The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-05
RIOS HlNARA

~
interferes, an English girl will
~ dance at an approaching Indian
royal betrothal before a palace
full Of guests, mostly native princes.
The thing that may possibly prevent
is that her father is in the Indian
Civil Service and bitterly opposed to
her dancing under any circumstances.
In consequence she hides behind the
name Of Roshinara, which means light
and Joy" During her recent American
tour she was registered at the hotels
simply as Mile. Roshinara. She has
never had a picture of herself In
European garb published. being afraid
that her father would recognize her.
He has never seen her in the indian
costumes in which she dances.
The most picturesque of these is the
sari skirt and head covering COM
bined), which she wears in her incense
dance in which she represents young
Hindu widow who is about to enter the
temple. The English have put an end
to suffice, but the 100000 Indian
widows. $4,000 900 of whom are under
IA and 5000 900 under 4, have
scarcely more enviable fate to which
to look forward.
1.-THE widow may not remarry, no
matter what her age at the death OF
her husband" said Roshinara in speak
ing of the incense dance. She may
find an asylum with some wealthy
relative or she may enter the temple.
The ceremony OF the publication by in
cense takes place before entering the
temple"
The incense dance is one OF those
which Roshinara will do before the
Indian princes II she is not prevented.
1T is foolish to say that white
woman may do as she pleases in In
dia," she declared. THE Indian Govern
ment is quite able to stop me II it de-
cides to do so.
1T is true that Maud Allan went to
India against the wishes of the Eu-
ropeans, who would not go to see her
dances. But she did not do her
Salome dance: she was not allowed to
land the Costume l believe. An imi-
tator of hers was not even allowed
TO dance in the private clubs. The
Government feels that the prestige OF
the white race must be maintained.
you wonder why I should care to
dance before a native audience. even OF
the highest caste, under such circum-
stances? In one way I do hesitate
But ! shall have my own suite, not
only my mother and my manager my
ayah and other servants, but an es'
cort Of white men in multi. They viii
go to the northwest provinces, where
the betrothal is to take place In the
early part Of November.
81 have stipulated that I am to dance
only five dances each evening, and none
Of these after midnight am to re-
ceive 81 900 night. But 1t Is not 81
as the compliment. Any native danceI
would be overcome with JOY at thu
thought Of being selected to dance OF
such an occasion, and l feel that beint
asked to do native dances before ma
tive audience means that l can reall,
do them well. They heve not aske'
me to do European dances, as YOU
might have supposed, but their owl
native Indian dances.
IF ] dance. ! shall do the incens
dian deity, the Lalla Rookh and tw
or three village dances. l shall not d
the snake dance, as ] do not think
appropriate to such joyful occasion.
For an Indian betrothal is an occa
sion Of the greatest JOY. A girl Is
disgrace to her family II she is unmar
ried at 10, and they are glad to knoy
that she is off their hands. She goe
10 the home OF her mother-in-law to b
taught to work after her marriag,
which may take place any time afte
the betrothal.
THE little bride in this case Is 5 an
the bridegroom only Z. That is not par
ticularly young. Children in India ar
often carried to their betrothals in bas
kets, Not long ago in one province 40
couples We're married at once, most @
the contracting parties sitting on tn
laps of Their mothers None of tn
brides was over ~, and most of ther
were from TO Z, while the bride
grooms were from 3 to 8. Marriage
In that province take place only ono
in twelve years. so the babies have t
be married lest they disgrace thei
parents by being over 10 before an
other marriage day comes round. .
girl is fun grown at II or Is in India.
do not expect to be present at III
actual betrothal OF the little Prince an
4Tlncess. but In that respect shall b