a younger poet, who is also a professional critic in
the _Star_, where his weekly _causerie_ on books and their writers is
printed over the signature of "Logroller." Mr. Le Gallienne took Mr.
Buchanan to task for his hostility to "the Christianity of Christ," the
nature of which was not defined nor even made intelligible. Mr. Buchanan
replied with his usual impetuosity, declining to have anything to do
with Christianity except in the way of opposition, and laughing at the
sentimental dilution which his young friend was attempting to pass off
as the original, unadulterated article. Mr. Le Gallienne retorted
with youthful self-confidence that Mr. Buchanan did not understand
Christianity. Other writers then joined in the fray, and the result was
the famous "Is Christianity Played Out?" discussion in the _Chronicle_.
It was kept going for a week or two, until parliament met and Jesus
Christ had to make way for William Ewart Gladstone.

Mr. Le Gallienne hinted that he was preparing a kind of manifesto on the
subject of Christianity. The world was to be informed at length as to
the "essential" nature of that religion. Divines and Freethinkers had
alike misunderstood and misrepresented it. After a lapse of nearly two
thousand years the "straight tip," if we may so express it, was to come
from "Logroller." He would soon speak and set the weary world at rest
with the triumphant proclamation of the real, imperishable religion of
Jesus Christ. Presently it was announced, in judicious puffs, that the
manifesto was growing under Mr. Le Gallienne's hands. It would take the
form of a book, to be entitled _The Religion of a Literary Man_. The
title had little relation to the Galilean carpenter or his fishing
disciples. Nor was it in any sense happy. It smacked too much of the
"shop." Sir Thomas Browne, it is true, wrote a "Religio Medici," and
gave a physician's view of religion; but he was a man of rare genius as
well as quaintness, and allowance was to be made for his idiosyncrasy.
Besides, there is a certain speciality in a doctor's way of looking at
religion, if he compares his knowledge with his faith. But what is the
speciality of a literary man on this particular subject? Other trades
and professions might as well follow suit, and give us "The Religion
of a Porkbutcher," or "The Faith of a Farmer," or "The Creed of a
Constable." Even the "Belief of a Barman" is not beyond the scope of a
rational probability.

Mr. Le Gallienne'