appear
wholly unmerited.

"At any rate, he appears in your _Review_ as the advocate for
Free Love, and it seems to us strange that you should place his
work in the exaggerated importance of 'The Book of the Month,'
accompanied by eighteen pages of comment and quotation, in which
there is a publicity given to the work out of all proportion to
its merits.

"I do not doubt that the topic of Free Love engages the attention
of the corrupt Londoner. There are plenty of such persons who are
only too glad to get the sanction of writers for the maintenance
and practice of their evil thoughts, but the purest and best
lives in all parts of the field of Christian philanthropy will
mourn the publicity you have given to this evil book. It is not
even improbable that the perusal of Grant Allen's book, which you
have lifted into importance as 'The Book of the Month,' may
determine the action of souls to their spiritual ruin.

"The problem of indirect influence is full of mystery, but, as
the hour of our departure comes near, the possible consequences
to other minds of the example and teaching of our lives may
quicken our perceptions, and we may see and deeply regret our
actions when not directed by the highest authority, the will of
God.--We are, dear Sir, yours very truly (for Eason & Son,
Limited),

"CHARLES EASON, Managing Director."

Exception may be taken to this letter on many points, some trivial and
some important. Of the trivial points we may note with interest Mr.
Eason's assumption that his opinion is wanted on the literary merits
of the ware he vends; and, with concern, the rather slipshod manner in
which he allows himself and his assistants to speak of a gentleman as
"Allen," or "Grant Allen," without the usual prefix. But no one can
fail to see that this is an honest letter--the production of a man
conscious of responsibility and struggling to do his best in
circumstances he imperfectly understands. Nor do I think this view of
Mr. Eason need be seriously modified upon perusal of a letter received
by Mr. Stead from a Mr. James O'Hara, of 18, Cope Street, Dublin, and
printed in the _Westminster Gazette_ of March 11th. Mr. O'Hara
writes:--

"DEAR SIR,--The following may interest you and your readers. I
was a subscriber to the library owned by C. Eason & Co., Limited,
and in December