Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-21
cusromsl OF rAnsrrs.
Have Their Peculiar Religion and
Their Own Moral Code.

Their Own Moral Code.
From the National Geographic Magazine
As separate community the Parsees
nave not only their peculiar religion, but
also their own moral CODE and as q civil
body they are not only permitted. but also
aided by the state, In enforcing their own
laws OF marriage and divorce. Their
ancient custom governing Inheritance and
succession has been enacted for them, on
their petition. into the form OF a legal
statute by the empire. They enjoy full re-
liR'ous freedom. and their peculiar customs
AMI manners are fully protected by the lib
erality of the British rule In India.
For number of years after they came
10 india they adhered to the use of their
native Persian language but as time rolled
on they gave It up for Gujerati, the Lam
gosge or the Hindoos. among whom they
dWeit. Gnjerau now forms their yernacu-
lar. They are taught English from earliest
childhood, and they study In the schools
Persian and Sanskrit as classics. They all
speak Hindustani. and many of them are
huent In the Persian tongue. in which they
heer up communication with their brethren
In Persia
Their worship In the course OF time be-
came tainted by many Hindoo practices.
and the reverence for the Gre ana SIM M
embiems of the glory of "Ormusd natur-
any degenerated into idoiatrous practices
, however, ,lha worship In recent years has
peeh restored to It's pristine purity, and the
sacred fire which Zoroaster is said to have
Drought down from heaven is kept burning
II! consecrated spots and temples are built
over subterranean fires
ihey nave a priesthood which, strange to
say, are not educators or teachers of the
people. as Is usually the case in other re-
iisious systems, nor are they themselves
necessarily educated but are sirppIv a cisSs
OF men who perform the ceremonial rites
OF the religion al marriages and funerals
, ,ena .he s sres on the temple affairs. burn
The Parsee is imbued with a spirit of toll
Grafton and is most respectful toward the
rehglons or others Besides their own sa-
cree days. they observe many of those of
the Hindoos. In Bombay they celebrate
the holidays of the English and close their
tan Sabbath
There Is now a marked desire on the part
OF the Parsees to adapt themselves to the
manners and customs of the Europeans.
Inc Parsee mode OF life may be described
as an eclectic ensemble half European and
half Hindoo. As they advance every year
IN civilization and enlightenment they copy
of living, adopting the bad with the good
resretfuiiy too much OF the former. A
Greek historian has remarked that of all
nations the ancient Persians were most dis
tinguished by their readiness In imita ting
foreign manners and customs. This pecu-
liarfty their descendants have retained to
the present day.
During their sojourn In Buzerat they will
ingiy adopted the language. dress. and
other social customs of that country and
they now have taken as completely to En-
gllsh manners and customs, SO much so
that when they speak OF s.going home,
they mean to England. The educated and
influential classes have already adopted in
their domestic life the comforts conven-
lences. elegancfes and, we may also add,
the costliness Of the European style
The domestic arrangements of their houses
have also undergone of late. vast changes.
TIER houses are generally built In good
taste, upon well-conceived plans and they
are well ventilated. Their villas or garden
houses are some of the best in Bombay.
and decorated and the walls adorned with
landscapes and historical pictures. while
the particular boast of a Parsee is to have
his house brilliantly lighted with many
lamps and chandeliers of every descrip-
ton.
A great improvement has taken place
among the Parsees in their mode of taking
meals Years ago they used. like the Hin
docs, to eat them squatting on the ground,
and the viands were served to them I'm a
brass dish, on which they were all spread
out at the same time, a practice still in
vogue among the poorer classes The bet
ter classes have for a long time past
adopted the table and chair, with all the
usual Accomplishments of a European din
ncr At large parties the table is spread
out In English fashion, instead of as for
merly when hundreds sat In a line in rows
upon an OblOng sheet OF cotton cloth Falo
upon the ioor,-eaeh eating his food OF a
plantain leaf upon which 1t was laid out.
The public and private schools of Bonn
bay are largely attended by their children.
and every effort is made to procure trans
lations of standard English books. AS a
matter OF fact IL may be said that the Par
sees are very progressive, and that II Is
oEly necessary for them to understand the
value and advantage of whatever may be
offered them to induce them to accept IL
with eagsrness,
At present they seem to have lost all
their military spirit Many follow COM
them being the wealthiest merchants In
India, while others have obtained high ia
for In government offices or have won dis
tinction by reason of their charitable gifts.
Four Parsees have been especially honored
by the late Queen Victoria. The heads or
two families have been made baronets-
Jamsetjee Jeejeebhai and Dinshaw Maneck-
ice Petit-and knighthood has been con-
ferred upon the late Kavasjee Jehangfr
present representing the district of Bethnai
Green In the British house OF commons.
They provide for their own poor and m
firm. Strikingly strange, one never sees In
Bombay q Parsee soldier, servant, or beg
gar.
But their faultless generosity is broader
than their race, and many of the fine pub
lie buildings. colleges. and hospitals, or
which Bombay is justly proud. owe their
origin and maintenance to the lberality,
wealth. public spirit, and genius OF the
Parsees Indeed, 1t IS a most significant
fact that the one hundred thousand follow
ers of Zoroaster who still tend the sacred
flame In spite of their numerical 1nsig-
nificance, play so large part In the devei-