Babu English.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 20 November 1914, Page 4

Babu English.

Tn India the Babu class of railway Servant prides itself on its great hold on the idioms of the English language, and hence the following- examples of their efforts in this direction. Jt is- a standingrule on railways in India that all very unusual happenings ay.:; telegraphed to headquarters. The interpretation of the term "unusual " and the discretion as to the importance of the event that takes place is so vague that generally everything is wired. Stimulated I,y his night's rest, one spread himself thus in a telegram to hi? divisional superintendent : —"(Joining on duty early in : the morning, dad i»n my new and white uniform, I perceived a man seated on a box in a naked and aggressive ma-nner. Taking him to be an ordinary passenger, I proceeded to slap him ! whereupon he hastily arose, unlocked the said box, c-la-1 himself in a policeman's uniform thereout, and arrested rye. The shoe is thus situated on the erroneous pedicle. Please arrange." Another man, who was wise in his generation, telegraphed to his superintendent, including the police ofucer and all concerned, thus :—" A blackguard indigenous mendicant arrived at my station by 2 down mail. Taking pity on his commiserated condition, t permitted him to reside in the shade of the main signal post. In gratitude for my beneficient conduct, he absconded during the nocturnal period with 500 rs. of my private cash, including one copy of the working timetable." When asked why he added the one anna publication, the timetable, in his list of losses, he replied with a knowing wriggle:— "Ha, ha ! the manner is explainable in a nutshell. Unless E had included a little of the company's property the police would have taken no notice. Tins justifies the addition of the lactaceous particle in the shell of the cocoaiuit !" An--Ihor, overcome with grief on the death of his aged mother, telegraphed sadly : —"I -,\n\ profoundly moved to announce to your honour that the aged hand that so far has rocked my cradle has now kicked the bucket. ! Woeful lamentation participates my breast, unable to work. I'lease arrange." A traveller alighting on one of the .stations, asked how far a certain shooting ground was, and was astonished to get the reply :— "Sir, ten miles as the cock crows."