That Eurasian

by Aleph Bey

I had frequently observed our non-subscribing Eurasian fellows driving by on the road and looking at our work with a good deal of interest. One morning the one of French descent came to me where I was superintending some work, and greeting with a good morning, said, “After all, Mr. Japhet, I don’t know but what I ought to help you in this.” I cut him short by replying, “Thank you very much, but we have now got all the money we need, and so do not care for any more subscriptions.” He seemed quite taken back by the reply, and began praising the building, but as I was very busy he soon left. I took a perhaps wicked pleasure in giving him this rebuff, more so, that he had received me with such haughtiness on my going to him.

Several had expressed their pleasure that this man and his two friends had declined to subscribe, as from their position as head clerks they imitated their English examples, and had presumed to be of a higher class than the other Eurasians in the station; that had they come in they would have had a great deal to say. They never ceased to regret the attitude they had taken after seeing our success, and were probably very much chagrined that we could get along without their advice or money. They never came to us, except by special invitation to some of our entertainments, and then were only invited to see what a pleasant place, and the enjoyable times we had. This may not have been the best of motives, but let those who are without fault in such matters, hurl stones at us.

In an up country station, where everybody’s business is known, and inquired into by everybody else, such a building as ours, two-storied, when there was not another of this height in the station, a very large puckha one too, with large, ornamental grounds around it, could not fail to excite attention.

The station club-house, frequented by all the civil and military swells and their families, was a low down, mud-walled, tawdry affair, with a dingy, thatched grass roof, the building having been erected during years by additions, so was without form or comeliness, becoming more disreputable in appearance in proportion as our building grew in size and beauty. Through some of my acquaintances in the club, I learned that our enterprise was a subject of daily talk at their evening gatherings. They had discovered that it was to be for an Eurasian club, as they put it, though we had not yet named our infant. One, who lived in a two-roomed, cheap bungalow asked, “What do the half castes want with such a building as that? It is a blanked sight too good for them!” Another remarked, “Why did the Collector allow them to put up such a building just opposite to ours?” Then one replied, “It is no matter, they will not be able to keep it, and then we’ll get it for ourselves, as it would just suit us.” One made a remark that hit me home. “That Japhet is the leader in it, and it seems to me that he is putting on a good deal of side.” “Why the devil shouldn’t he, when he has got the money to do it with?” asked an impecunious sub, whom I had favored with several accommodations.

This, and much more, was the line of their daily conversation, but little to our credit, taking their words at their full meaning, but greatly to their discredit, judging from the motives of the speakers.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

One morning, as I went to look at the work, I saw a well dressed European walking about, and examining the building, with the air of a Lord Moses at the head of the public works department. I paid no attention to him. He came up to me, and without a nod, or salutation, asked in an authoritative tone, “What is this building for?” as if I was some native mistree. I replied that it was for a library and reading room, with a lecture hall to be a resort for the Eurasian community. He asked, “Is it not too large for them? Could they not have done with a cheaper building? It is a very fine building, too good for them, it seems to me. In fact, I have not a very good opinion of the Eurasians.”

I interrupted, “You are talking to one now, and I do not think your remark very becoming, at least, it is not pleasing to me, for you, a European, to speak so of a class of people, who are here, or the most of them, through the lusts and licentiousness of your Europeans.”

I was angry, and he saw it. He reddened up and said, “Excuse me, but I did not know you were an Eurasian, and you know that present company is always excepted.”

Either he was guilty of dullness, in not perceiving my complexion, or else of lying, and either was the same to me. I turned, and went to look at some work, and thus began and ended my only interview with the Commissioner of the Division. This little matter quite upset me for the day, for this reason. This man of pink eyes, white eyebrows, and yellow complexion, in appearance, manner and insolent words, was so like that paternal ancestor of mine that the sight of him, with his insolence, brought all those black, hateful scenes of my earlier life to my mind again, not that I cared so much for the name Eurasian, as applied to myself and others, for I had given him the word, but on account of his insolence and insulting remarks.