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Show EAST INDIAN BARBER RETAILER OF GOSSIP One Reason for Calling It Land Without Secrets. "Sahib 1 Sahib I Sis o'clock whistle I" A fulnt knock on my door wakens me as the last booming note dies away. The "boy," barefoot and freshly arrayed ar-rayed In white, with a dash of red lr. his voluminous turban, comes quietly Into the room with a salaam, for my "Good morning." I hear the splash of running water In the ghusl-khana, and In a moment he returns to assure me that the water Is "just as master like," While left to his own devices, he brings in the shoes that he has been polishing for the last half hour and lays out nn assortment of clothes, from which later I may make a selection selec-tion for the day without the trouble of delving through the many drawers of the almarl, which he has carefully arranged on a plan of his own that no one else understands. This done, he hurries away to the cookhouse to see that Mussa, the cook, Is doing hli work as I would have It done; for In India the "boy," or bearer, Is not merely mere-ly a personal servant, but a butler as well,' and as such assumes charge of the other servants. Already a slender little man, dressed r In white, with a small round hat and carrying an umbrella, has arrived. It is Lalla, the barber. In front of him and hanging from his shoulder Is a leather bug of many compartments containing the Instruments of his art. ' Each morning he is at my door; for ' in India It is not good form to shave ! one's self. If everyone did so, how could the man who Is a barber born till his stomach? The ayah, or lady's maid, is the dispenser dis-penser of "society" news, but the barber bar-ber Is the one upon whom we depend In the small stations for knowledge of a more general nature. So, when Lalla has become interested In his I task I ask, "Any news this morning?" "Not any today, sahib." But that is only nn indication that he has not yet decided with which particular happening to regale me. After a few moments he remarked; "Burra Suhib give Esmlth Sahib two month leave." "You mean vacation?" "No, he give leave without rupee." "Why?" "I not know." After a monient he goes on: "He too much drinking, not do proper work. Some time beat native. na-tive. Indian very 'frald. Burra Sahib get angry, say, 'You go I' " Then, after n long pause, "Maglstrat Sahlh tomorrow tomor-row coming." "But court opens next week." "This time coming early, quietly coming, not telling any one. Last night Kali Das arrested. Everyone say he give dipety 200 rupee." "Does deputy take bribes?" "God knows." Thus I start the day In the effete East, where there are no secrets. John V. McCarthy, In Asia Magazine. f '" |