ANGLO-INDIAN SOCIETY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 276, 20 November 1926, Page 21

ANGLO-INDIAN SOCIETY.

PRECEDENCE IN SOCIAL LIFE. OFFICERS SENIORITY. EVEN AT TENNIS. (By GEORGE CECIL.) 11. India being essentially an offici country, precedence enters largely into its European social life. So the host who has invited three er-'onels to dinner must send them in with a partner apiece according to their seniority. Socially, the dashing officer commanding a British cavalry regiment may bulk larger than the CO. of an insignificant native regiment. Yet, whichever of the trio, has the longest service takes precedence. And before all comes the King's representative. He may be a plebian "assistant magistrate" of three and twenty, who, thanks to his having passed a difficult examination, finds himself dining with '"the quality." If the "civil servant" has anj- gumption he may beg his host to waive ceremony and to put age before youth. Or, if the "heavenborn," as these fortunate Government servants are dubbed, is a stickler for his dignity, he expects to take in the hostess. It thus will be seen that precedence is a ticklish thing, and that infringement of prerogative may lead to all sorts of trouble. Luckily the plain, unassuming globe-trotter has not to be considered by the harassed hostess. Pair him with the flapper daughter of the bungalow and he is well contented; especially if the lass is winsome. Precedence also may enter, into tennis at-homes. The senior officials and their wives must first be invited to make up a set, the badminton court being occu-

pied in like manner. Not until the ruighty Commissioner (pronounced by the natives "kummish'ner") has been asked if he would care to play bowls or croquet must anyone else set the balls a-rolling. At "station" theatrical entertainments the best seats are reserved for the ''kummish'ner's" party, while his approval is much appreciated by the performers. He is the Great Pan-Jan-Drum of the place, the Sun of Morning and the Star of Night. , Yes, by Allah! Sometimes independent hosts and hostesses, caring nothing for precedence, ride rough-shod over custom, scattering to the winds pride of place. As the result of independence the unconventional sahib's promotion may be delayed. The "Station" Club. Every "station," no matter how small, has its cjub. It sometimes is a large and well-appointed building, standing in a beautifully-kept garden, gay with English and Indian flowers bordered by crotons. There are two or three billiard tables, a card room, a bar, and, perhaps, a swimming' bath. A drawing room, or reading room, is set apart for the lady members, and every London paper of note, illustrated and otherwise, is to be seen. Well laid out tennis courts are part and parcel of the establishment, which sometimes runs to a racquet, court. At Lueknow, the ancient palace ] of the King of Oudh has long been a club, the finely proportioned diwan-i----khan (hall of audience) being a reading room, the apartments once consecrated to the harem having been converted into bachelors' bedrooms. There also are athletic clubs, for which any; athlete who possesses the necessary social qualifications is eligible. In some of the little "jungly" places the club is more or less a makeshift Its half dozen members foregather every afternoon, about five o'clock, in a tumble-down,' picturesque bungalow.The thatch is wearing off the roof; the

pale pink, distempered walls are the worse for wear; snakes occasionally drop from the ceiling cloth. The faded cloth of the antiquated billiard table is patched and darned out of all resemblance to the original; the sadly depleted library boasts of nothing newer than a mildewed copy of "Robinson Crusoe," while the pavement flooring is cracked in fifty places. But this unpretentious ' club has an interest and a charm all its own; the bungalow is the joy of those who frequent it, day in' and day out all the year round. 'Tis their one interest in life, for them existence revolves round it. The "Box Wallah." In Calcutta and Bombay the commercial element has its own club, and as these fortunate people often are well-to-do, even "warm," they install themselves mighty well. "Up country" the "box wallahs" are not always considered suitable for membership for the social holy of holies. Certainly, some of them may be queer fish, whose habits and tastes* do not fit them for club intercourse. On the other hand, many of these institutions number amongst their members those whom one scarcely would find in any London club of standing. For the rest, a percentage of jute and cotton merchants and others ■ who interest themselves in country produce decidedly are the equals of the proud ones who refuse to tolerate them. Half castes also are debarred from membership, unless they hold some more or less important Government appointment. This can well be understood, for the Eurasians, alas, are not a success outside their own particular and most extraordinary circle. Neither the particoloured person nor his women folk bear transplanting. Natives seldom are members of AngloIndiau clubs. One occasionally comes across a Hindu, or Mahometan; barrister or "civil 'surgeon" who has passed ' the ballot; and in some "stations'* sporting native landowners are "honoured in like

manner. Sometimes the Aryan, who, when studying in London, had assured his landlady's daughter that he is an Indian prince of ancient lineage, and thus prevailed upon -the ambitious girl to mary him, is a member. In theee cases admission is an act of grace, it' being considered by the commftte that to prevent the foolish young woman from enjoying the ■ companionship of her own race would be sinful. ' '■ ■ The English wife of a native does not derive great benefit from belonging to the. 'club.' The husband, being rather more jealous'than Othello, she dare not talk to the men; and as to dancing with them, it is as much as her life is worth. Having made her bed, she must lie upon it, poor thing. The Deadly Sun. The Anglo-Indian hunts in certain districts, the meet being quite a social event. The mem--sahib and the miss-sahib turn out in force, as also does the sahib, and very well mounted they are, too. Fox hounds are imported from England; the jackal takes the place of the fox; the going is good and fast. Society musters in force at race meetings; but (during the summer months) not till the deadly sun has gone down may lovely women display her finery in the paddock. She must remain in the grandstand during the heated hours—or wear a highly disfiguring "sola topi" (sun hat). So, rather than appear at a disadvantage, the dressy one awaits, with all the patience that she can summon, the propitious momert. If her head is especially adapted to India, an umbrella with a white linen cover does the trick. But these heads are rare. In the summer those who can manage it wing their flight for Simla, which is supposed to be the Mecca of social AngloIndia. A few weeks there are amusing enough, but when the."rains" begin and the mist sete in, the "Simlaites" often. find themselves gut of .-conceit with the place. The sun may, be overpowering— still, one likes to see it at intervals.