পরিশিষ্ট । V8S Rajas ten thousand rupees, realized the idea, and established the character, of the real Hindu Drama with the improvements, suited to the taste of an advanced age. The Dramatic Corps was drawn from the flower of our educated youth. Among the actors, Babu Keshub Chunder Ganguli stood pre-eminent. Endowed by nature with histrionic talents of no mean order, he represented the Vidussiaka (Jester) with such life-like reality, and so rich a fund of humour, as to be styled the Garrick of our Bengali stage. Raja Issur Chunder Singh, who looked a prince every inch, encased in mail coat armour, with a jewelled sword hanging by his side, acted his part, with wonderful effect, befitting the character of a generalissimo, Sagarik n, the sea-rescued heroine, depicted in the play as a maiden of exemplary patience under suffering, extreme modesty, and a heart tender and susceptible to the influence of love, was represented by an intelligent fair IBrahmin lad whose musical voice enchanted the audience. The Queen Vasavadatta, who is most queenly in her character, had her part admirably acted by a handsome young lad, Mohendranath Goswami, even to the line in the original “প্রিয়ামুঞ্চত দ্য গল্ফ টমসহনাজীবিতমসীে” “My Beloved resigns all hope of life which to her is now unbearable.' The scene in which the magician (Sreenath Sen) set fire to the house of Raja Utdayana, King of Kashmir, by means of his wand and incantations (mantras), and the flashes of light that were produced by storintium red fire (then quite a rare and novel substance here) as well as the scene 1n which the full moon rose behind the plantain grove, were so affectingly enacted as to rivet the wonder and admiration of the audience The nanner in which the other actors, one and all, acquitted themselves, met with the warmest applause from the audience, -an audience composed of the elite of Calcutta, the cream ot European and Native society. Etninent Government officials and high non-official gentlemen who witnessed the performances spoke of the “exquisite treat! they had enjoyed, as heightening their idea of our Indian music and of our Indian stage. The Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Frederick Halliday, who was present with his family, was so delighted with the acting of Babu Keshub Chunder that he complimented him on his extraordinary dramatic talents. He said that looking at his serious and sedate appearance one could hardly believe him capable of acting so capitally the part of the Jester. Nor was the native audience less alive to the sensation that this novel and striking theatre had created in our lindian community, specially among the higher, classes and the educated and intelligent lanks. There was literally a rage for the Belgatchia Theatre. As a mere incident, I might mention that a certain
