In Jammu and Kashmir

Last year (TIME, Dec. 15, LAW) Rajah Sir Hari Singh of Kashmir fell foul of his own indiscretion and of a rascally pack of blackmailers. Having surprised him in Paris, at a moment when he was closeted in a hotel room with a certain Mrs. Robinson, they extracted $750,000 of "hush money" and promptly fell quarreling among themselves as to its disposition. In the course of as noxious a law suit as ever stank before an English judge, they introduced all the facts concerning their Oriental victim's indiscretions. And the British Government, "for the highest reasons of State, caused the indiscreet Sir Hari to be shielded as long as possible under the famed sobriquet of A.", which of course was finally penetrated.

Just how grave were the reasons which led to such a course on the part of the Government was recalled again, last week, when there died His, Highness Sir Pratap Singh, Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, survived by his nephew and heir, Sir Hari Singh, or 'Mr. A."

From India came cables that leave little doubt that Sir Hari will succeed without opposition to a kingdom of 85,000 square miles, with immense crown estates, and an annual income of over $5,000,000. The frightened young dupe who cowered behind the alias of "Mr. A." will now be one of the five reigning princes of India who are entitled to a salute.of 21 guns outside of their own state. He will rule over the Kasparturos of Herodotus, over the land of nightingales and roses, the vales of Kashmir.

Meanwhile remembrance is busy with the late Maharaja, third of his line, grandson of Ghulab Singh, founder of the Kashmir dynasty. For two score years he ruled in Oriental splendor from his palace at Srinagar, effected important political and social reforms, and was so far friendly to the British that he sent an army of 10,000 men to fight with the Allies during the World War, and declined $500,000 due him as payment for their services. Grateful, Britannia showered the aged potentate of nearly three score and ten with decorations. Touched and admiring, British citizens hailed him as an ardent cricketer, who, when he could no longer bowl, field or run, continued to bat and had someone run for him.

At Lahore, India, the coffin of the Maharaja, covered layer upon layer with pure gold, in which he reposed clad in a full state uniform encrusted with jewels, was followed to the cemetery by Sir Hari, barefooted, bareheaded, clad in sackcloth, wearing no jewels. It was publicly cremated while the nobles threw gold continuously into the flames. In penance for his indiscretions, Sir Hari submitted to the worst Indian indignity--the shaving off of his mustache.