Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-02

has been followed for more than hundred
years. Warren Hastings is said to have
founded the first breeding stable and m
troduceG Arab stock at Alipore. his coun-
try seat. The paddocks in which he bred
Arab horses are still used for that pur-
pose and when he returned to England ard
retired to Daylesford, his country seat, he
erected It's duplicate and planted around
them rare trees from all parts of Asia.
Two Race Tracks.
There are two race tracks at Calcutta,
one for regular running. the other for
steeplechasing, and as in England and
ireland, the horses are always run on the
turf and most of the riders are gentlemen.
A few professional jockeys appear from
the stable, of breeders who are too old
or too fat too lazy to ride themsel yes,
but it is considered the proper thing for
every true sport to ride his own horse as
long he is under weight Among the
riders on this year was Colonel Warning,
aid-de-camp to the viceroy and an
other was member of the staff Of Lord
Kite heneI, the COmmander-in-chief.
The tracks are surrounded by lovely
landscapes. an easy driving distance from!
Calcutta. and like the Derby day at Chi
Cago. everybody in town was there. The
grand stand and the terraces that sur
round it were crowded with beautifully
dressed women, many of them Pa"sces, in
their lovely costumes. and within the
course Were more than 10000 natives. wear
ing every COIcelNaDlc Color, req ana NtI-
low predominating so that when one LOOK
ed down upon the Enclosure from 1 distance
it resembled a vast flower bed, Il 12l1 Of
poIries and roses. The natives take great
interest in the races, and they adj
mitted free, every man. woman and child
who could leave home was there, ard the
most of them walked the entire distance
from the city.
The viceroy and vice queen appear in the
official Old-fashioned barouche drawn by
four horses with outriders and escorted
by a bodyguard of Sikhs in brill ant scar
let uniforms and big turbans of navy blue.
with gold trimmings. The Vice"0ys boz
Is lined and carpeted with scarlet ard
easy chairs were placed for his com"orc.
Distinguished people came up to pay their
respects to him and Lady CurZon, ana be-
tween visits he wandered about the field
shaking hands with acquaintance in 4
democratic fashion and smiling as if he
We're having the time of his life. 1t is not
often that the present viceroy takes a
holiday. He is the most industrious man
in India, and very few of his subjects work
as hard as he, but he takes his recreation
In the same fashion. He is always full of
enthusiasm, and never does anything in
! a half-hearted way. Lord Kitchener came
! also. but was compelled to remain in his
carriage because of his broken leg The
| police found him in a good place and he en-
| joyed It.
| On the lawn behind the grand stand. I'M
der the shade of groups of palm trees
tables and chairs were placed and tea was
StlNtu between the events. Ladies whose
husbands are member of the jockey club
can engage tables in advance as most of
them do, and issue their invitations in ad-
vance also so that Viceroy's day is usually
CONTINUOUS tea party and reunion Of old
friends. for everybody within travelling dis
lance comes to the capital that day. E,v-
cry woman wore new gown made eX-
pressly for the occasion. Most of them
were of white of dainty colors but
they did not compare in beauty or ele-
gance with the brocades and embroidered
silks worn by bare-legged natives Half
the hindu gentlemen present had priceless
camllS hair and Cashmere shawlS thrown
over their shoulders-most of them heir
looms, for. according to the popular i'm
preston, modern shawls do not compare
IN quality with the old ones. Under the
shawls they wear long coats, reaching to
their heels like ulsters. of lovely CURED
SILK or brocade of brilliant colors Some
or them are finished with exquisite en-
brOidery.
No Hindu women were present only Par
sees. They neve" appear in public and al
lew their husbands to wear all of the fine
fabrics end jewels. With shawls wrapped
around them like Roman togas the Hindus
are the most dignified and stately human
spectacles you can imagine, but when they
put on European garments or a mixture of
native and fore:sn dress, they are positive
~ ridiculous. ana do violence to every rule
OF art and law of taste. Usually when an
orientai-for it is equally true of China
Japan and Turkev-ad 0pts European dress
iit SSIH'0 - TIE Ssilnt COIDfS he would in
his own, and he looks like a freak as Won
can imagine, in pair of green trousers a
crimson waistcolt, a purple tie, a blue
negligec shirt and a plaid jacket.
Displays of Jewels.
But if you want to see a display of fine
raiment and precious stones you must at
tend an official function in India, a recep-
ton by Lord or Lady Curzon for in the
number. size AMI value of their jewels the
| Indian princes 5urpass the sovereigns of
Europe and everybody else for that mat
| ter. One of the fajahs has the finest col
| lection of rubies in the world purchased
| from time to time by his ancestors for sew
| eral generations, most of them in Burma
| where. l believe. the most valuable rubies
| have been found. Another has the finest
! collection of pearls accumulated in the
| same way. They represent an investment of
about 100000 and include the largest and
hnest examples in the world. When he
wears them all, as he sometimes does on
great occasions. his front from his neck to
| his waist is covered with pearls netted like
| a chain Grmor. His turban is a cataract
| of pearls on all sides, and upon his left
| shoulder is a knot large as your two
| hands from which depends a braided rope
| of four strands. reaching to his knee and
| every pearl is as large a grape. You can
| appreciate the SIZE and value of his col
lection when ! tell you that all of the pearls