The Topeka state journal., 1906-02-22
WRITES OF CASTE
The Great Social Organization
That Governs the Hindu.
Four Fundamental Divisions
With Endless RamifecatiOns.
COW PURGES FROM SIN.
Dives Interesting Description Of
the Religion " in India.
Editor Howe Pleased with Quaint
Old City of Benares.
Tuesday. January 2.

Tuesday. January 2.
In addition to the many black races
in India. there are four principal castes
among the Hindus. a book might be
written on this subject alone Caste is a
great social organization which governs
and directs the Hindu in every aspect
and action of his daily life. The Hindus
do not get along" any better among
themselves than the Irish and Dutch
When a European hires servants, he
sees that they are of different caste, that
they may watch each other.
There are four fundamental divisions
of caste-the priestly or Brahmin, the
warrior, the trading and the laboring-
and these are divided into sub-sectlons
numbering some thousands. You Will
therefore understand that the ramihca-
tions of caste are endless. The Brahmin
or priest neither tolls nor spins, there
are 20 million Brahmins who represent
hereditary holiness and to fatter. Ieasl
and fee whom is the duty of all good
Hindus of inferior birth. The Bra aInlns
bless curse absOlve, eXpound teacn'
predict decide and govern. " men IN
doubt, the Hindu pays Brahmln. Inc
warriors caste is not so important, since
only a few can be used in the army
but he is stlu second best; he lives on
the glory Of his ancestors. The trading
caste has thriyen. but they respect ira
dition. and bow down to the Two castes
above them. Next comes the laborer,
lowest of all. and most patient and 90
CfIe All these castles are hereditary.
a priests son Is a priest; soldier S
soldier: a carpenters a carpenter;
scavenger's a scavenger. For 1atner
to start his son i'm any other calling
than his own would be against MS
caste and there all argument ends.
FOR caste is both social and religious.
individuals shall only marry those Of
their own caste. eat with those OF lnelf
own caste, and of food cooked by
caste fellow or a Brahmin; no super
ior caste will allow one Of inferior
caste to touch his cooked food, or en-
ter the room in which it is being
cooked.
The higher castes are not allowed to
touch the lower castles: even the brush
fng Of garments is reckOned dehlemenr
and the shadow of the Inferior is con
sidered unclean. Marriage with widow
entails excom mmunication and for many
years widows were burned alive Ine
punishment of being Cutct sted has been
described as a bls1ding of bOycOtting
and ecclesiastical excommunicatlon. If
a Hindu is outcasted, the COW can purge
him from sin, because the COW IS
sacred animal when Hindu is dying
the tail of a COW is placed In his hand
that it may pull him into heaven A
caste which is counted clean in one
part OF India may be held contrar1wise
in another A Brahrnln may eat sweet
meats or wheat with the warrior or
trading Castes, but not rice Tor lnat IS
supposed to admit equality. The clean
castes, habituaHy wear shoes made OF
cattle. vet would be defled by the
touch of the tanner or the shoemaker
The valet who waits on an English
master is often of the highest caste;
he may make the bed, prepare the
bath, and attend to all the personal
wants of his Sahib. but not bring him
his food. Dogs are unclean, but the
cat is sacred, and the monkey holy.
When money passes between low
caste and high caste man, the coin is
thrown on the ground by one ana
picked UP by the other for fear Of de-
Element. The low caste man must not
cross the threshold of the high caste
man; if he wants anything, ne stands
outside and baWls.
No high caste man is safe in the
presence of a stranger until he has
asked. "WhO are you ?'' The answer is
always the truth. Hindu may lie
about everything else, but tells the
truth about his caste. Fancy asking
yourself every time You enter restau-
rant. May 1 eat with the other
guests" A stOrekeeper who eats with
a shoemaker viii find his chapel closed
against him. and his fellow stOrekeep-
ers will boycott him. Caste is respect
ed I'm the jails of India. where prison
ers or hlgh caste are provided win
cooks Of their own class. But the rail-
way people say to the natives: You
must drop your caste if YOU want to
travel at a farthinE a mile" so caste
laid aside in the railway carriage, and
resumed outside. The Hindu cannot
change his caste. his social status is
forever fixed at his birth. He can only
falls he can never rise, and this tend
ed to make the Hindus a race without
ambition. There are hosts of Brahmin
beggars who. not even when starving,
would eat at the same table with some