Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-09

ard on the continent, picking up points for
their own improvement. They are intelli-
gent and enterprising men, and their repu-
tation for integrity, ability and loyalty to
the British government has frequently been
recognized in a conspicuous manner.
A Playing Prince.
Our most notable shipmate is the Right
Honorable Lord Harrington, recently gov
ernor of one of the Australian provinces
and now on his way to assume similar
responsibility at Bombay, which is consid-
cred a more responsible post. He Is a
youngish-looking, handsome man. and
might easily be mistaken for Myron I.
Herrick of Cleveland. the new governor
oe Ohio. One night at dinner his lordship
was toasted by an Indian prince we have
on board, and made a pleasant reply, al
though 1t was plain to see that he was not
an orator. Capt. Preston, the commander
of the ship, who was afterward called upon,
made a much more brilliant speech.
The prince is Ranjitsinhji famous
cricket player, who some consider the
champion in that line of sport. He went
over to the United States with an English
team two years ago and will be pleasantly
remembered at all the places he visited.
Ho is handsome fellow, twenty-five years
old about the color of a mulatto, with
slender, athletic figure. graceful manners
and pleasant smile. He has had a roman
tic history. His father was ruler of one of
the native states, and dying, left his throne,
title and estates to his eldest son. The
latter. being sixty years older than Ran
jitsinhji, adopted him as his heir and sent
him to England to be educated for the I'M
pcrtant duty he was destined to perform.
He went through school at Harrow and
Cambridge University and took honors in
scholarship as well as athletics, but TO Inc
establishment of all concerned, boy baby
was born in his brothers harem, the first
and only child of a ,rajah seventy-eignt
The mother a MOhdm-
medan woman and according to a strict
construction of the laws governing 'such
things among the Hindos the child was
not entitled to any consideration whatever.
But the old man was pleased at the
birth of the baby that he Immediately pro-
claimed him his heir, the act was confirm
ed by Lord Elgin, the viceroy, ana the nom
ors and estates which RanjitsinhJf expected
to inherit vanished like dream. The old
man gave him an allowance of $4,000
year and he has since lived In London con-
soling himself with cricket.
Another distinguished passenger Is Sir
Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney, an Indian
baronet, who inherited immense wealth
from long line of Parsee bankers. They
adopted as their name a pseudonym given
them by the Bombay public early in the last
century because of their immense fortune
and success in trade. Mr.. Readymoney, or
Sir Jehangir, as he Is commonly known, Is
accompanied by his wife, two daughters,
their governess and his son, and has been
spending several months In London, Where
he has been the object of much gratifying
attention. His father received his tue as
an acknowledgment of his generosity In
presenting s250,OOO to the Indian Institute
in London and for other benefactions, est1-
mated at $1,3OOOO0 He has built colleges,
hospitals insane aSylums and other institu-
lions He founded strangers home at
Bombay for the refuge of people or respec-
liability who are frtendless or become III IN
that city. He erected drinking fountains OF
artistic architecture all over Bombay, and
gave enormous sums to various charities in
London and elsewhere without respect to
race or creed. Both the Roman Catholic
have been the recipients of large gifts, and
the university at Bombay owes him graft
tude for it's finest building.
Nicknames Adopted.
I am told that several of the most promf-
nent native families in India have followed
the example of Mr.. Readymoney by adopt
ing the nicknames that were given their
ancestors. Indian names are dlhcuit 10
pronounce. What, for example, would you
call Mr.. Jamshijdji or Mr.. Jijibhal, and
those are comparatively simple? Hence, IN
early times it was the habit of English
men and other Europeans to call the ma
tives with whom they came In contact ny
some name that was appropriate to their
character or their business. For example,
Mr. Reporter is one of the editors or the
Times of India, his father was before
him. and is known honorably by that name,
which was given him by people who were
unable to pronounce his Indian name.
Sir Jamsetjed Jeejeebhoy, one of the most
prominent and wealthiest Parsees, who is
known all over India for his integrity and
enterprise, and who has given millions OF
dollars to colleges, schools. hospitals.
asylums and other charities, Is commonly
known as Mr. Bottlewaller. Waller is the
native word for trader, and his grandfather
was engaged in selling and manufacturing
bottles 1t is said that he began by pick
ing up old empty soda and brandy bottles
about the saloons, clubs and the hotels. but
he made an immense fortune and reputa-
ton that any man might envy. The family
have always signed their letters and checks
.'BottIewaller," and have been known by
that name in business and society. But
when Queen Victoria made the grandfather
a baronet because of distinguished services.
of course the title was conferred upon jam
settled Jeejeebhoy, which was his lawful
name.
Another similar case is that of the Petit
family one of the richest in India and the
owners and occupants of the finest palaces
in Bombay. Their ancestor, or the first of
the family who distinguished himself. was
a man Of very small stature, almost
dwarf, who was known as LIE Petit. He
accepted the christening and bore the name
honorably, as his sons and grandsons have
since done. They are now baronets, but
have never dropped 1t. and the head of the
house II Sir Nanocku Petit,