Evening star., 1938-12-04
New DeIhi's Beauty
Rivns Washington
Br Frederic J. Hnskin

VAAS SAAtOA SV0eCo W. AldNC CuullllCk
home. which is often called the summer
White House. In India there is 4 sum-
mer capital and . winter capital. simla
is the summer capital and New Delhi is
the winter capital. The general plan OF
New Delhi as laid out by Sir Edwin
Lutyens resembles LEnfant's plan for
the American Capital. New Delhi is to
the British Empire what Washington,
d. c., Is to the United States.
New Delhi Is . made to -order city, but
not the first capital to be located on the
banks Of the sprawling Jumna River, for
within an area Of IS miles around New
Delhi seven huge cities have been raised
by powerful emperors and princes. Only
crumbling temples and leveled walls
strewn about the nat countryside attest
the bygone glory Of these dead cities.
The most recent, Old Delhi, still stands,
an enduring monument to the power and
wealth of the Mogul emperors who ruled
India for three centuries.
While New Delhi may be patterned
after Washington, even to having sepa-
rate government, in many other respects
1t is different. There is central mall
called Kings Way, with imposing gov
ernment buildings Of mixed classical and
Indian architecture fronting It, Instead
Of the legislative halls being the focal
point, as is the Capitol Of the United
States, the massive British viceroy's pail
ace. or Government House, set on q low
acropolis-like hill, Is the hub. Broad
avenues and boul.vards radiate from
Government Court in front Of it like
spokes, each pointing to an Indian his
torical landmark. Palaces Of Indian
princes and the homes Of officials and
members Of the assembly line these ar.
teries. Employees and workers have COM
Portable bungalows and hotels on the
outlying streets.
Set OF little to itself almost as if it
had been thought of at the last minute. Is
the great Council House, huge structure
resembling from the outside q round
and magnified Lincoln Memorial. 1t
encircles l3 acres, about four times the
ground area Of the United States Capitol.
Its most distinctive feature, aside from
its cartwheel shape, is the majestic row
VI CAll WlllIS ltS Hall sIlllS
periphery
Inside the Council House are large
chambers. tastefully decorated where
meet the three legislative branches of the
government Of India, the Council Of
State, the Legislative Assembly and the
Chamber Of Princes. The magnificent
library in the center of the building is
IN all
meeting together. OF especial interest
to the Occidental mind are the beauti-
fully carved stone screens behind which
purdah ladies may watch the princes
when in session
Many visitors to New Delhi wonder why
there are not more shade trees. The
reason Is clear. Because of the dryness
Of the climate. pipelines must be led to
each tree to keep it alive.
desert all the year round. During two
months, January and February. when
the weather Is clear and cool, it is liter
ally garden capital. Lawns, shrubs and
flowers, such as sweetpeas, roses. lupines,
hollyhocks, red poinsettias and purple
bougainvillea bloom In profusion and
make the British feel at home, although
squatting Punjab women. in gaily-col-
ored clothes, are the gardeners. March
spells the doom Of this Edennke atnos-
phere with the advent o fthe first dust
storm. These hot, blistering winds from
the plains wither everything.
The season at the inland capital of
simla is short and follows closely the
climatic changes. The end of October,
when the weather begins to become more
livable, marks the annual influx Of Gov
ernment ofdcials, princes and members
Of the assembly from simla high in the
Punjab hills. From then until March,
life at New Delhi is not unlike that in
any other large capital such as London
or Washington. Social affairs, garden
parties, state balls polo matches, charity
occupy the time Of its migratory inhabi-
tants. For about seven hot months, in
summer, New Delhi is practically . de-
serted city, except for caretakers.
Parliament street. main avenue, leads
directly to the Great Mosque in the CEN
ter Of Old Delhi, some miles distant.
There, Friday mornings, thousands OF
turbaned Mohammedans gather for
prayer. Lined up In straight rows. they
look like soldiers performing Swedish
exercises, as they kneel and bow In
unison.
The remains OF Shah Jahan's intricate
palace with the famous peacock throne
room. the ornamented city gates and the
shops on the Street Of Silver long have
attracted colorful tourists from the
length and breadth of India to Old Delhi.
Foreign visitors wearing pith helmets In
the cooler months also visit the scenes
Of the gallant assault Of Britains little
army against the Delhi ramparts during
the mutiny Of 1887.
The palace which contained the pea
cock throne room was started in 1888
and completed many years later. The
building, in the days Of its glory, con-
tanned the Hall OF Private Audience, and
in this section Of the massive structure
the throne was located. Behind the
throne borne by IL pillars stood the fis-
ures of two peacocks. their tails expand
ed and bedecked with rubies, sappfires
ana pearls. When the city was invaded
by the Persians in 1899 the throne was
carried away with all its jewels. There
Is no definite knowledge Of where the