Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/713

666 night hence, the friends of the great man sang Sankirtan at the place where his remains rested for ever.

In no time was the sad intelligence spread throughout the length and breadth of the country. Then followed griefs and lamentations not only in India, but all over the world. The newspapers, both English and Vernacular, appeared in mourning, bearing the sorrowful tidings and describing the great man according to their respective ideas. This was what the Pioneer of Allahabad wrote in its issue of the 29th July, 1891:—"He was a brilliant educationist, and well-known for his labours in the promotion of Hindu Widow Re-marriage." The Statesman of Calcutta of the same date said;—"Another of the foremost men of Bengal has gone over to the majority." The Indian Daily News, in its issue of the 30th July, wrote;—"Death has again this week carried away another of the brightest jewels of India." The Englishman of Calcutta of the same date said;— "A man of rare gifts and broad sympathies." Even the journals of Europe and America joined in the same chorus. An American paper went so far as to compare the great Vidyasagar with the truly renowned Statesman, Gladstone of England.

All the private schools and colleges of the city, as well as those of the interior of the country, were closed in honour of the deceased great man. The students of the Metropolitan Institution gave