The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1914-02-06
GREEDY FOR COLD
India a GIutton In Swallowing Up
the Yellow Metal.
HoARDS IT LIKE A MISER TOO.

MhtCnt OF "iii'oHs VI ouh'OH anu
Golden Coins Flow Into That coun.
try Every Year, Hardly Any Of Which
Returns or is Ever Seen Again.
A steady stream of gold has been
flowing for centuries into India. One
might say streams of gold flowing
thence, for since India produces COM
paratively little gold herself she lays
the whole world under tribute. Hardly
any Of this gold returns. 1t is as If the
eas;th of India had opened and swat
lowed it up. The American tourist in
lssstia who parts from a sovereign or
a five dollar gold piece may be pretty
certain it will go straightway out Of
circulation and nevermore be seen ia
the country Of its minting. In one year
alone India has been known to import
over $3OO.OO0OO0 in bar gold and Eng.
lish sOvereigns.
What has become Of this vast ac-
emulation Of cleaning treasure? To
what use is all this gold put, since In
dia has not minted a gold coinage of
her own for many generations? The
puzzle becomes bit curious when 1t
is remembered that as a whole the
three hundred odd millions of natives
refuse absolutely to deposit their saw
ings. gold or otherwise, in banks and
will take no part financially in such
productive enterprises as railroads, ir-
rigation works or factories.
The .sharpest and most astute get.
rich-quick bucket shop artist that ever
soaked a gullible occidental public
could no more begule the mild Hindu
TO buy Il share of stock with the gilt
tering promise of thousand point rise
in value than the government has been
able to induce him to invest in solid
guaranteed bonds. %
1t has been estima ted that 1.-The visible
boarded wealth OF India in temples.
the treasure chests Of princes and in
the jewelry Of the Indian men and
women amounts to $500. 200. 0OO"-a
simple portable treasure that would
look like pretty respectable pile even
for our day and make the old time
buccaneers set sail for India in
hurry. Part of this any American
tourist can see for himself in such toys
AS the two gold cannon OF the gaek-
war of BarOda. each containing 2S0
pounds of pure gold. and from glimpses
caught OF temple Images Of solid or
thickly plated gold and blazing with
jewels. As special favor he may be
permitted to glance within the iron
bound treasure chests Of some high
ness and plunge his arm to the elbow
in ancient gold mohurs.
But this would hardly account for
the greater part OF that golden cur
rent set toward India since the begin
ming of the record. 1t Is into the earth
that current sinks. year after year for
hundreds of them. to be forgotten OF
lost trace of In the violent social mp
heavals. plaques and famines that have
swept over the country. In India man
has but TO relinquish his fight against
the jungle growth for n short space
TO result in the tearing down. over,
whelnIing aud utter ObliteratiOn of all
His work. Therefore il is scarcely II
flight of imagination TO picture the
black cobra nesting in some hole OF
ruined temple masonry stuffed With
gold aud jewels or the tiger seeking
"A lair In the dazzling throne room of
long forgotten dynasty buried in the
Jungle
For the reason of this curious gold
problem of India apparently one has
not far 10 seek. Until the English
went ia India the country was sweep
repeatedly by invasiOns and c0npnt'slS
Each newcomer was bent chiefly. on
plumber but IL he decided 10 rcnain
ne sci up a government In which all
life and property were his sole aud
updispulrd possession. The only rights
the conquered Uindus possessed we're
those he chose TO grant These con
sisted principally ia providing the con
queror with splendid palaces. jewels.
gorgcously cGpafisoned elepilant> :. dane
ing girls. a host OF swa ,lhgckins re-
tanners aud costly t0Bbs 1hat IL why
the American tourist In India gets n
surfell ~ palaces. temples aud toulhs
AS 90 the people. they seem 20 have
come Ia Tie conclusion pretty fac back
that Il WAS advisable for thehi never
TO display siyns OF oyermuch wealth,
The pluidcn,. soldier or tax gatheref