so has to fight
against tremendous odds. Let me illustrate my case by my own unpleasant
experiences. I had a friend who was a mining broker. One day I had been
studying the late Captain Burton's valuable work on Brazil, which seemed
to me a country of boundless resources and possibilities. The next day
when I got into the train to go to town, there was my friend the broker.
I talked with him about Brazil in a rather enthusiastic strain. He
agreed with everything I said. There was no such place in the world, and
I could not do better than buy a few General Brazilian shares. They were
low just at that time, but if I were to buy some I should be certain to
make ten shillings a share in a month, at any rate, and by a fortunate
coincidence he had a few hundreds he had bought for an investment, and as
a friend he would let me have a few. I am not a speculating man. The
fact is I have never had any cash to spare; but was tempted, as our
Mother Eve was by the old serpent, and I fell. I bought a few General
Brazilians. As soon as I had paid for them there came a call for a
shilling a share, and a little while after another call, and so it went
on till the General Brazilians went down to nothing. Shortly after this
my friend left the neighbourhood. He had got all his acquaintances to
invest in shares, and the neighbourhood was getting unpleasant for him.
He began life in a humble way; he now lives in a fine place and keeps his
carriage, but he gets no more money out of me, though occasionally he did
send me a circular assuring me of an ample fortune if I would only buy
certain shares which he recommended. I may have stood in my own light,
as he told me I did, but I have bought no more mining shares since.

Again, take the case of life assurance. Every one ought to insure his
life when he marries. Like a wise man, I did, but like a fool I took the
advice of a friend who recommended me a society which paid him a
commission for his disinterested and friendly advice. After a time it
declared a bonus which, instead of receiving in cash, I thought it better
to add to the principal. In a few years, that insurance society was
wound up. After the affairs of the company had been carefully
investigated at an enormous and surely unnecessary expense by a
distinguished firm of City accountants, another company took over our
policies, marking them about a fourth of their original value. My bonus
was not even added to my prin