Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-10
MAHARAJA OF JEYPORE
One of the Nest Interesting
Persons in India.
HIS TRIP TO ENGLAND
WIDENED HIS ALREADY BROAD
AND LIBERAL VIEW.
Recognized as One Of the Ablest OF
All the Hindu Princes - His
Museum and College.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

% O0o stanzas arranged in seven books,
and Describes the adventures and sets forth
the philosophy of Rama the seventh incar-
nation of Vishnu, one Of the two greatest
of the gods.
Siwai Madhao Singh is proud of his an
cestry. proud of his ancient faith, proud
of the traditions of his race, and adheres
with great conservatism to the customs
and the manners of his forefathers. At the
same time he Is very progressive, ana Jey-
pore. his capital, has the best modern mu-
suem the best hospital the best college,
the best industrial and art school, and the
largest school for girls among all the ma
tive states of India and Is more progress
siye than any other Indian city except Cal
cutta and Bombay. The maharaJa was Sc
lected to represent the native princes at
the coronation of King Edward, and at
first declined to go because he could not
leave India for a foreign country without
losing his caste. When the reasons for his
selection had been explained and he was
informed that his refusal must be construed
as an act of dsrespect to his sovereign,
he decided that 1t was his duty to waive
his religious Scruples and other objections
and show his esteem and loyalty for the
Emperor of India.
Trip to London.
But he could not go without great prep
aration. He undertook to protect himself
as much possible from foreign influ-
ences and temptations, and adhered as
strictly as circumstances would allow to
the requirements Of his caste and religion.
He chartered a ship to carry him from
Bombay to London and back: loaded 1t
with native food supplies sufficient to last
him and his party for six months, and a
six months supply of water from the
cred Ganges for cooking and drinking pur-
poses. His preparations were as extensive
and complete as if he were going to estab-
liSh colony on some desert island. He
was attended by about 80 persons, includ-
ing priests, who carried their gods, affairs
incense, gongs, theological works and all
the appurtenanceS required to set up a
Hindu temple in London. He had his own
stewards, cooks and butchers, servants of
every kind, and. of course. a good supply
of wives and dancing girls. A temporary
temple was set up on the dock in Bombay
before sailing, and Rama, his divine an
ceStor. was wOrshiped continuously for two
weeks by the maharaja's priests in order
to secure his benefcent favor on the voy-
age When London was reached the entire
outfit was transferred :, a palace allotted
10 his use, and such an establishment as
he maintained there was never se1n in the
worlds metropolis before.
Siwai Madhao Singh was received with
great courtesy and distinguished honors hy
the King, the court, the ministry, the states
men and the commercial andindustraI in
terestS of England. He was one of the
most conspicuous persons at the corona
ton, and if he had been trained from child
hood for the part he could not have con-
Quoted himself with greater grace and dig
nifty. Everybody was delighted with him
and he was delighted with his reception
He returned to Jeypore filed with new
ideas and inspired with new ambitions 10
promote the welfare Of his people. and all
though he had previously shown remarka-
Die capacity for government he feels that
his experience and the knowledge he ac-
iupStirna vail To -
On of the results is a determination to send
his sons to England to be educated because
he feels that it would be an injustice to
them and to the people over WHOM thev
must sometime rule to deprive them of the
advantages offered by English institutions
and by association with the people that he
desires them to meet.
A Blow at Caste.
Caste is no longer an objection. The ma
haraja has broken caste without suffering
any disadvantage and has discovered that
other considerations are more important.
He has learned by actual personal expert
ence that the prejudice of his race and re-
ligion against travel and association with
foreigners has done Unreasonable
amount of injustice. He has seen with. his
own eyes how the great men of England
live and prosper without CASTE and is will
ing to do like them. They do not believe in
it. They regard 1T as narrow, unjust and
inconvenient restriction, and he is partially
convinced that they are right. The most
distinctive feature of Hindu civilization thus
received a blow from which it can never
recover, because Siwai Madhao Singh is
recognized as one of the ablest wisest and
most sincere of all the Hindu princes, and
his influence in this and in other things is
almost unlimited
He expects to go to England again. He
desires to visit other countries also, be-
cause he realizes that he can learn much
that is of value to him and to his people
by studying the methods and the affairs oS
foreign nations.
In November 1902. when Lord Curzon Wis
tied Jeypore a banquet was given in his
honor at which the maharaja made a re-
markable speech, alluding to disappearance
in England and the benefit he derived from
that visit. In reply Lord Curzop said
when l persuaded your highness to go
to England as the chosen representative of
Rajputana at the coronation of the king
you felt some hesitation as to the sharp
separation from your home and from the
duties and the practices of your previous
life But you have returned fortified with
the conviction that dignity and simplicity
OF character and uprightness and magma
nimity Of conduct are esteemed by the no.
bllity and the people of England not less
than they are here. l hope that your high
ness example may be followed by those
who come after you and that it may leave
an enduring mark in Indian history"
Palace of the Maharaja.
The palace and the gardens of the maha-
raja cover one-seyenth of the entire area
of the city of Jeypore, and are inclosed
within a mighty wall, which is entered
through several stately gates. The only
portion of the palace visible from the street
is called the Hawai- Mahal or Hall of the
Winds which Sir Edwin Arnolds glowing
pen describes "a vision of daring and
dainty lovelinesS, nine stories of rosy ma
sonry. delicate overhanging balconies and
latticed windows, soaring tier after tier of
fanciful architecture, very mountain of
airy and audacious beauty, through a thou
sand pierced screens and gilded arches
Aladdins magician could have called into
existence no more marvellous an abode nor
was the pearl and silver palace of the Peri
more delicately charming
Those who have had the opportunity to
compare Sir Edwin Arnold's descriptions
with the actual objects in Japan India and
elsewhere are apt to givea liberal discount
TO his statements. He may be an accom-
plished poet. but he cannot see straight
and looks at everything through rose-col
ored magpifyfng glasses. The Hall of the
Winds is a picturesque and unique piece of
HINDU architecture. 1t looks like the frost
ing on confectioners cake. But 1t is six
instead of nine stories in height Is made
OF the cheapest sort of stucco and covered
with deep ping calcimine. 1t is the resi-
dence of the ladies of the harem or zenana