The Washington times., 1906-04-15

tempt the youth to seek the young lady
In marriage, and the tariff is fixed ac-
cording 10 the social standing of the
bridegroom, but even when a large
dowry has been paid the brides father
Is expected TO entertain the wedding
guests on so lavish a scale that his in
come may be crippled for years, and it
is for these reasons that the birth of a
Hindoo girl is not looked upon as a
subject for rejoicing.
But 4 difficulties surround the choos-
ing of wife. still greater trouble awaits
the Indian widow. The English rule
has abolished Sati. but the fate of the
woman who outlives her husband seems
TO me TO be worse than that of those
who died with him, and believe that
there is no work to which the European
propagandist can set his hand which
would be OF so much use and tell so
much for the benefit OF the people of
India as a revision OF the marriage code
By moral suasion.
Colonel Walter in 1883 Induced all the
leading Rajput families TO agree 10 a
revised code Of marriage laws. and this
quiet. persistent man has accomplished
more than all the platform orators for
the last twenty years
Caste in Europe, Too.
We are, however. mistaken If we inn
agine that caste does not exist equally
In European nations. The unspoken laws
which divide classes are quite as hard
and fast in Europe as they are In In
dia. and, although the ban which used
to make any connection with trade n
barrier against social advantages has
been removed. nevertheless any woman
who descends in the social scale 10
marry outside her class Is ostracized
quite as effectually as the Brahman.
In the late Queen Victoria's time. a
lady who owed large sum Of money
to one OF the most famous millinery es-
adjustments undertook. IN Heu OF pay
ment, 10 present the daughter Of the
great tradesman at court. All went well
until II was discovered two or three
years after who the debutante really
was, and then her presentation was
ruthlessly Cancelled.
King Edward. who realizes that we
live in more democratic days. no longer
exacts such classiacations. but the caste
question is still to the front IN the
matter of eating and drinking. for who
would dream Of sit ing down to par
take OF a meal with any OF his house
hold. and how many are the inquiries
made before even a man who is pcssi-
bly, a genius in his way, but who is
associated with any form of trading.
is admitted to the luncheon table OF the
employer for whom he is at work?
A Beam Ripe for Plucking.
European nations will certainly have
20 remove the beam which is in their
own eye before they can deal with the
mote which appears TO them TO loom so
large In India.
I remember many years ago that most
delightful and entertaining actor. Cor
ney Grain. telling me that he had been
asked TO give an entertainment at the
house Of some rich people IN the coun-
try. On his arrival he was shown into
the servants room, and there his meal
was served.
Mr.. Grain saw the humor OF the situa-
ton. and determined TO give his hostess
lesson. So. directly he had supped.
he offered TO sing. The servants were
enchanted. and he went through his IN
imitable repertoire.
Very soon came the message To SUM-
mon him TO the drawing room, as the
guests were now ready 20 hear him.
Tell Lady - said Mr.. Grain, 81
have given my performance.
II took II for granted that as she
asked me to give 1t after dinner and ]
had dined here, that this was the place
In which / was TO perform. and I am
now just off back 10 London"
Copyright. 1906 by the Hearst News Service