ost
important for the preservation o' health."

"This sounds well; but suppose a genius broke the rules--lay in bed,
for instance, reading by the light of a candle after hours, or refused
to take his bath in the morning?"

"The superintendent would hae to punish him. The genius would be sent
back to his bed, maybe. An' if he lay lang i' the mornin' he would hae
to gang withoot his breakfast."

"That would be all very well where the inmate only broke the
regulations once in a way; but suppose he were to refuse to take his
bath day after day (and, you know, geniuses are said to be eccentric in
that particular), what would be done? You could not starve him;
geniuses are too scarce."

"Na, na; in a case like that he would hae to be reported to the public.
The thing would hae to come afore the Hoose of Commons. Ay, the
superintendent would get a member o' the Opposeetion to ask a queistion
such as 'Can the honourable gentleman, the Secretary of State for Home
Affairs, inform the Hoose whether it is a fac that Mr. Sic-a-one, the
well-known genius, at present resident in the Home for Geniuses, has,
contrairy to regulations, perseestently and obstinately refused to
change his linen; and, if so, whether the Government proposes to take
ony steps in the matter?' The newspapers would report the discussion
next mornin', an' so it would be made public withoot onnecessary
ootlay."

"In a general way, however, you would give the geniuses perfect
freedom? They could work when they liked, and come and go when they
liked?"

"Not so. The superintendent would fix the hours o' wark, an' they
would all write, or whatever it was, thegither in one large room. Man,
man, it would mak a grand draw for a painter-chield, that room, wi' all
the geniuses working awa' thegither."

"But when the labors of the day were over the genius would be at
liberty to make calls by himself or to run up, say, to London for an
hour or two?"

"Hoots no, that would spoil everything. It's the drink, ye see, as
does for a terrible lot o' geniuses. Even Rob--"

"Alas! yes. But would you have them all teetotalers?"

"What do ye tak me for? Na, na; the superintendent would allow them
one glass o' toddy every nicht, an' mix it himsel; but he would never
get the keys o' the press, whaur he kept the drink, oot o' his hands.
They would never be allowed oot o' the gairden either, withoot a man to
look after them; an' I wouldna burthen them wi' ower muck