lity varies so must the reward--money; and
some will have more than others. Capital and Labour; leader and led;
officer and man. . . . In the old days we thought that the best leader
for the Army was the sahib; and with the old army we were right.
Tommy . . . poor, down-trodden Tommy, as the intellectuals used to call
him, was deuced particular. He was also mighty quick on the uptake at
spotting the manner of man he followed. Now things have changed; but
the principle remains. And it answers. . . . You'll always have an
aristocracy of ability who will be the civilian leaders, you'll always
have the rank and file who will be led by them. The same rules will
hold as you apply in the army. . . . You'll have good shows and bad
shows, according to whether the leader has or has not got sympathy. A
good many now should have it; they've learned the lesson over the
water. And on their shoulders rests the future. . . ."

"You put the future on the leaders, too," said Vane a little curiously.

"Why, naturally," returned the other. "What else fits a man to lead?"

"But your broad doctrine of sympathy"--pursued Vane. "Don't you think
it's one of those things that sounds very nice in a pulpit, but the
practical application is not quite so easy. . . ."

"Of course it isn't easy," cried the other. "Who the deuce said it
was? Is it easy to be a good regimental officer? Sympathy is merely
the--the spiritual sense which underlies all the work. And the work is
ceaseless if the show is going to be a good one. You know that as well
as I do. You take an officer who never talks to his men, practically
never sees 'em--treats 'em as automatons to do a job. Never sacrifices
his own comfort. What sort of a show are you going to have?"

"Damn bad," said Vane, nodding his head.

"And you take a fellow who talks to 'em, knows 'em well, is a friend to
'em, and explains things--that's the vital point--explains things;
listens to what they have to say--even makes some small amendments if
he thinks they're right. . . . A fellow who makes them take a pride in
their show. . . . What then?"

"But could you apply it to civil life?" queried Vane.

"Don't know," returned the other, "because I'm a fool. Everybody says
so; so I must be. But it seems to me that if you take a concern, and
every week the boss sends for his men, or some chosen representative of
theirs, and explains things to 'em, it won't do much harm. Shows 'em
how