Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-14

rs n Mi en-. nest stricken Bombay
TIA H<Hl gives no hint of it's distress
H to the eye of the visitor.
HI N E Hailed long ago as the queen
szo1ea of eastern cities, 1t keeps up
the pOmp and circumstance of court
although Its population declines, its in
dustries do not increase as rapidly as
in former years, and its wealth is be-
ing spent in a seemingly endless fight
against enemies more powerful and
subtle than the armies of hostile kings.
But it's Importance as a seaport con-
tinues to increase, its people are not
discouraged and it is still city OF
beautiful buildings and gay society.
Kipling, who was born in Bombay,
between the palms and the sea-" has
sung it's praises. and in turn has made
Bombay sing to the emplre
Royal and dower-royal, l the queen
Fronting thy richest sea with richer lands
A thousand mills roar through me where
CLEAN
All races from all lands.
Here, indeed, one may see the prod
ucts of a thousand mills and million
fields going down to the sea, and here
one may see in the streets the repre-
sentatives of "all races from all lands
Other cities may dispute Bombay S
title of Queen" but dower-royal 1t al
ways will be. FOR the island of Bonn
bay, somewhat smaller than Manhat-
tan, is the first bit of land in the In
dian empire to which England received
clear title.
It was occupied in 1922 by the Portu-
guese, then the empire builders OF the
Orient, but 1t remained only an unim-
portant outpost of the dominion. In
1861, just after the fall of the common
wealth and restoration of the Stuarts
in England, 1t was made part OF the
royal dover of Catherine of Braganza,
| the Portuguese princess who married
! Charles II. 1t remained crown proper
ty for seven years and then was made
over to the East India company, by
which it was ruled until 1858, when
Queen Victoria assur ed the govern
ment of all India.
Being the chief seaport of the west
ern coast of the Indian peninsula 1t
became the center of the trade between
India and England. The shrewd and
thrifty Parsees came down from their
ancient city of refuge at Surat ana
went into business, making themselves
and the city rich. By their munihcent
benefactions the Parsees built colleges
and institutions by the score, the COM
pany and the crown built magnificent
government office, parks were laid out
on the boll scale which every indian
city has copied, and Bombay became
city beautiful.
The most striking thing about Bonn
bay at first glimpse is the beauty OF
its buildings, avenues and parks. II
one comes by railway he alights at
Victoria station, which stood for thirty
years as the most beautiful and ar
tistic railway station in the world, al
though not the largest. 1t yielded first
place only when the new union station
was built in Washington, d. c. The gov
eminent buildings are mostly in the
Gothic style, the great charitable and
educational institutions In a mixture
of Gothic and Hindu. A hypercriNcal
architect might quarrel with the de-
sign of this or that structure, but no
one can deny the success of the gen.
eral effect,
After the first look around the most
interesting feature of Bombay are the
people in the streets. If the persons
who are responsible for the costuming
of American comic operas and musical
comedies would take time to journey
to Bombay they would find inspiration
for scores of outfittings which would
reflect glory upon themselves and
cause a jaded theater-going public to
offer thanks.
Most curious of all, perhaps, are the
PdTSeGS. lneTS dI6 OlAly oDCub NOtNNS
OF them in Bombay out of It's total
population of three-quarters of mil
lion, but they are the leaders In BUSH
ress and native club life. The men
wear ordinary European clothing, ex-
cept for the hat. In its place Is the
ancient cap of their clan-a brimless
and Vizorless derby hat with hard
roll around the lower edge. This an
Gent cap, still worn by the majority
is made in the shape of a horses hoof'
1t was a pledge given by their an
cestors when they found refuge among
the Hindus from the prosecuting Mos
| lens who had driven them from Per-
sia-a sign of submission and pledge
that they would abide by the laws of
the country and not take part in poll
| tics.
The Parsee women wear gracerul
! robe of soft, clinging material, the Ell
! feet of which is heightened by long
mantflla thrown over the head and
shoulders. But the acme of the ridicu-
lous Is reached in the costume OF the
Parsee school girl. she wears short
Russian blouse, white cotton panta-
lettes with lace trimming, no skirt and
English shoes and stockings. II ever
there was excuse for girl praying TO
get through school and into grown-up
clothes, that excuse is valid for the
Parsee maiden. -
II +ba nanora ma of street life there