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In
England, Gandhi was a bit embarrassed about his clumsiness and his
vegetarianism, which was always being ridiculed by his friends. He
decided that he would try to become polished and make up for his
vegetarianism by cultivating other accomplishments.
He undertook the all too impossible task of becoming an English
gentleman. He gave up his 'Bombay cut' clothes and got new ones from
the Army and Navy stores. He also went in for a chimney-pot hat
which cost him nineteen shillings, an excessive price in those days.
He wasted ten pounds on an evening suit made in Bond Street, the
centre of fashionable life in London; and got his brother to send
him a double watch-chain of gold.
He would spend time every day before a huge mirror, watching himself
arranging a tie and parting his hair in the correct fashion.
Gandhi had been told it was necessary to take lessons in dancing,
French and elocution to be a gentleman. He decided to take dancing
lessons and paid £ 3 as fees for a term. After about six lessons in
three weeks, he realized that he was no good at rhythmic motion. He
could not follow the piano and hence found it impossible to keep
time. What then was he to do? |
