growl of menace, sharp snap, rounds of laughter. Frenchmen of the Young
Republic, not presently appreciated as offensive, have had some of these
careless trifles translated for them, and have been stung. We favoured
Germany with them now and then, before Germany became the first power in
Europe. Before America had displayed herself as greatest among the giants
that do not go to pieces, she had, as Americans forgivingly remember,
without mentioning, a series of flicks of the whip. It is well to learn
manners without having them imposed on us. There are various ways for
tripping the experiment. Nevertheless, when the experiment is tried,
considering that our welfare is involved in its not failing, as we have
failed, we should prepare to start it cordially, cordially assist it.
Thoughtful political minds regard the measure as a backward step; yet
conceiving but a prospect that a measure accepted by Home Rulers will
possibly enable the Irish and English to step together, it seems better
worth the venture than to pursue a course of prospectless discord!
Whatever we do or abstain from doing has now its evident dangers, and
this being imminent may appear the larger of them; but if a weighing of
the conditions dictates it, and conscience approves, the wiser proceeding
is to make trial of the untried. Our outlook was preternaturally black,
with enormous increase of dangers when the originator of our species
venturesomely arose from the posture of the 'quatre pattes'. We consider
that we have not lost by his temerity. In states of dubitation under
impelling elements, the instinct pointing to courageous action is,
besides the manlier, conjecturably the right one.

LESLIE STEPHEN--1904

When that noble body of scholarly and cheerful pedestrians, the Sunday
Tramps, were on the march, with Leslie Stephen to lead them, there was
conversation which would have made the presence of a shorthand writer a
benefaction to the country. A pause to it came at the examination of the
leader's watch and Ordnance map under the western sun, and void was given
for the strike across country to catch the tail of a train offering
dinner in London, at the cost of a run through hedges, over ditches and
fellows, past proclamation against trespassers, under suspicion of being
taken for more serious depredators in flight. The chief of the Tramps had
a wonderful calculating eye in the observation of distances and the
nature of the land, as he proved by