186
దంపూరు నరసయ్య
it is necessary of life and the tax will affect the large poor communities. Salt is much needed both for cattle and man and the farming classes will be the greatest sufferers. We do not deny that the frontier defences, as well as the defence of the Burman empire (British empire?), but surely other ways and means could be found to meet it than this drain. Why not reduce provincial allotments; or what is better than this reduction, cut down the higher salaries in the public service? Much money is wasted from sheer thoughtlessness and whimsical extravagance. In the midst of the cries of a deficit, did not that vain, obstructive Governor (Retd) spend lakhs at Ooty and on works for the pleasures of his coterie? Was he snubbed for this at least? Nothing whatever, when he should have been compelled to refund the money lavished on this ostentatious follies. If it is felt that something must be done where are the patriotic spirits of the service who can yield a couple of hundred rupees for a year at least soothen the distress of the Financier why, tax an article of food essential to a (.........) to life, and which the poorest cannot live without it. The general plea is “State reason” for (........) blessed tax. Let the State curtail temporarily the salaries of the higher paid government servants.
IX
Dampuru Narasaiah's Review on “Kanya Sulkam" appeared in the People's Friend, January 21" 1897.
....... Mr. Apparao is, apparently, a man of original ideas in literary matters. ....... He has wisely and happily discarded for the purpose of his comedy the unnatural, stilted, pedantic, literary dialect so much beloved of Telugu Pandits, and so unduly prized by them and employed. Instead of the simple, ordinary language of common life now in use among all Classes of the population in the Northern districts of this Presidency. The book therefore, marks a new and bold departure in Telugu dramatic composition or for the matter of that, in Telugu composition in general ... The literary tendencies of the present time running, as they do, in such a narrow groove, and being of so stereotyped a character, it speaks very highly, we think, for our author's literary courage, a courage bordering on audacity, that he has been able to set at naught the absurd literary canons of this
