New-York tribune., 1911-12-17

the capital OF the Aryan Empire, built
then on the ruins Of two preceding cities.
known d. Madhanu and Hastinapoora,
bearing out the ancient legends of India
that Delhi under one name or another
has been in existence since the world
began and surpasses every other city
IN point Of age.
King Georges proclamation OF Delhi
as once more the capital Of his vast
Indian Empire, with its teeming popula-
ton OF more than SOO,O0O.00O, all subject
TO his sceptre, appeals powerfully 10
the imagination, even here in far-on
America. How much more must IL stir
the people OF India themselves. VINO see
in this act Of the King a truly imperlai
tribute to their most glorious past? CAL
cutta, originally an English fort con-
structed for the purpose Of reducing the
natives of the surrounding district 10
subsection, has always personihed IN the
ewes Of all India a domination that was
wholly foreign and unsympathetlc. IL
stood as the embodiment Of alien rule
exercised. so they believed. now as for
merly primarily for the people OF Great
Britain. to whom not only the poitlcai
but, above all, the economic interests OF
Hindustan were ruthlessly sacrificed.
Delhi on me other hand. had stood for
their various dynasties. which have ruled
them I'm turn during thousands upon
thousands Of years in the past. II LOST
lis role as Indias metropolis when Be
handur shan, the last Emperor OF the
Timur dynasty. was deposed after the
great Indian mutiny and the stormlne
Of the city by the English in 1851.
King George. as the third OF the pres
ent English dynasty Of emperors OF
India has now restored to Delhi its time
honored rank as the metropolis of Hin
dustan. with it's population of over three
hundred millions. its near two hundred
yassal rulers. and as sovereign of an en-
pire more vast than that OF any mon
arch who ever reigned at Delhi, rode on
his entry into the city last week through
the Kings Gate, through which no one
has passed since the last native Emperor
left Delhi in 1S57-a gate which even in
olden times was never allowed 10 be
used by any one save the Grand Mogu
Of India when he went in state from the
citadel TO the great Jumna Musjid
Mosque TO worship: a solitary figure
since no one. not even his own sons
was permitted TO pass through the so
called Kings Gate.
Moreover, on the crown worn by King
George on the day Of the Durbar there
glittered the KOh-i-Noor that worlC
famed diamond whose blood stained his
tory is almost as ancient as that o
Delhi. and the possession Of which ha'
ever been regarded by the natives o
India. irrespective Of creed, as a tOkeI
Of supreme sovereignty Carried off {,
England seventy years ago and pre-
sented 10 Queen Victoria. it was the frs
occasion since then of its reappearanc
in India.
From the canopy above King George
throne there shone the Una. II is
jewellcd bird, about twelve inches long
shaped like Il pigeon, with cXa@gerate,
tail Rubics, diamonds, emcraids an,
pearls are strewn about the quiyeriu:
feathers Of delicate golden hYgrce work
II holds priceless ruby in its beak ano
an emerald Of immense size and lustr
hangs from its breast There are man.
legends woven about this bird in tn
Orient. The Hindus have given il tn
name Of Una. and are convinced tina
whoever owns the Una must reign owe
India.
The fact that both the Una and tn
Noh-i-Noor figured at the Durbar OF
tuesday last In the possession of Kini
5eoree made it matter of course fo
ne native princes and people Of Hindus
an tc acknowledge him as their LEG,
ora. II may be bewildering thing
ms rule Of an alien from the West. bu
re powers from above have wiled it so
hd pious souls must bow submission Il
he fiat Of fate.