639


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the  palaces  in  Europe,  while  it  is  smaller  and  less  preten-
tious than  many  of  them.  The  idea  of  the  Government
House  is  a  central  building,  with  four  outlying  blocks,
which  form  wings.  There  are  magnificent  council-rooms
and  a  reception-room,  which  joins  to  the  stitte  dining-room.
The  two  ideas  which  govern  the  architecture  of  the  Gov-
ernment Houses  in  India  are  comfort  and  splendor — com-
fort, in  order  that  the  European  may  live ;  splendor,  in
order  that  the  eye  and  imagination  of  the  Oriental  may  be
dazzled.  It  is  rather  odd  at  first  to  see  the  cold-blooded,
indifferent,  matter-of-fact  Englishman,  who  at  home  only
cares  for  practical  things,  as  solicitous  alxiut  pomp  and
ceremony  as  a  court  cliaudjerlain.  This  Is  because  pomp
and  ceremony  are  among  the  essentials  of  the  government
of  India.
