the story. The
orchestra, playing several queer looking
fiGdles, drums, olarinets and other instru-
ments. Is employed to assist in the interpre-
tation, and produce the most dreary and
monotonous sounds without the slightest
trace of theme or melody or rhythm. While
don't want to be irreverent, they remind
ed me of a slang phrase you hear In the
country about 1.-THE tune that the old COW
died on"
in China or japan, because 1t is so awfuliy
solemn and low. The Chinese and Japanese
give you lot of noise If they lack har-
mony, but when Hindu band reaches q
fortissimo passage it sounds exactly as II
some child were trying to play on a bag
pipe for the first time.
When l made an observation concerning
the apparent innocence and unattractive-
ness of the nautch girls to a missionary
lady who sat in the next seat, she looked
Mortified, and admonished me in whisper
that. while there was nothing immodest in
the performance. they were depraved. de-
ceitful and dissolute creatures, aTrayed in
gorgeous raiment for the purpose OF en-
ticing men. And it is certainly true that
they were clad in the most dazzling cos
tunes of gold broeades and gauzy stuffs
and shoulders and their ears, noses, arms.
ankles, necks, fingers and toes were all
loaded with iewelry.
The Male Costumes.
But their costumes were not half as gay
as those worn by some of the gentlemen
guests. The Parsees wore black or white,
with closely buttoned frocks and caps that
look like fy-traps: the Mohammedans wore
flowing robes of white. and the Hindus
silks of the lveliest patterns and the most
vivid colors. No ball room belle ever was
illuminated by brighter tinted gowns than
the silks satins. brocades and velvets
that were worn by the Hindu gentlemen at
this wedding, and their jewels were such as
wealthy women wear. A Hindu gentleman
in full dress must have a necklace, an
aigrette of diamonds. sunburst in front
of his turban. and two or three brooches
upon his shoulders or breast. And all this
over bare legs and bare feet. They wear
slippers or sandals out of doors. but always
leave them in the hallway or in the vesti-
bule. and cross the threshold Of the house
in naked feet. The bridegroom was bare
legged but had pair of embroidered Slip
pers on his feet. because he was soon to
take long walk and could not very we'll
stop to put them on without sacrificing APP
pearances.
They brought us trays of native refresh
ments, while the nautch girls danced, hand
ed each guest nosegay and placed a pair
deep significance. l could not quite under
stand what The groom did not appear to
be enjoying himself. He evidently did not
like to sit up in gilded chair so that
everybody could stare and make remarks
about him, for that is exactly what his
guests did. critfcsing his bare legs COM
menting upon his jewels and guessing how
much his diamond necklace cost. He was
quite relieved when a couple of gentlemen
who seemed to be acting as masters of
ceremonies. placed second garland around
his neck-which one of them whispered to
me had Just come from the bride, the first
one having been the gift Of his mother
and led him out of the room like a lamb to
the slaughter.
When we reached the street a procession
of the guests Of honor was formed while
pohcemen drove the crowd back First
came the military band then the masters
or ceremonies-each having a cane in his
hand, with which he motioned back the
crowd that lined the road on both sides six
or eight tiers deep. Then the groom
marched all alone with detected look on
his face, and his hands clasped before him.
After him the foreign guests walked. two
and two, as long as they were able to keep
the formation. but after going hundred
feet the number of unlimited guests was 80
great and they were SO anxious to see all
that was going on that they broke the line
and mixed up with the wedding party, and
even surrounded the solitary groom like a
SO that we who were coming
directly after could scarcely see him. The
noisy music of the band had. of course.
aroused the entire neighborhood and in the |
march to the residence of the brides fam |
lily we passed between thousands of spec- !
tators. The groom was exceedingly nery- |
GUS Although night had fallen and the |
temperature was quite cool, the perspira-
ton was rolling down his face and he was
relieved when we entered a narrow passs ee |
which had been cleared by the policemen
The Brides House.
The brides house was decorated In the |
same manner as the groom's, and upon a |
tray in the middle of the big room a small |
slow fire of perfumed wood was burning. |
The groom was led to the side of it, and |
stood there, while the guests were seated |
around him-hooded women on one side and |
men and foreign ladies on the other Then |
his managers made him sit down on the I
floor, cross-legged, like a tailor. Hindus |
seldom use chairs, or even cushions Pretty |
soon four Brahrnans, or Hindu priests ap-
peared from somewhere in the background |
and seated themselves on the opposite side
Of the fire. They wore no robes, and were |
only half dressed. Two of them had no |
shirts on, and were naked to the waist. as
we'll as barefooted and barelegged One. |
VINO had his head shaved like prize fighter
and seemed to be the officiating clergyman.
had on what looked like red flannel shirt.
He had his tools with him. and conducted |
| mysterious ceremony, which I cannot de-
scribe. because it was too long and com
olicated, and I could not make any notes. |
gentleman who had been requested TO
ook after me attempted to explain what II |
meant, as the ceremony proceeded, but his
English was very imperfect, and I lost a |