Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/53

Rh That honour he delegated to others. "I like to work" he said " and never think of honours."

In school, he taught Mathematics and sometimes English. His greatest difficulty was that he never found it easy to adopt his teaching to the capacity of his pupils. In this point Apte and Agarkar easily beat him.

Another peculiarity which distinguished him from his colleagues was his supreme isolation from the lighter moods of his students. Generally the most popular teacher is he, who would occasionally find time to indulge in those digressions on current topics which are the delight of students. Apte, Agarkar, Gokhale, Bhanu and Gole,—all sometimes gave themselves up to " fun and frolic." Mr. Tilak however was severely regardful of his lesson. Students could never draw him out. Indeed, the attempt even was never made by them.

And yet he was, not perhaps the most popular, but certainly the most revered teacher. For him boys felt that mysterious regard which genius and greatness always evoke.

With teachers of first-rate qualifications and capacity like Tilak, Apte and Agarkar, it is no wonder that the results of the New English School at the Matriculation were exceedingly bright. The admiring citizens of Poona were proud of these young lions and felt boundless confidence in them. Indeed, the New English School began to be considered as the new centre of public life and inspiration in Maharashtra. The school of thought led by Ranade began to dwindle and its brightness paled before the lustre shed by the heroes of the New English School. No prophet was required to