Page:A General Biography of Bengal Celebrities Vol 1.djvu/46

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HIS BIRTH, PARENTAGE AND EARLY EDITION. 37 of his time. In July, 1861, the boy fled to Ranigunj for some family quarrel, and had to be taken back by his father after a good deal of persuasion. Mr. W. C. Bonnerjee had a good charming face in his youth, and a "good face was a good recom- mendation in his case." He was liked much by the late Babu Kally Prasana Singhee and Maharajah Sir Jotendra Mohun Tagoreat whose houses he played the part of both male and female actresses in their ama- teur theatrical parties. The father, finding that it was hopeless for his boy to make any further progress in the school, made him adopt his own profession. In No- vember 1 86 1, Mr. W. C. Bonnerjee was articled to Mr. W. P. Downing, Attorney of the Supreme Court of Calcutta. In May 1862, he severed his connection with this gentleman and joined Mr. W. F. Gillanders as his clerk. In this arena of his new life, he saw the mistakes he had committed in his early life, and strove hard to make ample reparation for them. He studied hard and laid the foundation of his vast legal acquire- ments which bid fair to secure for him the highest prizes of his profession. It is not generally known that the Bengalee newspaper, which is now edited by Babu Surendra Nath Bonnerjee was established about the month of May, 1862. Mr. Bonnerjee helped the late Babu Grish Chunder Ghose, its first editor, in various ways in the establishment and management of the paper, and afterwards procured from his friend, the late Babu Kali Prasanna Singh, a press, types and other materials for the purposes of the paper. In 1864 a splendid opportunity presented itself and made Bonnerjee what he now is. "There is a tide in the affairs of men, "Which, when taken at the flood, leads on to fortune." The tide in the affairs of Mr. W. C. Bonnerjee commenced from this memorable year ; and he pos- sessed all the necessary qualities to rise along with it.