after all."

"Yes," said Sedgwick; "history has compiled some of its wonderful pages
right here. We are where the Great Armada sailed, the souls of those on
board believing they were going to make the conquest of England. Here is
where Howard gave that fleet its first blow; here is where Howard and
Drake sent their fire ships to play havoc with the hostile fleet. A great
place indeed! But it was only 300 years ago that Howard and Drake
performed their part; before their day many a fleet swept over this
watery way; the Crusaders crossed here; before them, a thousand years,
the great Julius came and invaded England; before him, a hundred savage
nations worked their rude boats in these turbulent seas. When the light
of civilization well-nigh went out in the land where it was first
kindled, it was re-lighted on these shores, and though it burned slowly
for a long time it never quite went out; rather, it grew brighter and
brighter until its sheen began to fill the world. Bright souls have
peopled both sides of this channel; both are lands of fair women and
brave men; their literature has made the world gentler and higher; their
laws dominate mankind; their power is a controlling force among the
nations; they make the center of the world's wealth; they are each
examples of how much men may accomplish on small areas of land, provided
they possess sovereign hearts and brains and souls."

The ship scraped against the pier while Sedgwick was talking, and the
travelers hurried on their way. At Paris they were detained several
hours, and Jordan hiring a carriage, they took in as much of the
beautiful city as possible.

Jordan all the time exerted himself to talk, and by asking questions to
compel Sedgwick to think of something besides the sad-browed bride whom
he had left in London.

"What war the special charm 'bout Paris, Jim? I feel it, but blamed ef I
can splain it even ter myself," said he.

"I do not know," replied his friend, "but I suspect, Tom, it is the
culmination of something which has for a thousand years been maturing.
Long ago, a full thousand years, there was an Emperor here who was in
advance of his generation. He believed that a perfect education meant the
full enlightenment of the mortal, that his hands and eyes as well as his
mind must be disciplined, that every useful attribute must be trained. So
he built cathedrals to improve the taste of the people, established free
drawing schools, had the people taug