THOUGHTS, OPINIONS AND
MAXIMS
"-----Those obstinate questionings
Of sense and outward things
Fallings from us, vanishings."
WORDSWORTH.
As a student I often used to visit Sir Nizamat
with some college friends, and I can still recall
his spell over us all. It was a pleasure to hear
him talk, and though sometimes we felt a little
puzzled, we always carried away something of
permanent value. He encouraged students to
discuss with him freely ; and whatever the subject
was, he seemed to make it his own, though his
favourite themes were morals, practical philoso-
phy, religion and poetry. He made us feel that,
his were the words of one who was not groping
after other people's opinions, but giving 'his own
deep convictions. In this, I think, lay his power
over other minds. Whether we shared his opi-
nions or disagreed with them, we felt that what-
ever he said was from a sincere, well-meaning
heart; and there was an almost religious fervour
in his exhortations.
Here are some specimens of his opinions on
various subjects:
" If I were asked what could save Europe
from utter ruin in the coming future, I would