The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-03
THE GREAT BANYAN TREE AT CALCUTTA.

shops, and the purchaser never knows
whether he Is buying at a bargain or paying
two or three prices
1t Ia not at all uncommon for the dealer
to begin negotiations with the assertion
that he has but one price and that his con-
science will not allow him to ask more
than a fair price, and conclude by selling
at a rs or so per cent. discount. 1t may be
that natives are treated differently, but the
foreigner Is likely to be charged what
the traffic will bear
You cannot judge the value of a mer-
chants stock by the size or appearance Of
his store. He may AVE a little booth open
In front, with no show windows, but when
he begins TO bring out his trunks and bun
dies he may exhibit jewelry worth 500, 900,
or rich embroideries worth their weight in
gold.
The nero hant sits crosslegged on the
floor and spreads out the wares which his
attendants bring, beguiling you the while
With stories Of Lord So-and-So's purchase
or Of Lady What's-Her-Name' order, or Of a
check for thousands handed him by an
American millionaire.
The native buildings are, as a rule, neither
beautiful nor clearly. The little shops that
open on the street exhibit food and vege-
tables arranged in heaps, the vender appar-
entity Indifferent to dust and flies,
The houses are generally Of adobe, plas-
tered with mud and without floors. In the
warmer sections Of the country they are
built Of mating and bamboo. The rich
Indians live In substantial homes with high
ceilings, tile floors and spacious %verandas,
but these are very few compared with the
mass Of the poor.
NEW IDEAS OF INDIAN WOMEN.
The Indian women of the higher classes
are in seclusion all the time. They seldom
leave their homes and when they Go venture
out they travel in covered chairs or closed
carriages.
This custom was brought into India by
the Mohammedan conquerors. but it has
been generally adopted by Hindu society.
There is a growing sentiment among the
educated Hindus against this practice, 30
burdensome to woman, but custom yields
slowly to new ideas.
At Calcutta we met several Indian ladies
| of high social rank who in their home life
have felt the influence Of Western ideas,
and who have to some extent lessened the
rigors OF the zenana (seclusion). Two Of
these ladies, n a Princess, were daughters
Of the famous Keshub Chunder Sen, the
great Hindu reformer, whose writings
made a profound impression on the re-
ligious thought of the world.
; In the group was also a daughter-in-law
| OF Mr.. SENS, a brilliant woman, who was
| left the widow Of a native Prince at the age
| OF thirteeh, and who recently shocked the
! orthodox Hindus by a second marriage.
1 mention these ladies because they repre-
sent the highest type Of Indian woman
hood, and it would be difficult to find in any
country, in a group OF the same size, more
beauty, culture and refinement,
EcoRAT1 f DREs FOL BOTH SEX rs.
The principal article Of feminine dress
is the sarai, a long strip Of cotton or silk,
part Of which is wrapped about the body
| to form a skirt, while the rest is draped
ovey the head and shoulders in graceful
folds. This gsS-ment lends itself to orna-