Dutt, Romesh Chunder: The literature of Bengal: being an attempt to trace the progress of the national mind in its various aspects, as reflected in the nation’s literature from the earliest times to the present day ; with copious extracts from the best writers (Calcutta, 1877)

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LITERATURE OP BENGAL.

character-painting -which the author possesses. She is
frolicksome, full of action, full of life. Her sweet smiles
and sweeter conversation chase away gloom and sorvow,
and illumine every place that she visits. And yet there is
a seriousness in her smiles, and deep thought in her frolick-
some character Her heart feels as deeply for the un-
fortunate as any that ever beats or has ever beaten,
but to weep for others is not the best way to console
them, and Kamalmani conceals her feelings in soft per-
suasions and smiles. She estimates the magnitude of
Janger as correctly as any one else, but to give way to
despair is not the best way to meet it, and Kamalmani c
conceals her fears, gives assurance and hope; never
loses her discretion and presence of minfl. She lives a
ministering angel, bestowing comfort and joy on others,
and yet on the first acquaintance you would take her to be
only an amiable person and a very pleasant companion.
Kamalmani and Surjamukhi,—both characters are taken
from life, and pre-eminently from Bengali life, and we
doubt not our Bengali readers will peculiarly appreciate
them.

Kunda Nondini is simplicity itself. Her mind is
Simple almost beyond conception.

" But hawks will rob the tender joys
That bless the little lintwhite's nest

And frost will blight the.fairest flowers,
And love will break the soundest rest."

Alas! simplicity is no safeguard against love, and
Kunda finds it so. Love is the whole history of her exist-
ence,— love stealing, absorbing, blasting,