he enemy, and have become a
mob breaking impatiently loose from the discipline and ideals
of our past.

... Aristocracy has lost its respect for learning, it has
grown careless of manners, it has abandoned faith in its duty,
it is conscious of no solemn obligations, but it still
remains for the multitude a true aristocracy, and looking up
at that aristocracy, for its standards, the multitude has
become materialistic, throwing Puritanism to the dogs, and
pushing as heartily forward to the trough as any full-fed
glutton in the middle or the upper ranks of life.

... There is no example of modesty, restraint, thrift, duty,
or culture. Everything is sensual and ostentatious, and
shamefacedly sensual and ostentatious.

... It is a grievous thing to corrupt the minds of the simple.
The poor have always believed in heartiness and cheerfulness.
All their proverbs spring out of a keen sense of virtue. All
their games are of a manly character. To materialize this
glorious people, to commercialize and mamonize it, to make it
think of economics, instead of life, to make it bitter,
discontented and tyrannous, this is to strike at the very
heart of England.

The author of this book has a very clear idea, very forcibly expressed,
that the example of the upper classes, the leading citizens in the
community, exerts a great influence on the others. That is a universal
principle which applies, in greater or less degree, to all other
countries, including America. It furnishes a simple explanation of how
comparatively stupid people, who do very little thinking of any kind,
may be found putting into effect motives and points-of-view which owe
their origin to the enlightened reason of a few superior intellects.

Also it may be observed that while the author appears to recognize and
affirm with conviction a general demoralization of standards among the
aristocracy, he does not attempt to suggest any visible cause for it. It
may be gathered, in a way, that he takes for granted that, somehow, it
is a consequence of the World War. This notion, as we have seen, is so
apt to be fallen back on as a convenient excuse for anything and
everything that is now taking place.

But to the best of my knowledge and belief, confirmed by all manner of
testimony and information, the tendencies in England which the author
refers to, no less than the similar tendencies in A