The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-11-29

the mett'e of their followers may be tina
Rajahs Themselves are al exceedingly
childish and somewhat ridiculous crowd.
VINO, at the front, at any rate, would be
more of a nuisance than a nelp
rake, for example, what this writer
solemnly sets down about the famous
Gaekwar of Baroda, who seems to have
successfully atoned for his marked rude
ness to the King at the Delhi Durbar
by his excess of loyalty since the empire
went to war After picturng this ruler
as tight wad" of the first water. who
rs noted for spending -he least possible
amount of money and driving a very hard
bargain the author adds that the Gaek-
war Is victim of persistent insomnia.
"At times, we are told, ''he cannot sleep
unless someone is reading to him in a
dronlng tone of voice, and wakes when
ever the reader pauses for minute
Like many another Indian prince he is
unable to sleep until his feet have been
shampooed by being rubbed with bronze
cup. this metal being reputcd to be cool
ing One cannot help having a mental
picture of score or more of Indian
chieftains at the front having their feet
"shampooed' with copper cups, and sub
sequently being read to 'in drcning
voice" before being able to secure what
Tommy Atkins would describe as a
'doss'
Then there is the Nizam of Hyderabad.
who, says the writer, is noted as a sure
shot. When the viceroy invested him,
recently" avows the chronicler. "he gave
an exhibition of his Workmanship. Rot
ties were thrown up in the air, and ne
Tired at them. never once failing to hit
his mark, and adds the record with
delicious unconscious humor, ION no oc-
casion injdring those who were throwing
up the small glass targetsv'
Nizam at Meat
Following this, we have a truly impos-
ing picture of the Nizam at meat. "His
highness," we are told, 'ssquats on the
floor on silken carpet. AS a course ar
rives it is set before him. If he is in
clined to taste one of the numerous dishes
that are offered him, trusty servant
will put spoonful of 1t in his mouth.
Seldom does he eat two spoonsful from
the same course, and often dish after
dish is sent away untouched
Everything that returns from his high
ness dining room becomes the property
of certain servants. This food is part
of their perquisites, and they dispose of
1t with advantage to themselves"
Il know of one Rajah," adds the writer,
who took only one meal day, and then
ate so heartily that he practically de-
prived his attendants of their perquistes,
to which they had been accustomed for
generations upon generations
A similar vision of 1.-The young Sikh
hero" the Maharajah of Patiala, at table
is also vouchsafed to us. You will see
him in the daytime" 1t Is said, Sitting
beneath the arch of the gate. eating his
food in Indian style from tray con.
tanning number of small basins, with
his friends seated on the stone steps OF
the palace, dining in the same simple
way. He Is exceedingly fond of small
birds, but dislikes to take the trouble t.
cut their meat from the bones To avoid
this, he has trusted servant sit beside
him and tear the flesh away and place II
before him ready to be swallowed without
any annoying delay"
This Maharajah is, of course, member
of the Indian expeditionary force
Whether or no his trusted servant" has
been allowed to accompany him is no,
stated.
Thus we come to that veteran warrior
Sir Pertab Singhji. some idea of whose
fair-mindedness, we are told, may be
gained from the fact that on more than
one occasion he has refused to shoot a
sleepy lion or tiger. 1t is part OF his
sporting philosophy either to let alone a
drowsy and tired beast of the Jungle or
to stir him up by throwing stones at him
before shooting him.
A Harsh Taskmaster
Returning to the Gaekwar of Baroda
the author describes him as "a harsh