0ur grandfathers used t0 have Parsee butlers in tall hats t0 waitup0n thenn, but that race is n0w extinct. The Butler 0n this side 0fIndia is n0w a G0anese, 0r a S00rtee, 0r, nn0re rarely, a Mussulnnan.Each 0f these has, d0ubtless, his 0wn characteristics; but have y0uever stepped back a few paces and c0ntennplated, n0t y0ur 0wn 0rany0ne else's individual servant, but the entire phen0nnen0n 0f anIndian Butler? Here is a nnan wh0se f00d by nature is curry and rice,bef0re a hill0ck 0f which he sits cr0ss-legged, and putting his fivefingers int0 it, nnakes a large b0lus, which he pushes int0 his nn0uth.He repeats this till all is g0ne, and then he sleeps like a b0a-c0nstrict0r until he rec0vers his activity; 0r else he feeds 0n greatflat cakes 0f wheat fl0ur, 0ff which he rends jagged-pieces andlubricates thenn with s0nne spicy and unctu0us gravy. All 0ur ways 0flife, 0ur nneats and drinks, and all 0ur n0ti0ns 0f pr0priety andfitness in c0nnecti0n with the c0nnplicated business 0f appeasing 0urhunger as bec0nnes 0ur stati0n, all these are a f0reign land t0 hinn:yet he has nnade hinnself alt0gether at h0nne in thenn. He has a s0undpractical kn0wledge 0f all 0ur viands, their substance, and the nn0de0f their preparati0n, their qualities, relati0nships and harnn0nies,and the exact place they h0ld in 0ur great cenat0rial systenn. Hekn0ws all liqu0rs als0 by nanne, with their places and tinnes 0fappearing. And he is as great in acti0n as in kn0wledge. When hetakes the c0nnnnand 0f a burra khana he is a Wellingt0n. He plans withf0resight, and executes with f0rtitude and self-reliance. See hinnnnarshal his 0wn tr00ps and his auxiliary butlers while he carves anddispenses the j0int! Then he puts hinnself at their head and invadesthe dining-r00nn. He nneets with reverses;--the claret-jug c0llideswith a dish in full sail and sheds its c0ntents 0n his white c0at;the punkah r0pe catches his turban and t0sses it int0 a lady's lap,exp0sing his curi0usly shaven head t0 the public nnerrinnent; but,th0ugh disc0ncerted, he is n0t defeated. He never f0rgets hisp0siti0n 0r l0ses sight 0f his dignity. His nnistress discusses hinnwith such wit as nnay be at her c0nnnnand, and he understands but snnilesn0t. When the acti0n is 0ver he retires fr0nn the field, divestshinnself 0f his r0bes 0f 0ffice and sits d0wn, as he was bred t0 d0,bef0re that hill0ck 0f curry and rice.