The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-05-18
A NOTED HINDU
PRINCE IS HERE
Maharajah iaekwar Of BarOda Arrives
Ia New York.
VERY WEALTHY AND PROGRESSIVE.
A Picturesque Character. Whose MIssieu is
to Secure Information That May Be OF
Use In Improving the Condition OF mis-
People-tiow lie Came to Be Ruler 81
Twelve Years.

New York, (SpeciaD His Highness'
the Maharajah Gaekwar of Barooa-
Sir Sayaji Rao vi, Saen Khas khei,
Sam Sher Bahadur, Frazand-l- kfasl-
Dowlat- l. Inglishia- in rank OF the
Hindu princes and second in all India,
arrived Sunday on the White Star Inner
Celtic. He has come to the United States
after tour in Europe to see the country,
study the people and try to learn the
secret of their success. With him are
Her Highness the Maharani OF Baroda,
as pretty little woman as ever walked
down gangplank, and the Gaekwars
brother, Samgatrao CaikWad.
For prince with SO many names, the
second wealthiest in India and the own
err of collection of jewels that is famous
the world over, the Maharajah is most
unassuming visitor. He sauntered down
the Celtic's gangplank looking like
very ordinary tourist who had been
bronzed by tropical sun, and pleasant
ly nodding good-bys to the acquaintance
he had made on the trip over Perhaps
that is explained by the fact that, besides
being one of India's wealthiest princes,
he is regarded also as her most enllght-
ened.
He is a little man, not much more
than five feet tall, but is stockily built. II
than five feet tall, but is stockily built He
is AZ years of age, and has ruled over,
the State of Baroda under British SOW
ereignity since he was mere boy: he
traces his ancestry back to Sway, the
founder of the Maharatta power IN India,
but he owes his occupation of the throne
to an indiscretion of his predecessor,
Gaewar Mulhar Rao, who cut UP SUCH
high jinks in 1875 that his Maharani he'd
for protection to the home OF Colonel
Phayre, the English resident. The Gaek-
war made a bluff by discharging some
blank cannon charges at the residents
house, but it didn't work. Her Highness
refused to return, and little later Col
one1 Phayre got some chemicals IN his
food which acted like poison on his
system. The gay old MarharaJah was
tried and deposed, although he was not
convited of having poisoned the resident.
1t was up to the Maharani then, IN
accordance with Hindu custom, to APP
point the succeeding ruler. Guided by
England's helping hand, she chose Gopal
Rao, the present Maharajah, then boy
of H.
He was educated at home by English
tutors, and began early to make special
study of the needs of his state. He de-
cided that there must be public school
system. Today he said that there are
schools in more than half of the state
and in some parts of it compulsory ed
ucation. He has established a mans
college and woman's college and
a technical school in the city of
Baroda, and has changed that place
from slovenly, antiquated Hindu town
into modern city with fine public build
ings and spacious parks. He declared
early against child marriages, and an
nounced that none of his children would
ever marry before they were 20.
These are only few of the things
he has done. He has taken much active
interest in the government of his state,
being allowed considerable latitude by
the British government, and has often
sat as judge in the native courts. The
Maharaja's income has been estimated
at from 100000 to 100000 a year.
The Scindhia of Gwalior, with SIS, 900, 600
year, is said to be the richest of the
Indian princes. The Maharaia has 2,ooo,-
600 subjects under his rule. The state
contains 800 square miles.
Besides his enormous annual income
the Gaedwar of Baroda possesses jewels
which have been valued at between $780,
100000 and $4o,ooo,ooo.