LAVISH MAHARAJAH.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 19 December 1925, Page 9

LAVISH MAHARAJAH.

ABOLISHES POVERTY AMONG HIS PEOPLE The Maharajah of Patiala, India, who has been startling Europe with Ins display of wealth and luxury, is of the old school of benevolent despots. When in London recently lie used an entire floor of the Savoy Hotel and lived liko a Sultan in a fairy tale, surrounded by everything money could ouy., including a fair Maharanee, a host of Indian courtiers, servitors and cooks. He has now gone by way of Paris where he spent two days, to Geneva to attend the next meetings of the League of Nations, and there he appears in clothes and turbans studded with jewels. It is said that he changes his bestume —or at any rate liis turban and jewe.lery for every different appointment, and that ho lias to 6pend as much time in his dressing room as. a star in a period play. It took a procession of twenty resplendent ears to carry the Maharajah, and liis suite from their London hotel to the boat train for France —not counting an earlier cavalcade that had escorted the JVJaharanoe and her closely vo.led attendants, to their private railroad car, nor the motor lorries that brought the luggage. The Maharajah had 320 trunks —120 more than he,brought to London. The new ones contained the trifles he had bought since he had been there. A special squad of detectives has to be provided by each country to protect the potentate and his possessions.

When he lias finished' his business of representing the Indian princes at the League of Nations Assembly, the Maharajah will go back to London. Meantime seven artists are at work on the “millionaires’ wing” of the Savoy Hotel, painting new pictures on the panels of the throne room and the official reception rooms. Half of the Indian cooking staff, brought specially from, Patiala ■ have also remained in London, to see that the. Maharajah’s son (who has stayed behind there) has Ills food properly prepared. SPECIAL FOOD BY TRAINS DE LUXE But the cargoes of special foods, rice, ginger and ingredients for curries winch have been coming over from India ever since the monarch’s departure in order that he might have them fresh, have been diverted from London to Geneva. They make the journey from Patiala, a .native State in British India, to Bombay by car, are placed in special ears on board the ship and are rushed from Marseilles across France by the passenger ‘trains de luxe.” An incredulous world has been informed that the Maharapah has brought 5,000,000 dollars worth of gems with him on this trip to Europe. But these are noth.ng to what he has at home. There it requires twenty huge steel trunks to contain all the crown jewels. The twenty trunks are in charge of twenty old and faithful retainers descendants of others who have been in the employment of the titular ruler of Patiala (and engaged in the same position of trust) for nearly 1,000 years. Each of the twenty servitors has the key to one trunk, but no trunk can be opened except by a combination which lias to be executed on the other nineteen at the came time, that is to say, in the presence of all twenty guards. The palace of Patiala, according to current accounts, is something of an advance on the most fanciful dreams of theatrical scenic artists,. and the hotels de luxe of Europe are hard put to it to provide the Maharapah accommodation in which he can even make shift to camp for a while. Despite such a background, it appears that he is nothing short of a model chieftain —for British definitions assert that Bajahs and Maharapahs, although Hindu princes, now rank not as kings, but as tribal chieftains in British India.

Tho Maharapah’s income, like that of most ruleys, is the fruit of taxation. But in Patiala the amount of taxation is graduated according to the year’s harvest When the harvest is a poor ono the year’s taxes are remitted l altogether. In addition, all those in need receive reimbursements of their previous taxes frora the Maharajah’s treasury. "When the harvest is particularly good the taxes, of course, are increased—but nobody grumbles. This system is said to be of the Maharapli’s own invention. It has, it is said, eradicated poverty from Patiala. That indeed was tho Maharajah’s object when lie came to tire throne; and those of his citizens who are even temporarily embarassed are always aided. Oil certain days of the year the Maharajah holds “open durbar” or court At these times he is accessible to all the subjects even the most insignificant. They may approach him personally and he will listen to their appeals —and woe betide those whose corruption or cunning has caused distress. FREE COLLEGIATE EDUCATION Apart from the open Dubars, the Maharajah is also the High Court of Appeal in the ordinary course of law. He travels frequently among his subjects, who all know him. Recently, this native monarch introduced into Patiala tho first travelling dispensaries in India. He gives largo sums of money to medical and scientific research work both in his own. territory and for special purposes, abroad. Not only primary, but also collegiate education is free throughout Patiala; and the Maharajah is now giving his close attention to the reform movements in Europe, with a view to choosing and adapting what he conceives to be the best of them, for bis own people. Three out of the four public appearances be made in Loudon were visits to philanthropic institutions for the purpose of gaining further information as to social welfare work. The three were the British Humane Association, the Salvation Army and the Institution of the Blind. Tho Maharajah is said to have given immense sums to charity during his reign.