The Punjab

Madras Weekly Mail, Thursday 30 March 1899

“Au Revoir” to Mr Clarke, C.S., and Major Davies—On Saturday evening the members of the Delhi Club mustered in full force at tie farewell dinner given to Mr. and Mrs. R. Clarke and Major and Miss Davies. Both the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Delhi are going Home on furlough for a considerable time. They, and the highly popular ladies of their households, will be greatly missed in the station. If India be the Land of Regrets it must be because those who remain in it are sorry that their best friends should go away. This appeared to be the dominant note of the gathering on Saturday evening. Everyone present hoped that Delhi had by no means seen the last of the four much-liked friends in whose honour they bad gathered, but this pleasurable anticipation was modified by the certainty that the changeful life of India would not permit half of those at the dinner to assemble again two years hence under like circumstances. Colonel Neville Chamberlain, Commanding at Delhi, but soon to take up a more important role in the Khyber, proposed the health of Mr. and Mrs. Clarke in felicitous terms, and Mr. Clarke, in replying, dwelt upon the great changes which had taken place in Delhi during the many years he had been associated with the city as Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner. In one respect, however, it had never changed. It was now, as it had always been reputed to be, one of the most sociable centres in the Punjab. Major Hume, of the Connaught Rangers, gave the health of Major and Miss Davies, and this toast, like its predecessor, was received with musical honours. Major Davies, in replying, gave point to the embodiment of Delhi’s progress in its present palatial Club by remarking that five years ago it was a great question whether the then existing Club could afford a billiard table. The Committee were now considering the advisability of providing three tables. The Band of the 20th P.I. discoursed sweet music in between times, and after dinner, as a proof of the sociable versatility of the station, the ladies played snooker and the men gossipped to an accompaniment of Milton Wellings’ songs, or something of the sort. Anyhow, it was a remarkably successful and pleasing affair, and no one looks forward to a better event until the station entertains the same estimable quartette to another dinner on their return.—M. P.