Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/339

 interrupted by numerous callers, who visited him at any hour of the day. Many have blamed him for thus encouraging boredom and idle curiosity; and to a certain extent they were right; for accessibihty to people at all times is not the necessary condition of democratic leadership. We know how in Greece, Pericles, the leader of the people was generally reserved, while his opponent, though the leader of the Aristocratic party was always accessible to the general pubUc. Mr. Tilak seems to have kept as his models, the Tribunes of the Roman history, and Uke them, his doors were open for all visitors at any time. Infant democracy is impatient of the restraints which method and economy of time should impose upon the people in their dealings with the leaders. Mr. Tilak utilised this ' waste of time * in gauging the view point of the public and in selecting and training men for his work. Besides, hke the Swami Vivekanand, he had developed the faculty of " thinking aloud *' and while others considered him as merely frittering his time and energies, he really was building up the chains of his arguments.

It was only in such conversations, that the real Tilak was seen. His writings were severely logical and the element of fun that was introduced therein took too often the form of a satirical outburst or derisive laughters His informal conversations, however, were full of hon mots and the irrepressible gaity of his nature was in frequent evidence. It was a delight to hear Mr. Tilak with his pohtical armour laid aside, talking just like common people and yet with a certain insight and grandeur which made you realise the companionship of a great man. It was evident that this simple mood