230 THE COLLECTED WORKS OF MAHATMA GANDHI
January, 1897, and were instrumental in saving the life of one
whom we delight to love.
We are aware that what you did was, in your opinion, no¬
thing more than your duty; but we believe that it would be very
ungrateful on our part if we did not, in some way, humbly re¬
cord our appreciation of your valuable work during that excep¬
tional time.
Moreover, for the same reason, we send herewith the sum of
£10 for distribution among those of your Force who assisted on
the occasion.1
We remain, etc.
From a photostat of a copy: S.N. 2149
34. LETTER TO MRS. ALEXANDER
Durban,
March 24, 1897
Mrs. Alexander
Durban
MADAM,
We, the undersigned, representing the Indian community
in this Colony, herewith send you an humble present in the
shape of a gold watch, chain and locket with a suitable inscrip¬
tion, as a token of our appreciation of the way in which you
defended one whom we delight to love, on the 13th day of
January, 1897, during the anti-Indian Demonstration crisis at
no small personal risk to yourself.
We are sure that nothing that we can offer will be an adequ¬
ate return for your act which will ever be a pattern of true
womanhood.
We remain, etc.
From a photostat of a copy: S.N. 2150
1 From the letters of acknowledgment from the addressee and his wife
(S.N. 1938 and 1939) it seems Gandhiji had himself written to thank them
for their intervention on his behalf. However, these letters are not available.
