Page:The Aristocracy of Southern India.djvu/189

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S. R. J. R. V. Ettappa Nayakar Bahadur.
149

Collector of much experience. With the intelligence of the Rajah Sahib coupled with that of his able and energetic Dewan, the Samasthanam is sure to thrive and prosper.

The Rajah Sahib was under the care and tuition of competent Englishmen of great parts, and the advantages derived from his travel to various parts of the country, opened his eyes to reforms in social life, and the first item he desired to practically carry out was the opening of a Girls' School in his estate. During his father's time there was an English school teaching up to the Lower Secondary standard, and the present Rajah raised it to the grade of a High School. Etayapuram is a very large estate, where a High School was a desideratum for a long time. These measures tending towards education were carried out by him soon after he assumed charge of the estate. He has opened a model farm on scientific principles, and this in itself is sufficient to prove that he is just paving the way for higher reforms in point of cultivation. Ho has also established a choultry, a school, and a market at Veppalpatti.

In honor of the Coronation of King Edward VII, a meeting was held at Etaiyapuram when the Rajah made the following interesting speech:—

"Gentlemen,

We are assembled here, not to discuss questions connected with our private concerns, nor to express our views on party or public questions of any kind, but to perform a most solemn and sacred function of paying homage to our Most Gracious Sovereign, His Majesty, the King-Emperor Edward VII, this the most mcmorable day at his Coronation, in the City of London, being the