The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-17

/ for England without that oyerpoweTing
sense OF regret which the new republic
Of the western hemisphere could wish
her 10 feel" says the New York sun.
Il came here 10 this country" she
said. believing ii TO be the land OF ed
ucation l thought that here. If any
where, 1 should find educated women.
In India we suppose that in America
every woman is educated. We hear
much of their intelligence and OF their
opportunities for advancement and learn
ing. Imagine, then. my disappointment,
my surprise. 10 be asked to meet the ig-
norance that have met with.
II have been asked If l was an East
Indian or a West Indian, or II ] was
perhaps Mexican. I have been asked
IL Baroda was In Bombay or Bombay
IN Baroda, and actually whether or not
either was IN India But the most amaz-
ing question of all was whether was
an American Indian! Think of it. Is it
possible that the women here do not
know their own country?
The Maharanee is herself woman OF
wide education. and also Of much force
Of character. One has only 10 look al the
poise of her head and the contour OF her
chin and mouth to be convinced OF that.
Her gestures are commanding and de-
oided, even 20 the point Of brusqueness.
Her skin is a delicate olive brown, her
face oval: ell her features clear-eut. or, as
the sculptors say, nicely chiseled. But
there is no suggestion Of the sheltered
woman OF the zenana. as she Is usually
conceived, 10 the personality OF the
| Maharanee. One could easily fancy her
ruling the whole country Of the Gaekwar
single handed II custom allowed or oc-
casion demanded Maharanee is her
title. as MaharajRh is the title OF the
Gaekwar. The name GaekwaT is the
name Of the dynasty. and the Maharajah
is so called as one would speak Of the
stuart" or "the Bourbon"
The Maharanee wears always her native
dress. To-day 6he 'sari'' was OF royal
purple The sari is e mystery 10 the occi-
dental mind It is draped from ten yards
OF half-transparsnt material in fold upon
fold about the body. tying IN a knot az
the left side. and ending in loose scarf
that Is thrown over the head The right
shoulder and arm are the only parts Of
the body left undraped. Beneath the
sari the Msharanee was wearing a close
fitting skirt and a white bodice, but
toned straight down the front with
ivory buttons. and embroidered with
threads OF gold. The sleeve Of the bodice
came half way &c the elbow and was
edged with a band OF brilliant green
In her ears hung earrings OF long fresh
water pearls, three in each ring; neck
lace OF the same pearls was clasped close
about her throat, and she wore 4 mas
sive gold bracelet and a ring of heavy
gold work with crimson stone On her
forehead was painted the round red mark
that in her country is the sign OF the
married woman.
The Maharanee was asked II, to her
mind. the works OF Rudyard Kipling
give a true picture of native Indian life.
The Maharanee laughed and turned TO
Miss West. her English companion
THAT is a big question with a long
answer" she said. Answer for me-"
Miss West explained that Kim was a
favOrite boob with the Maharanee. and
that she thought it expressed 10 a won
derful degree the native life and habit
OF thought.
There are, however, other books OF
Rudyard Kipling's that her highness does
not enjoy and does not care for"
What decided the Maharajah TO send
his son, the Prince Jeysinh-Rao, TO study
al Harvard?" was asked.
The Afaharanee replied 10 this herself.
! ''The Maharajah is q man of the broad
est education and OF wide sympathies.
He adnares America and American insti-
tutions. We have one son al oxford, the
Prince Shivaji-Rao We wish to have
another at Harvard. Then we shall have
acquired for our country and our court
both types Of education, and we can de-
termne which is the better.
Is the Prince Jeysinh-Rao, who is at
Harvard, the heir 10 the title
That is matter not yet decided. He
is the elder. but It is by no means GER
tain that he is the heir. The matter mas
not been even considered as YET
"wnl her hlghness tell what are her
impressions of American pursued the
inqulsitor broadly.
Her highness rose quickly, laughing
!
folds of her sari she drew a tiny gold
watch. You will have TO excuse me. !"
she said.
Il must go. / have much to do and
many places TO go. Ny impressions are
too many to tell all at once and all In one
morning"
In the corridor outside the apartments
of the Maharanee stood group OF tall,
swarthy gentlemen in frock coats. The
soft flow Of Hindustanee greeted the ear.
In the center of the group was a short
thick-set man in a fedora hat with a
dropping mustache, and carrying gold
headed cane. He was the Maharajab.
The Maharajah rules the native Indian
state known as the Kaekwar's dominions
II is situated on the River Biswamintri
and the capital is the city OF Baroda,
with a population of l0S,OOo Although the
British political agent resides in the city.
the Gaekwar is independent Of him. ex-
eept IN matters OF foreign relations. In
his own dominion the Gaekwar exercises
the power of life and death.
IT shall never forget the royal palace
in Baroda when first saw IT," said Miss
West, who went out there as English gov
erness to the princess and companion 10
the Maharanee. Il had come directly
on from England TO take this position in
the suite of the Maharanee. had never
been in India before and I arrived IN
Baroda the day of the visit of the vice.
roy. The palace, from top to bottom. and
the court and all the gardens were IL
Illuminated torches and fairy lamps. It
looked like a dream of fairy land.
The palace is very old building. long
and low. with many corridors. 1t Is built
about a court filled with tall palm trees.