JAIPUR: $1,200,000 Babe

Bleak and barren Jaipur, a Rajput realm on one of India's high plateaus, rejoiced in frenzied thanksgiving last week at what seemed to superstitious Rajputs a miracle.

For 100 years no Maharaja of Jaipur had begotten a male heir. Yet lo and behold! last week a squawling man child was born, the prayerfully begotten son of His Highness the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Bahadur, age 20, salute 17 guns.

So happy was His Highness that he instantly decreed remission of all fines and rents from the Crown Lands for the past five years—a gesture which cost $1,200,000 as Jaipur Treasury...