pop up in my mind at times which look good and
promising. I see books and series of books. I see most useful
magazine stuff. Then, before I can think anything out to a clear
plan or conclusion, the ever-increasing official duties and
responsibilities here knock everything else out of my head, perhaps
for a whole month. It's a literal fact that many a month I do not
have an hour to do with as I please nor to think about what I
please, from the time I wake up till I go to bed. In spite of
twenty-four secretaries (the best fellows that ever were and the
best staff that any Embassy ever had in the world) more and more
work comes to me. I thank Heaven we no longer have the interests of
Germany, Austria, and Turkey to look after; but with our coming
into the war, work in general has increased enormously. I have to
spend very much more time with the different departments of the
British Government on war plans and such like things. They have
welcomed us in very handsomely; and one form of their welcome is
consulting with me about--navy plans, war plans, loans of billions,
ships, censorship, secret service--everything you ever heard of. At
first it seemed a little comical for the admirals and generals and
the Governor of the Bank of England to come and ask for advice. But
when I gave it and it worked out well, I went on and, after all,
the thing's easier than it looks. With a little practice you can
give these fellows several points in the game and play a pretty
good hand. They don't know half as much as you might suppose they'd
know. All these years of lecturing the State Department and the
President got my hand in! The whole game is far easier than any
small business. You always play with blue chips better than you
play with white ones.

This country and these people are not the country and the people
they were three years ago. They are very different. They are much
more democratic, far less cocksure, far less haughty, far humbler.
The man at the head of the army rose from the ranks. The Prime
Minister is a poor Welsh schoolteacher's son, without early
education. The man who controls all British shipping began life as
a shipping "clark," at ten shillings a week. Yet the Lords and
Ladies, too, have shown that they were made of the real stuff. This
exp