Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-03-15
THE QUEER H|NDUS
They Rival the Chinese In Theft
Odd Ideas and Customs.
CASTE RULES THE SERVANT
He Doesn't Like Work, Anyhow, anc
Generally Finds . Way to Dodge II
Playing the Strinssd vina 10 Sps-
ciss Of Unnusieal Torture.

SOUGtoHy way " S~1SS -
Playing the Strinsed vina 10 a Spe-
ciss Of Unmusieal Torture.
had thought China was queer
place and that the Chinese had queer
customs. but China can't entertain on
the same afternoon with India. Ii
some one had told me about their man.
ners and customs before got to India
l would have laughed courteously and
set him down In my little book. There
are some things that a Hindu will do
and some that he will not do. Work Is
placed prominently on the latter list.
One thing that Hindu will not do Is
to play on flute. He would rather go
to the fiogging post than dash on Sc
lection on flute. But he will play
stringed instrument. called a vina. sim
liar to the instrument played by David
In the tent of Saul. This instrument
looks as II 1t had originally been in
tended for a carpet stretcher. but had
fallen into the hands of unsteady In
clined person who had borrowed a cou-
pie Of piano wires and was determined
u tONtE LtlkS. &tIttt utdtluS al AWE
bodied Hindu pick on an instrument of
this kind one can't help wishing that
they would put II in the same class
with the flute
A Hindu's idea of music Is to make
all the noise he~can. He doesn't care
anything about rhine or rhythm. All
his energy is expended In volume.
Hindu musicians are all large. splen-
didly muscled fellows, who play as II
they were going to a gymnasium pegu-
larry. When one hears them playing
on a vina one can't help wondering
how David ever came to make such an
impression on Saul
As soon as got to India l hired
valet. II sounds mighty big-until you
know what you have to pay a boy"
In India. A servant is called boy"
even though he has whiskers and
grandchildren. He said that his name
was Thumbo Ramalingum. or words tc
last consignment, SO called him
Thumb. and for days | longed to ask
If there was Finger in his family
He wore skirt and a sheet twisted
around his head. He was to be my
waiter. for In India you have to fur
go to spend a day or two with a friend
you always take your own boy along
to wait on you. Ny boy was TO mend
my clothes, black my shoes. get my
bath water ready and hold my shirt
The way he talked l wasn't TO do any
feet on the table and enjoy life. But
soon found out that his idea and mine
differed quite widely as 10 what en-
joymeut Of life was.
A few minutes before the first meal
he suddenly appeared. bit flushed.
and explained that he was of too high
caste to wait on table. / tried to show
him that 1t was an honor to be a good
and efficient table waiter, bat he
wouldn't bulge step - he'd rather !
starve than wait ON table. SO had to |
look around and hustle up another boy |
to do that part of the work. Every !
time | wanted him to do anything 1t !
was against his caste. His caste seem !
ed to have a special enmity toward all |
work. When l wanted him to carry |
my bags he begged leave to be ex-
cused. as his caste didn't allow him |
to do such mental work. and when l
gave him my shoes to be BACKED he |
pressly against his caste to touch |
leather-a product of the sacred COW.
One day when told him to pick the
hairs out Of my brush he looked at me |
sadly and then began to tell me about |
a nephew that had suddenly departed |
this flesh and would be so kind as
to give half a rupee to the grief strick.
en- father and the other half to the In
consolable uncle, That was more than
i could stand, and on the spot told
him that he was discharged, fired, and
to get out as fast as he could.
THANK you, sahib. thank you" said
Thumb with profound salute.
told him that he needn't thank me
for firing him. but he only bowed his
head and thanked me more profusely
than ever. His gratitude was as pro-
as IL had given him a rupee.
viii you give me recommendation
kindly for the good boy / have been.
sahibg
After what poor servant he had
been, that was the last straw. II
would be underhanded to foist him OF
on somebody else, and then suddenly |
saw way out Yes" l agreed en-
and | wrote for him.
The bearer Of this note with the I'M
name has been in my
employ for two weeks. During this
time have aged percepubly. He is a
servant Of caste, but he never lets
work interfere with his caste. When
he came to me he was a man OF fam
lily. but at the rate which his family
has been depleted | doubt If he has
left more than enough children to last
out week. You will find him especial