New-York tribune., 1907-11-13
Literary .Nese,s and Criticism

s7 VINO are most Indifferent to the effects
Piouuceo Dy architectural objects In general"
HosuIs were among the most indefati-
ganle and enlightened builders the world has
'ei seen Many Of their most splendid pro-
uuctlohs nave been swept away by the vandaI-
ISM OF successive conouerors hu+ ano,cb ra
mains 10 mold the veneration and DELIGHT of tho
oNlilzed world. Manucci might have seen the
iiios' exquisite palaces, temples and tombs in
oouIse OF erection, but such was his ignorance
ms harroWness and bigotry that he has hardly,
d "ofd 10 say OF thom. After brief dissertation
oI the decorations Of Akbars rnausoIeuno he
i"S 'ily thlS TO say: Most curious Of all Is
-I9 reason LOT having these paintings: It was
only because they were novelty In those dave
~ was nor on account of religion" And that op
the broad minded and progressive ILL.,. .,s
preached and practised federation yrbap +bo -
QUESTION was having its palmiest davs ~ r.
ropei 0'' III E-u-
DU| Il we may not make a sken purse o,,+ NJ
certain material. there may be other usee for -
me uI'IetattIe OF the court; the warns about
the palace harem; the delinuuents throw, ~ 49,
mons or trodden under foot by elephants. tho
"S pocIi'Ical princes affecting devotion to Mecca
ii'e cohspTlng against their own flesh and
blood; the naughty little WAYS Of the rrinceseos
and their jealousy OF one another. the roor-
Strous rewards to favorites Git is q rare nrivi
lege to cause elephants to fight together r,ber-
ever one pleases); the quaint and curious nun
lshments the King directing rats to be placed
III tl!e trousers of an unsuccessful generals
wives and daughters simply to disgrace and
1rlghten theH); the buffoonery. the presents the
jewels Uhe hohinoor). the bribes the vindic-
uNehess; the minute regulative ordinances Of q
centralized government IAN official was ap-
pointed whose business it was to measure
boards in the middle of the street and to dock
those fCu
phants' the cobras the cheerful dose of timely
poison, the mutual spies. the devoted slaves
the faithful wives. the widows consumed the
plots' the counterplots the conspiracies the
murders the overthrow Of dynasties and powers
these are the pictures thrown upon the cam
vas by a lavish hand with every facility OF
brush to produce a heightened color
Aurangzeb. whose long reign covered much
Of the Venetian's Indian residence seems 10
have been a particular object of his dislike.
and is the theme Of many disparaginG anec-
dotes. AS this monarch had reached the throne
by poisoning his father, he was constantly on
the lookout lest he be treated by his own chill
dren in the same way Thus he had a fine and
delicate policy Of espionage. One night it hap
pened (when there very bright moonlighD
that the prince Shah Alan was having good
time when his father suddenly decided to visit
him. The prince. however was tipped off"
to the raid. and by the time Of the Kings
rival silken skirts were hidden in capahous
closets and Shah Alan was reading the Koran
aloud. Aurangzeb opined that the moonlight
rather invited to delectation than to pious medi-
tation. to which the prince replied that what he
read appeared TO him more lovely than the
moon and afforded him more delight than the
light Of the sun. This answer. rejecting mis-
own experience at a like age. charmed the King,
who a. once augmented the princes allowance.
Shah Alan now became very expert in dodg
ing his father.
He gave himself up to Pleasure but only in secret
according 10 the whim Of the moment His father
heard nothing Of all that. for the son knew ms his
dren initiate his fegued strictness. Thus. gain
deyoIness S a. as ' eeP he coad As he ercsved hat
humility also much to the taste of the old fel-
Of this world. lie ordered his bowls and dishes 10
be made Of wood and caused It to be noised abroad
the horse he rode were OF plain leather. devoid Of
sn ornaments. although those Of his retinue were
As for myself, knew quite the contrary Of Ell
this; and in his palace he led a Jolly life OF r.
drinking and eating out Of dishes and cups Of gold.
for he had charged me with procuring sood wines
Of Persia and Europe These I caused 20 be brought
ihen. he sent 10 my house for some for he had
more trust in me than in his Mahometans. one
spicable tlat king who did not eat out Of yes
His children were just as great hypocrites he
was. and all 20 propitiate their grandfather For
IN secret they led the life their father. one
day as # happened, one OF the spies reported 10
the King that lie had seen bottle OF VINE being
vas one that he had sent 20 FOR. Upon this
the old fellow made a long discourse 10 shah Alan.
and n1uizz ud-din. The latter said as his excuse
Sick lady while shah Alan made it appear that
he had no part in the matter.
If this is not history it IS at least material for
the historian. There Is a very marked difference
when the narrative concerns the period Of the
authors residence In India, but, even so, the
editor is at pains to show that the few dates
given are almost invariably erroneous. 1t is
strange that a European could spend a lifetime
among an Oriental people and receive wealth
and honors at their hands while retaining 50
much prejudice and aversion. But apparently
the clouds overshadoWed the end of his life. The
man who set himself up a physician without
ADEQUATE training lost vogue with the elasticity
and animation Of youth. These annals were
written in old age for the diversion Of European
readers No one could exact from the writer the
vulgarity of accuracy, no one could impeach his
assertions, and if his facts were not as stated
what difference did it make? His readers would
share his pretudices and have many hearty
laugh at the heather who had heaped their
choicest treasures on an itinerant quack. our
Iaueh is later and better, for we laugh at his
tales and then turn round and laugh at him
Even if his history be lacking in breadth or CON
tinuity. or in the convincing qualities that com
rel credence his anecdotes, his comments and
his comparisons form a picture OF the period
that makes good his belief when he says. with
ont Speaking of the Emperor of China's court
which according to the accounts we have is
extremely splendid and majestuous, assert that
in the Mogul Kingdom the mobiles and above all
the King. live with such ostentation that the