The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-05-16
A NOTED HINDU
PRINCE IS HERE
Maharajah Gaekwar Of Baroda Arrives
in New York.
VERY WEALTHY AND PROGRESSIVE.
A Picturesque Character. Whose Mission is
10 Secure lniormstOu That May Be Of
Use 10 improving the copdlilOu Of His
People-how He Came to Be a Ruler at
Twelve Years.

New York, (Special) His Highness,
the Maharajah Gaekwar OF Baroda-
Sir Sayaji Rao vi, Saen Khas Khel,
Sam Sher Bahadur, Frazand-l-Khasi-
Dowlat-I- I-Ingiishia--hrst in rank OF the
Hindu princes and second in all India,
arrived Sunday on the White Star liner
Celtic. He has come to the United States
after a 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 a little woman as ever walked
down a gangplank, and the Gaekwar
brother, Samgatrao Caikwad
For a prince with so many names, the
second wealthicst in India and the OWN
er of a collection OF jewels that IS famous
the world over, the Maharajah is a most
unassuming visitor. He sauntered down
the Celtics gangplank looking ike
very ordinary tourist who had been
bronzed by 4 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 lndia's wealthicst princes,
he is regarded also as her most enlight-
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 43 years OF age, and has ruled over
the State OF Baroda under British SOW
ereignity since he was a mere boy. lie
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 links in 1875 that his Maharani fled
for protection 10 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 a little later Col
onel 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.
II was up to the Maharani then, in
accordance with Hindu custom, TO ap-
point the succeeding ruler. Guided by
Englands helping hand, she chose Gopal
Rao the present Maharajah, then a boy
OF u.
He was educated at home by English
tutors, and began carly TO make special
study OF the needs OF his state He de-
cided that there must he a 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 a woman's college and
a technical school in the city OF
Baroda, and has changed that place
from a 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 woGd
ever marry before they were 20.
These are only a 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 Ss,ooo,ooo TO 100000 a year.
The Scindhia OF Gwalior, with SIS 600
a year, is said 10 be the richest OF the
Indian princes. The Maharaia has 2,ooo,-
600 subjects under his rule The state
contains 8,Ioo square miles.
Besides his enormous annual income
the Gaedwar OF Baroda possesses jewels
which have been valued at between $780,
100000 and S4o,oooooo