Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-25
INDIAN AAUIcH GIRLS
They Are Attached to the
Temples Of the Hindus.
BRIDES OF THE GODS
NEVER MARRY, NEWER RETIRE
AND NEVER Rum AWAY.
Industrial Expodtion on "Mohon-
Msla,' at Caicutta-Progreas Of
Women's Missions.
BRIDES OF THE GODS
By WILLIAM e. CURTIS.
Special Correspondents Of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record Herald.

By WILLIAM Il. CUkTk.
Special Correspondents q The Evening Star and
Chicago Record HsfaA.
CALCUTTA, March "a. 1904.
The other day we attended the "Mohon-
snela," an annual Industrial exposition
given under native auspices in the exposi-
ton grounds Of Calcutta. There were no
foreign exhibitors although there were
many foreign exhibits. GLIDING sewing
machines, tyepwriters and various kinds
Of machinery. The most interesting ex-
hibit to me was typewriter fitted Tor the
Bengalese language by native inventor.
The India patent ONCE does not show much
inventive genius among the Hindus. nor
are they such clever initators az the Japa-
nese or the F1lipinos. Their arts and IN
dustries are very old. Their methods have
been handed down from generation to gen.
Grafton. because sons are In the habit OF
following the trades Of fathers. and they
are inclined to cling to the same Old pat
terms and the same old processes regardless
Of iabor-saving devices and modern fash
ions. Many people think this habit should
be encouraged; that what may be termed
the classic designs Of the Hindus cannot
be improved upon. and 1t Is certainly true
that ali purely modern work Is inferior
Lord and Lady CurzOn have both shown
deep interest in this subject Lord Cur
ION has used his official authority and the
influence Of the government to revive, re-
store and promote old native industries
and Lady Curzon has been an invaluable
commercial agent for the manufacturers of
the higher class OF fabrics and art objects
in India. She has made many OF them
fashionable in Calcutta and other Indian
cities and in London, Paris and the capitals
of Europe, and SO great Is her zeal that
with all her cares and responsibilities, and
the demands upon her time, she always has
the leisure to place orders for her friends
and even for strangers who address her,
and to assist the silk weavers embroiderers
and other artists to adapt their designs and
patterns and fabrics to the requirements OF
modern fashions. She wears. nothing but
Indian stuffs herself, and there IS no better
dressed woman in the world. 1t was
through her influence that the coronation
robe OF Queen Alexandra was woven and
embroidered in Delhi, and the design was
her own suggestion. She keeps several OF
the best artists in India busy with orders
from her friends and is beginning to see the
results of her efforts In the revival OF arts
that were almost forgotten.
You will see some Of this at the St. Louis
exposition. Several manufacturers. by her
encouragement. are going over with sam
pies and stocks Of goods, although the In
dian government made no provision Tor
them. and devoted Its entire appropriation
to the more profitable but less aesthetic
promotion Of the tea trade.
The Nautch Girls.
At the "Mohon-mela' a good deal of
space was devoted to native amusements
and sports and several bands Of nautch
girls were dancing before large crowds OF
admirers in open pavIlions. The matches
of India have received considerable atten-;
ton from many sources. They are the OBJ
ject of the most earnest admonitions from
missionaries and moralists, and no doubt
are a very bad lot, although they do not
look 1t. and are recognized and respected
profession among the Hindus. They are
consecrated to certain gods soon after their
birth; they are the brides OF the deities OF
the Hindu pantheon. and are attached to
their temples. receiving their support from
the permanent endowments, often living
under the temple roof and almost always
within the sacred premises. The amount OF
their incomes varies according to the wealth
and the revenues of the idol to which they
are attached They dance before him sew
eral times daily and sing hymns In his hon
or The ranks Of the nautch girls are some
times recruited by the purchase of children
and by the dedication of the daughters OF
pious Hindu families to that vocation. In
deed, 1t is considered high honor for the
daughter Of a Hindu family to be received
into temple as nautch.
They never marry and never retire. When
they become too old to dance they devote
themselves to the training of their success
ors. They are taught to read and write, to
sing and dance, to embroider and to play
upon various musical luSLIuLucul6 i Hcy dI6
better educated than any other class Of
Hindu women, and that largely accounts for
their attractions and their influence over
men. They have their own peculiar Gus
toms and rules, similar to those Of the
geishas Of Japan and II a nautch is SO for
tunate as to inherit property 1t goes to the
temple to which she belongs. This custom
has become law by the confirmation Of the
value without the consent Of the priests in
charge Of the temple to which she Ia attach
ed. and those who have received valuable
gifts Of jewels from their admirers and
lovers are often compelled to surrender
them. On the other hand. they are furnish
ed comfortable homes. clothing and food
and are taken care of all their lives, just
the same as religious devotees belonging to
any other sect.
Are Much Esteemed.
Notwithstanding their notorious immoral
ity, no discredit attaches to the profession,
and the vices for which they are condemned
are considered acts of duty. faith and wor-
ship.
Bands Of matches are considered neces-
sary appurtenances of the courts of native
Hindu princes, although they are never
found in the palaces of Mohammedans
They are brought forward upon all occa-
sions of ceremony. religious. official and
cornwall. If the viceroy visits the capital
of one of the native states he is entertained
place on the program at all celebrations
of feast days; they appear at weddings and
birthday anniversaries, and are quite as i'm
portant as an orchestra at one of our social
occasions at home. They are invited to the
homes of native gentlemen on all great &C.
casions and are treated with the utmost
Difference and generosity. They are per-
mited liberties and are accorded honors
that would not be granted to the wives and
daughters Of those who entertain them and
stand on the same level as the Brahmin
priests.
The traveller In India finds 1t difficult to
reconcile these facts but any resident will
assure you of this truth. The priests are
said to encourage the attentions of rich
young Hindus because OF the gifts OF money
and jewels they are in the habit Of shower
ing upon matches they admire. but each
girl Is supposed to have a STEADY lover.
He may be old or young, married or un-
married, rich or poor, for as q rule 1t L.
to these women that q Hindu gentleman
turns for the companionship which his own
hou,o d0eq not guDDly.