Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/127

88 time, in his native village, Birsingha, enjoying the sweet pleasures of a country seat and the happiness of his mother's company. Thakurdas at once sent for him. He soon reached Calcutta, and was appointed to the vacant post in December, 1841, on a salary of fifty rupees a month.

In this connection, we may note here, in passing, that Mr. Marshall was a great appreciator of merits. When the post of the Head Pandit of the Fort William College fell vacant, there were many candidates for the situation. Babu Kalidas Datta, a resident of Bowbazar, was in terms of great intimacy with Mr. Marshall. They had a great affection for each other. Kalidas Babu earnestly recommended a particular Pandit, a friend of his, for the post. But Mr. Marshall rejected his earnest solicitations, saying that he had already selected Vidyasagar for the post. When Kalidas Babu heard Vidyasagar's name mentioned, he approved of the choice, for he had also known Isvar Chandrai for a long time.

In fact, the Europeans of those days had a sort of liking for the natives, and appreciated their merits. Unlike the present day, they treated the natives of the soil with a degree of kindness, affection and respect, befitting their merits. But unfortunately for us, the tide has turned. What is the cause of this change? Opinions differ on this point. Some say, that before the introduction of the system of competitive examination, when the