Indian Amateurs. 183 



hearted, generous, and hospitable in his social circle. Being 

 a bird of passage, he lacks sympathy, and does not see why 

 he should worry himself about the misery with which he is 

 surrounded, when his thoughts are fully occupied in trying 

 to get some better post, or in preparing for leave, furlough, or 

 retirement. If a civilian, he has to make a show of public 

 philanthropy, agreeably to the expressed or understood wishes 

 of Government. As he has really a great deal of work to do, 

 and as the climate makes the visiting of the poor and sick an 

 irksome labour, our typical official generally deputes the duty 

 to some understrapper who thoroughly understands the 

 combined service of God and Mammon. If some busybody 

 who absurdly thinks that it is the duty of all of us to minister 

 to the wants of the sick and helpless, dares to call attention 

 to the mismanagement of public charity, the official, fearing 

 that the vicarious nature of his philanthropy may be brought 

 to light, will naturally do everything he possibly can to white- 

 wash his peccant subordinates. Remembering his many good 

 points, among which incorruptibility and kindness of heart 

 are the most prominent ; we may well forgive the Indian 

 official for his self-sufficiency and airs of authority. Life is 

 not all beer and skittles with him, any more than it is with 

 the majority of us. A long residence in India unfits him, as 

 a rule, both mentally and physically, to take when he retires, 

 a prominent part among his fellow men in England. As 

 official rank is his sole claim to respect, he carefully chooses 

 the society of men situated like himself; for they are the only 

 persons who would acknowledge such a claim. 



Amateur actors and singers and amateur actresses and 

 songstresses are prominent personages in Indian society. 

 They are very exclusive. They refuse to consort with non- 

 professionals connected with trade. Under occasional fits of 

 liberality, they will play with professionals on the considera- 

 tion of lots of 'fat,' suppers, and clothes. If the legitimate 

 mummers wish to run their own show, the amateurs will let 

 them severely alone, and will try to induce their friends to do 



