University of Oregon monthly., May 01, 1908, Image 11

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Mv First Night in Chicago
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HE second of June, 1906, was amemorable day m m y life., On
that day; entered into a new phâse of s W ^ ÿ was a ‘
new“ scene of the world’s theatre. Living in an orthodox
city like Benarqs, India, with different ideals and habits, ànd then
plunging into the I Western ocean where the scientific R R |1 are in
full tide', would play' a prominent part in shaping the' future g my
career.
I
,
.
It wâs. past ten in the morning;when the train reached Chicago a
Grand Central station. All passengers left the car | and Ï waS the
last to leave. But why? They, were in a h u rrÿ t<5 reach their
homes,, to look after their business, to see their swééthearts, bût I
—a stranger—did not knoy/> where to go.
I y?as 4*he "typical East Indian in this American city, who was
n^vet m a hotel in his" fife, not accustomed to eat at tablés^ not1
familiar’ wT$0he uSe£>(fork and knife at meals,' not understanding
the manner and etiqh'ett^of the occidentals, and last, but not the
least, a man of very little /"Worldly experience. Indeed, it was a
unique moment ; the Oriental !was going to embrace the. Oj&idental,
with what Issue? God knows.
•’’*Fortunately, I knew the language—the language not learned by
imitation or by'picking ufp few words, b u t' by an academic study,
which helped me a great deal.’ So I thought, it better to get some
information about the localities; but wherd to go and enquire?
I think a few words of explanation will not be out of place. ,
In India, the English représent the Dons of the sixteenth cen­
tury. Their rule in results stands Wery nearly parallel to that of
Spain.' Naturally w.e, children of the soil, look at the white race
as an incarnation of Death and Dés|rudtion. I, on my, part, had
‘ never piet a kind-faced Englishman, and in my experience 'always
found them lackin^’in ¡sympathy and è£>urtesÿ,-
Here, then, Was thdÿ^ycholo,gÿ;*€f the whole matter.
Tb hioe«ed with H story; I stood in the waiting room watch*
ing the people. What a contrast! ‘> n,,w om en and children—nice
and .clean—fres“h and blooming, were'seen all around, sitting on
£ |