elements of social and political
science. This was not to be a lecture, he told them, but a debate in
which every man must take a part. And his first startling question was
this:

"Why should Mr. Lloyd George, instead of getting five thousand pounds a
year for his services as prime minister, receive any more than a common
labourer?"

The question was a poser. The speaker folded his hands and beamed down
at them; he seemed fairly to radiate benignity.

"Now we mustn't be afraid of him, just because he seems to be
intelligent," declared our hostess. This sally was greeted with
spasmodic laughter. Her eyes flitted from bench to bench, yet met
nothing save averted glances. "Jock! Where are you, Jock? Why don't you
speak up?--you've never been downed before."

More laughter, and craning of necks for the Jocks. This appeared to be
her generic name for the vita. But the Jocks remained obdurately modest.
The prolonged silence did not seem in the least painful to the lecturer,
who thrust his hand in his pocket and continued to beam. He had learned
how to wait. And at last his patience was rewarded. A middleaged soldier
with a very serious manner arose hesitatingly, with encouraging noises
from his comrades.

"It's not Mr. Lloyd George I'm worrying about, sir," he said, "all I
wants is enough for the missus and me. I had trouble to get that before
the war."

Cries of "Hear! Hear!"

"Why did you have trouble?" inquired the lecturer mildly.

"The wages was too low."

"And why were the wages too low?"

"You've got me there. I hadn't thought."

"But isn't it your business as a voter to think?" asked the lecturer.
"That's why the government is sending me here, to start you to thinking,
to remind you that it is you soldiers who will have to take charge of
this country and run it after the war is over. And you won't be able to
do that unless you think, and think straight."

"We've never been taught to think," was the illuminating reply.

"And if we do think we've never been educated to express ourselves, same
as you!" shouted another man, in whom excitement had overcome timidity.

"I'm here to help you educate yourselves," said the lecturer. "But first
let's hear any ideas you may have on the question I asked you."

There turned out to be plenty of ideas, after all. An opinion was
ventured that Mr. Lloyd George served the nation, not for money but from
public spirit; a conservative insisted that ability should be rew