Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-13

In time when India is not presaging a
crisis-which come around during those
generations when India IL only hungry, in
stead OF starving-that hopeless yet not dea-
perate empire can get along with mere
talent. instead Of genius. In the viceroys
palace.
Mere talent, even then. must be wealthy
as well as distinguished. a condition anal
ogous to that OF American ambassadors
at European courts, where the wage is
utterly unprOportioned to the regal pomp
with which the office must be invested by
the appointed.
Lord Curzon, equipped with Mary Letters
share OF her fathers fortune, was possseed
Of both the position and the wealth that
qualified him to assume the enormous
power Of viceroy OF india
His American wife. with her brilliant
beauty and her energy and ambition. was
distinctly eligible as consort to the vice
roy.
Regal S~pIendOrs in India.
From the first hour when the lofty ap-
pointment was made It seemed as though
some strangely grand destiny presided
over the fortunes Of Lord and Lady
Curzon.
Lady Curzon. arriving at the viceregal
palace, came not only as the first lady Of
the land. but as II she were entering upon
a home that had been erected in anttcipa-
ton OF the coming Curzon dignities, 100
years before. And indeed. with the enor-
nous arches supporting gigantic figures OF
the British lion. and serving a. the outer
gates; with the vast dimensions Of It's cere-
moniai apartments, and with the we'll
nigh limttisss extent OF its CORRIDORS the
viceroy's palace at Calcutta il more I'M
posing to the eye than any of the royal
/ palaces of England itself. excepting Wind
sor alone.
There was a permanent b~odyguard Of 10
men. in long red coats and immense tur-
bans. and a horde Of servants waiting to
perform her royal bidding. On state oc-
casions midas kings and princes bent low
before this American woman in humble
homage.
On the great occasion OF Lady Curzon's
reign in India the durbar at Delhi, the
ceremonial Of which she and her husband
were the ruling figures was one never ap-
preached In splendor by any display of
modern times, IL, indeed, it was equaled
by any pagentry during the ages of the
past.
On the British side of the CEREMONY the
scene was set with thousands Of troops
belonging to the powerful white army Of
India. without whose presence England's
dominion in that reluctant land would not
be worth an hours purchase. AT the state
service the instrumental music was pro-
vided by fifteen full regimental bands,
while a choir of 500 soldiers, the picked
voices Of the whole army, sang the an
thems through megaphones.
ITuou ODa side Of the wide Diaiu was n
brilliant throng Of officers in their gay
uniforms and women in magnificent gowns;
on the other was a mass of color investing
the 600 men Of the military orchestra and
the 500 in the huge choir.
Between them was an entire army, stand
ing In close formation, the regimental uni
forms Distinguishing it's units in phalanxes
Of dark green. red, khaki and white, with
the glitter Of gold in dazzling points every
where interspersed.
The procession of the native princes,
which was held on January Z, 1903, was,
however. the spectacle Of barbaric splendor
In honor OF the viceroy and vicereine
which spread the fame Of the Delhi durbar
throughout the whole world, witt Lady
Curzon as its central figure. as though
she were some human jewel of beauty,
radiant with proud joy.
Army Did Her Homage.
Before her paraded a. army Of the
quaintest warriors the modern world has
ever seen. bearing weapons Of ages long
ago; mighty elephants decked out In gold
and silver, every one bearing a fortune on
his swaying back; camels in bright scarlet
and yellow; horses whose caparisons were
OF silks and brocades a society leader must
envy-a long, seemingly interminable vision
Of tossing plumes and swinging tasscls
that left the impression OF dazzling splendor
and bewildering variety.
There were no elephants. 40 camels,
twenty carriages. forty palanquins, 1900
horses and between 5000 and 1000 men.
There were camels ridden by men who bore
enormous standards; there were armed
soldiers who marched on stills, that their
height might the more dismay their foes
Three-score horsemen. who came from
Jaipur, reverted to the middle ages of
I Europe in the steel helmets and coats of
: chain armor that were their regular native
, uniform; from Jodhpur came a dozen in
complete coats OF mail; the retainers Of
Kishengarh were atdred in long, quilted
! coats guaranteed to turn aside a sword
, cut; warriors with lances. warriors with
howa ana arrows-alI armed and account