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The “Southern Star”
27th July, 1889
The Late Mr. S. Vedanayagam Pillai:
The night of the 21st july witnessed the death of one of ladia's sons- Mr. VEDANAYAGAM PILLAI, the pensioned Munsiff of Mayavaram, at the age of 65.He was a pious Christian and a great thinker. A regular student till his last moment. In him we have lost a great Tamil Novelist and a Poet. His best productions: The adventure of Prathaba Mudaliar, Sugunasundari, Penmathimalai, and Sarva Samaya-Samarasa Keerthanai. In a word, he was the Oliver Goldsmith of our time. His death was felt here as something more than a public calamity. Men started at the intelligence and turned pale as if they had heard of the loss of a dear friend. An object of our pride and our hopes was suddenly taken into the account of grief.
Only a few men deserve the name of Gentlemen.“ and
if the word can with perfect propriety be applied, it is to his great man. His life must teach some of our great ment hat even a happy well earned leisure may be profitably. spent for the benefit of his country if more time be not pent in mornings and evenings in their books and hats.
