!l32 LIFE OF BABU SURENDRA 2JATH BAKEBJEC talk and action, and we are sore all other cities* are not other- wise."
- The illustrious prisoner is literal]/ overflooded with letters ,
and telegrams, expressing sympathy, conveying condolence and offers of pecuniary help. Nay, our ladies have not been, slow ' in signifying their heartfelt sympathy with the wife of the illustrious husband in her hours of grief and sorrow. The Pre- sidency Jail has already, during the fortnight, received visitors' the like of which so far as their position, character and res- ' pectabilHy are concerned, was never seen before. The rich and the poor, the young and the old, the high and the low, are all of one mind, and of one voice." ' d Babu Surendranath had now become the idol of the nation. So profound was the impression created fey his imprisonment that even officers of Government were affected by it, and some found it impossible to pro* ceed with their work, and closed their offices. This was no conventional sentiment, but the outcome of deep- and earnest feeling. Babu Surendranath was over- whelmed with letters and telegrams which continued to» pour in in one continued stream. We believe a special peon had to be appointed by the Jail authorities to bring htm his letters.
- Lord Ripon who was then Viceroy was assailed, ,
every day and every week with countless telegrams ■ sent to him by different public bodies and private in- , dividuals, beseaching him to exercise the prerogative of mercy in his case ; and it is believed that he would j have done so if he possessed such power in contempt j cases. That Lord Ripon was greatly moved by the j unusual sight of a national agitation in Surendra- j oath's favor, all over India, is a fact which admits of no doubt We believe frequent telegrams used to pass " between him, and the Secretary of State for India on I the subject The Bengal Government refused to ac- cept his. resignation^ as an Honorary Magistrate of 1
