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Mr. J. Chaudhuri and other leaders appealed to them to respect authority, however arbitrary the fiat might seem to them, and they responded to the appeal. Throughout these exciting times, the discipline of our people and their readiness to submit to the advice of their leaders was conspicuously in evidence and largely contri- buted to the success of the movement.

The delegates left their seats, moving out in files into the public street, shouting Bande-Mataram. At every stage they sought to vindicate the legality of that cry. All left, save and except one and one alone. That was Mr. Krishna Kumar Mittra, editor of the Sanjibani, to whom I have had occasion to refer more than once in these pages. Like the senators of old when Brennus was entering Rome with his barbarian horde, he remained in his seat and would not move. Determination was painted upon his features; his face was red with indignation. He was prepared to face the consequences of the disobedience of authority. We argued, prayed and protested; and it was with the utmost difficulty that we persuaded him at last to leave the pandal.

There were about three hundred ladies who had come as visitors to the Conference. To them one of two alternatives was open, either to wait in the deserted pandal for their carriages, which had been ordered to fetch them home in the afternoon, or to return home almost without protection in the burning sun of April. They chose the latter, at what sacrifice it may be readily imagined by those who are familiar with the habits and temper of mind of the Indian lady. We all dispersed, somewhat amazed at the extraordi- nary order, which was ultra vires and perfectly indefensible, as no breach of the peace by the delegates could be reasonably appre- hended after their quiet submission to the unbridled lawlessness of the police on the previous day. The order was couched in the following terms:

'As it appears from police reports that the breaking up of a meeting of the Conference, which is being held at a pandal in the town opposite to B. M. College, is likely to be followed by unruly proceedings in the streets, and noisy processions, which have been forbidden by proper au- thority, I hereby order that the public or any person are not to meet in the pandal or elsewhere for the said purpose, and the public are not to

form crowds in the streets. As it also appears likely that the crowds