Page:Vidyasagar, the Great Indian Educationist and Philanthropist.djvu/142

 halted for a few minuets before the Metropolitan Institution. By five o'clock it reached the cremation ground. Meanwhile the heavy news had spread from end to end of the town and men, women and children of all classes flocked in thousands, eager to obtain a coign of vantage to catch a last glimpse of the departed. There was scarcely any dry eye in that vast concourse of people. At length the remains were washed with the holy waters of the Ganges and slowly laid on a pyre of sandalwood. Narayan Chandra with tearful eyes set fire to it. By mid-day the mourners collected the sacred ashes and while returning home distributed alms to the beggars.

The sad tidings travelled fast through the length and breadth of India and the public grief was universal and profound. The press, both English and Vernacular, appeared in mourning, giving a sketch of the life and career of the lamented Pundit. The journals of Europe and America also published obituary notices in terms most