V89 জীবন-চরিত। from trivial causes rise. The memorable Belgatchia. Theatre, with Rajas Pratab Chunder Singh and Issur Chunder Singh, and Maharaja Sir Jotindra Mohun Tagore, and myself, the decrepit Yougandharayan of the Ratnavali stage with tottering limbs, are inseparably associated with Modhu's writings. Blank-verse, once the target of wiseacre Pandits and carping critics, has, notwithstanding their ominous head-shakings and gloomy vaticinations, come forth bodied in "flesh and blood,' to mark a new epoch in the annals of our literature--a literature that, nurtured in its rich native soil, is destined like the gigantic banian to spread out its umhrageous branches over the vast Province of Bengal, though not to strew its leaves, like "the leaves of Vallombrosa,” over the world. Blank verse, like the stately steed, has outstripped the trotting jennet of Rhyme that capered and cantered with jingling bells, for ages past, It is not for me to speak of the Belgatchia. Theatre. Having been an actor in it myself, and interested in its success from the beginning, as Secretary of "Our Own Club,” a debating club * qSLSLMSLLLLLLSS LLLLSLLLSLLLC LSLLLS LSL LSSSML MLLLSSSLLLSLLLS qSSSL LLLLS LSLS LSLS —ങ്ങത്തുങ്ങത്തുങ്ങിയ
- A splendid Laboratory attached to 'Our Own Club' and a Charitable Dispensary from which Raja Issur Chunder Singh used to dispense medicines to the poor with his own hands, occupied a consider. able portion of his time and attention. Gifted by nature with intelligence and intellectual parts of a rare order, his predilections naturally ran in the direction of scientific pursuits. He felt that they afforded the best means to promote the maturial good of his country. He studied medicine with the aid of his family doctor, the celebrated Doorga Churn Banerjee, and devoted himself to the cultivation of the arts of Photography, Electroplating, and Glass-manufacturing-arts that were then in their infancy in this country. From Mr Newland he learned the process of producing daguerreotype pictures, but finding the results not to his satisfaction he sought the aid of Chemistry, in which he acquired with the aid of his associate Dr. Kannye Lal Dey, C. I. E., sufficient knowledge to enable him to produce photographs of the collodion process, photographs that were pronounced excellent in their way. In electroplating, his specimens were more successful, as the specimens which his friends still possess would show. His passion for chemistry increased with his practice. Ie made experiments in gases and other non-metallic elements. He also tried to show that bleached rhea-fibre could be used for grass cloth. He also tried his hand at glass manufacture, but the results in the absence of experts to teach and guide the process turned out not so satisfactory as he wished. The reverberatory which he had constructed in front of his mansion at Paikpara was abandoned. The stem of the chimney still exists there to attest the activity of his mind, and the interest he took to pave the way for the advancement of practical or technical education among his countrymen. The celebrated horsetamer, Rarey, was struck at Raja Issur Chunder Singh's tact, and the agility he had acquired, in managing the wildest horse. The picture you have given in your book is a fitting and faithful illustration of Raja Issue Chunder Singh with his favourite fiery horse 'Eclipse.'
