New-York tribune., 1906-05-12
WALES IN INDIA.
Dissertations and Reflections of a
Correspondent.

THROUGH INDIA WITH THE PRINCE By g.
=, Abbott with msP and thirty-two illustra-
II the future sovereign OF a vast empire sees
At 20 make an official tour OF an important part
OF his prospective dominions, il Is equally fitting
that his progress should be duly celebrated
in print And lest there should be any neglect
in this particular in regard to the recent visit
OF the Prince and Princess Of Wales to india,
no fewer than five OF the newspaper correspond
ents who accompanied the royal party have an
nounced their intention OF publishing volumes
descriptive Of the august journey. The first of
these books to appear is that written by Mr.
ASh9tt. the representative Of the Calcutta
Statesman" He has done his work with COM
mendable taste and Judgment. not seeking to
exploit the purely personal. social and official
side Of the expedition. but aiming to convey
TO the reader something OF the impression that
India must have made upon the royal person
age for whose enlightenment the trip was under
taken This he supplements by much more
intimate knowledge. as was the privilege Of one
who like himself was able TO see much that
necessarily hidden from another Who ike
the prince, was hemmed around by ceremonial
and forced to conform 20 stated schedule If
the Prince Of Wales will attentively read Mr.
Abbott's book, he will doubtless be surprised to
find out how much he missed OF the country
entertained. and will very probably be benefited,
by the shrewd comments. the frankly phrased
opinions and the apt anecdotes with which the
author has enlvened his pages.
Considering the newspaper which he repre-
sents, II is scarcely 20 be supposed that Mr..
Abbott brought TO his assignment the previous
unfamiliarity with India and with Indian affairs
that he so successfully conveys in his volume.
He manages. however, with fine skill to suggest
the point Of view OF visiting the country for
the first tirne to whom every experience has
the charm OF novelty and who feels free to
discuss it with unprejudced candor. When 1t
is necessary for him TO describe the pageantry
OF the royal progress or TO refer 20 past events
in order 20 interpret present Impressions he has
resource TO two imaginary but useful compan-
ions, his "platitudinaTian friend and the "Old
Resident" The former furnishes him with such
convenient, If hackneyed. expressions as "a most
Innportant function" "a very gorgeous specta-
Gle" "a fitting climax" what host of ro-
mantle Ynernories!' The latter is ready with
statistics or "reminiscences or fixed ideas. which
the author may need 20 elaborate a given theme
or 20 supply a starting point for a one.
The result is a remarkably readable and well
informed survey OF conditions in the peccan
Peninsula, with a thoroughly serious purpose,
hut saved from ted1ousness by a lively under
current OF humor. While one is never allowed
90 forget that the princes visit is the occasion
Of the volume and while It's more picturesque
ana significant episodes are adequately set forth.
Mr. Abbott concerns himself rather with what
the visit may ultimately mean to India and the
British Empire than with the details Of fits dur
bars and professions
Perhaps what one Is made most keeniy to
feel An reading the book is the contrast be-
tween the '"OrientaI magnihcence" (to quote the
authors platitudlnarian friend) OF these i'm
pressive ceremonies" and the miseFies OF plague,
drouth and famine plainly and abundantly
IN evidence 90 one able 90 glance behind the
scenes. and not altogether 20 be disguised from
the OCCUPANT OF the royal box. And the im-
pression that the reader will be most likely 20
carry away with him, after ne has turned the
last page is that Of the absolutely alien and
irreconcilabIe elements that go 10 make up the
vast population whose affairs Englishmen have
undertaken to administer with handful of men.
a haIting policy and a modicum of sympathy.
To the fact that the whole they have acted
cOnscientiously must be attributed whatever
measure OF success that they have achieved.
The author is inclined 20 poke fun az some OF
the blundering British ways Of dealing with the
native races and their problems. but he gives