112 LIFE OF BABU SHY AM A CHURN SIRKAB. School which he maintained for more than 15 years lb his own village of Mamjoani at a monthly cost of Rsi 100 per mensem to give gratutious education to the boys of the neighbouring poor ; and we saw him work at his desk for Cull twelve hours from morning till twilight He never slept during the day and used to bathe twice dai- ly. He died in the month of September 1882 at the ad* vancedageof 67, leaving his onlysoaand a widow and a large circle of friends to mourn his loss. And he was in the full enjoyment of vigour till disease put an end to his valuable life. Reading and writing became his set- cond nature, and we never found him to pass his time in idle enjoyment. Innocent recreations he no doubt enjoyed, but he hated all frivolities and vain pleasures. His pursuit in life was highly intellectual, and the cul- tivation of his mental powers kept pace with the de- velopment of his moral faculties. He was of a dark complexion, stalwart and strongly built, with round face, brilliant eyes and large forehead. j He was abstemious in his habit and never adopted English dress and mode of living. He was a Hindu among the Hindus, a very beau ideal of a Hindu gentle- man. Comte de Buffon used to say that " Genius is patience", and if there is any truth in his saying, the re£ markable career of Babu Shyama Churn, his patient industry, his indomitable perseverance crowned with such remarkable success afford a striking illustration of the soundness of the wise saying of the immortal Buffon. We hope our Indian students should follow; the noble example of this immortal son of Bengal. The following letter kindly placed at our disposal by Babu Nil Comul Basak, a relative of the late BabUf Gobind Chunder Basak will throw further light on thtj character of Babu Shyama Churn. Calcutta 25th May, 1842. My dear Gobind, This is favoured by a particular friend of mine, Babu Sbyamf Churn Sirkar who has proceeded to Midnapore as Bengalee Instruct
