Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/668

Rh quested his friend, Vidyasagar, to say something, but he moved his head, indicating his unwillingness. Subsequently, Dall, Woodrow, Sambhu Nath, and some others also urged him to speak, but nothing could move the resolute Vidyasagar to stand on his legs. In fact, our hero always judged his own merits rightly. He was fully aware of his incapacity of making speeches in public meetings, and he was not prepared to stand himself a laughing-stock of the company. Besides, he was a true appreciator of merits, and he was ever glad to see the right man in the right place. It was this characteristic of his innate nature that served to make him so much attached to Michael M. Datta in spite of his many frailties, and to select Krishto Das Pal for the editorship of the Hindoo Patriot.

It is needless to say, that Vidysagar was a teetotaler and a great enemy of taking intoxicating drinks and other similar vices. Most of his friends, therefore, who had acquired the evil habit more or less, always stood in awe of him. It was for this reason, that his great friend Dwarka Nath Mitter, who, it is said, was given to drinking habits, conducted himself very carefully in his dealings with our hero. The letter quoted below, written to him by one of his particular and influential friends shows how bitterly he hated these vices and how his acquaintances always tried to prove to him the immaculateness of their moral character. For decency's sake, we will suppress all names.