The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-02
Trip Through the Rural Dis
tricts lis Described by Howe.
Saw the Working Population at
the Grass Roots.
THEIR CHEERLESS LIFE
Vas the Most Interesting Day
Spent in India.
Kansan Speaks a Good Word
for the Railroads.

Tuesday, January II.
now intend to do a very bold thing;
I intend to give the English bit Of
advice I suppose the English will
throw one ft after another because an
American presumes TO give them ad-
vice. but / shall risk an international
complication. and proceed with it.
The advice is to the following effect;
india is Immensely interesting, but the
tin system Is a stencil in the nostrils of
every traveller. Travellers do not OBJ
iect to paying, but they object to being
bothered and annoyed by practically
every man. woman and child with
whom they come in contact. The Eng
lish might easily stop this disgusting
system. Give me the necessary police
power, and can stop it. I am willing
to pay servants tips. but I object to be-
ing surrounded constantly by a crowd
OF beggars. was a guest today at a
government bungalow, and cheerfully
paid the price. But when I went away,
i was almost mObbed by servants 1t
Is an annoying and unnecessary prac-
tice. Let the head man collect the
government fee. and an additional
amount for the servants; I am willing
TO pay the servants, but object to be-
ing annoyed by them. I have refused
to visit several places of interest be-
cause Of the clamOring, pushing crowd
Of beggars. And the English govern
ment knows all about these beggars,
and could easily regulate them; an ex-
ample from the head man would be
sufficient. At many Of the show places,
notice Is posted that the employees are
paid By the government and that Wis
itors should not give tips; but the head
visitors and no doubt the head man
shares I'm the booty. A head man asks
every visitor if he has been annoyed
by beggars employed in the place; and
he expects a tip for asking the ques-
tions I am willing to pay the price for
seeing the sights but L demand that
the price be fixed. The present system
IS foolish, annoying and unnecessary.
1t is the business of the English
government, and not of travellers. to
relieve the famine in India. But If
travellers are to be taxed for this pur-
pose let the price be fixed that travel
ers may at least feel that they have
done their duty, instead Of being an
noyed after they have paid more than
the reasona Bile price.
Last night arranged for a railway
Journey, with the station agent att
Delhi His actions led me to believe
tnatae e1zE7eeteal a, tips iii do not get
ont of the country at once. the vfcerov
viii probably call on me. and demand
In Delhi. had a guide I respected
very highly. I made an arrangement
so pay him so much per day, explain
ing that [ wanted fixed price. which [
could pay or LET alone He agreed to
this. but. at the close Of his engage
ment suggested a gratuity This
made me mad, and I read the riot act
TO hin; but I would have cheerfully
added a gratuity to his pay had he let
me alone.
And whatever you pay an Indian he
is not satisfied. whether you give him
a rupee or a pound as a gratuitv. he
leaves you with a look that YOU should
have given him more.
The resident English handle the beg
Ears by giving them beatlngs instead Of
tips. and laugh al Americans who are
annoyed.
And while am grumbling, I want to
say that Delhi is not as interesting s
you may have been led to believe.
spend more time In Agra, and less in
Delhi.
We left Delhi early this morning and
made a. trip into the country, twenty
TWO miles and 1t was the most inter
esling day I have spent in India. be-
cause we visited villages. and fields.
ana lrrigating wells, and saw beneath
the surface In ether ways. Incidental
~ we visited fort said to be five
thousand years old; nobody knows its
age but It is known to be the Oldest
fort in India
AS nave previously stated there are
nine Delhis, and our excursion today