第10章

Theveryrichareneitheraristocratsnorself-mademen；theyareaccidents——orrathercalamities。Allrevolutionarylanguageisagenerationbehindthetimesintalkingoftheirfutility。A

revolutionistwouldsay(withperfecttruth)thatcoal-ownersknownexttonothingaboutcoal-mining。Butwearepastthatpoint。Coal-ownersknownexttonothingaboutcoal-owning。Theydonotdevelopanddefendthenatureoftheirownmonopolywithanyconsistentandcourageouspolicy，howeverwicked，asdidtheoldaristocratswiththemonopolyofland。Theyhavenotthevirtuesnoreventhevicesoftyrants；theyhaveonlytheirpowers。Itisthesamewithallthepowerfulofto-day；itisthesame，forinstance，withthehigh-placedandhigh-paidofficial。Notonlyisthejudgenotjudicial，butthearbiterisnotevenarbitrary。

Thearbiterdecides，notbysomegustofjusticeorinjusticeinhissoulliketheolddespotdoomingmenunderatree，butbythepermanentclimateoftheclasstowhichhehappenstobelong。Theancientwigofthejudgeisoftenindistinguishablefromtheoldwigoftheflunkey。

Tojudgeaboutsuccessorfailureonemustseethingsverysimply；onemustseetheminmasses，astheartist，halfclosinghiseyesagainstdetails，seeslightandshade。Thatistheonlywayinwhichajustjudgmentcanbeformedastowhetheranydepartureordevelopment，suchasIslamortheAmericanRepublic，hasbeenabenefituponthewhole。

Seenclose，suchgreaterectionsalwaysaboundiningeniousdetailandimpressivesolidity；itisonlybyseeingthemafaroffthatonecantelliftheTowerleans。

Nowifwethustakeinthewholetiltorpostureofourmodernstate，weshallsimplyseethisfact:thatthoseclasseswhohaveonthewholegoverned，haveonthewholefailed。Ifyougotoafactoryyouwillseesomeverywonderfulwheelsgoinground；youwillbetoldthattheemployeroftencomesthereearlyinthemorning；thathehasgreatorganisingpower；thatifheworksoverthecolossalaccumulationofwealthhealsoworksoveritswisedistribution。Allthismaybetrueofmanyemployers，anditispracticallysaidofall。

Butifweshadeoureyesfromallthisdazzleofdetail；ifwesimplyaskwhathasbeenthemainfeature，theupshot，thefinalfruitofthecapitalistsystem，thereisnodoubtabouttheanswer。Thespecialandsolidresultofthereignoftheemployershasbeen——unemployment。

Unemploymentnotonlyincreasing，butbecomingatlasttheverypivotuponwhichthewholeprocessturns。

Or，again，ifyouvisitthevillagesthatdependononeofthegreatsquires，youwillhearpraises，oftenjust，ofthelandlord"sgoodsenseorgoodnature；youwillhearofwholesystemsofpensionsorofcareforthesick，likethoseofasmallandseparatenation；youwillseemuchcleanliness，order，andbusinesshabitsintheofficesandaccountsoftheestate。Butifyouaskagainwhathasbeentheupshot，whathasbeentheactualresultofthereignoflandlords，againtheanswerisplain。

Attheendofthereignoflandlordsmenwillnotliveontheland。Thepracticaleffectofhavinglandlordsisnothavingtenants。Thepracticaleffectofhavingemployersisthatmenarenotemployed。Theunrestofthepopulaceisthereforemorethanamurmuragainsttyranny；

itisagainstasortoftreason。Itisthesuspicionthatevenatthetopofthetree，evenintheseatsofthemighty，ourverysuccessisunsuccessful。

THEOTHERKINDOFMAN

TherearesomewhoareconciliatedbyConciliationBoards。Therearesomewho，whentheyhearofRoyalCommissions，breatheagain——orsnoreagain。TherearethosewholookforwardtoCompulsoryArbitrationCourtsastotheislandsoftheblest。Thesemendonotunderstandthedaythattheylookuponorthesightsthattheireyeshaveseen。

Thealmostsacramentalideaofrepresentation，bywhichthefewmayincarnatethemany，aroseintheMiddleAges，andhasdonegreatthingsforjusticeandliberty。Ithashaditsrealhoursoftriumph，aswhentheStatesGeneralmettorenewFrance"syouthliketheeagle"s；orwhenallthevirtuesoftheRepublicfoughtandruledinthefigureofWashington。Itisnothavingoneofitshoursoftriumphnow。Therealdemocraticunrestatthismomentisnotanextensionoftherepresentativeprocess，butratherarevoltagainstit。Itisnogoodgivingthosenowinrevoltmoreboardsandcommitteesandcompulsoryregulations。Itisagainsttheseverythingsthattheyarerevolting。

Menarenotonlyrisingagainsttheiroppressors，butagainsttheirrepresentativesor，astheywouldsay，theirmisrepresentatives。TheinnerandactualspiritofworkadayEnglandiscomingoutnotinapplause，butinanger，asagodwhoshouldcomeoutofhistabernacletorebukeandconfoundhispriests。

Thereisacertainkindofmanwhomweseemanytimesinaday，butwhomwedonot，ingeneral，botherverymuchabout。Heisthekindofmanofwhomhiswifesaysthatabetterhusbandwhenhe"ssoberyoucouldn"thave。Shesometimesaddsthatheneverissober；butthisisinangerandexaggeration。Reallyhedrinksmuchlessandworksmuchmorethanthemodernlegendsupposes。Butitisquitetruethathehasnotthehorrorofbodilyoutbreak，naturaltotheclassesthatcontainladies；

anditisquitetruethatheneverhasthatalertandinventivesortofindustrynaturaltotheclassesfromwhichmencanclimbintogreatwealth。Hehasgrown，partlybynecessity，butpartlyalsobytemper，accustomedtohavedirtyclothesanddirtyhandsnormallyandwithoutdiscomfort。Heregardscleanlinessasakindofseparateandspecialcostume；tobeputonforgreatfestivals。Hehasseveralreallycuriouscharacteristics，whichwouldattracttheeyesofsociologists，iftheyhadanyeyes。Forinstance，hisvocabularyiscoarseandabusive，inmarkedcontrasttohisactualspirit，whichisgenerallypatientandcivil。Hehasanoddwayofusingcertainwordsofreallyhorriblemeaning，butusingthemquiteinnocentlyandwithoutthemostdistanttaintoftheevilstowhichtheyallude。Heisrathersentimental；and，likemostsentimentalpeople，notdevoidofsnobbishness。Atthesametime，hebelievestheordinarymanlycommonplacesoffreedomandfraternityashebelievesmostofthedecenttraditionsofChristianmen:

hefindsitverydifficulttoactaccordingtothem，butthisdifficultyisnotconfinedtohim。Hehasastrongandindividualsenseofhumour，andnotmuchpowerofcorporateormilitantaction。HeisnotaSocialist。Finally，hebearsnomoreresemblancetoaLabourMemberthanhedoestoaCityAldermanoraDie-HardDuke。ThisistheCommonLabourerofEngland；anditishewhoisonthemarchatlast。

Seethismaninyourmindasyouseehiminthestreet，realisethatitishisopenmindwewishtoinfluenceorhisemptystomachwewishtocure，andthenconsiderseriously(ifyoucan)thefivemen，includingtwoofhisownallegedoppressors，whoweresummonedasaRoyalCommissiontoconsiderhisclaimswhenheorhissortwentoutonstrikeupontherailways。Iknewnothingagainst，indeedIknewnothingabout，anyofthegentlementhensummoned，beyondabareintroductiontoMr。

Henderson，whomIliked，butwhoseidentityIwasinnodangerofconfusingwiththatofarailway-porter。Idonotthinkthatanyoldgentleman，howeverabsent-minded，wouldbelikelyonarrivingatEuston，letussay，tohandhisGladstone-bagtoMr。Hendersonortoattempttorewardthatpoliticianwithtwopence。OftheothersIcanonlyjudgebythefactsabouttheirstatusassetforthinthepublicPress。TheChairman，SirDavidHarrell，appearedtobeanex-officialdistinguishedin(ofallthingsintheworld)theIrishConstabulary。IhavenoearthlyreasontodoubtthattheChairmanmeanttobefair；butIamnottalkingaboutwhatmenmeantobe，butaboutwhattheyare。ThepoliceinIrelandarepracticallyanarmyofoccupation；amanservinginthemordirectingthemispracticallyasoldier；and，ofcourse，hemustdohisdutyassuch。ButitseemstrulyextraordinarytoselectasonelikelytosympathisewiththedemocracyofEnglandamanwhosewholebusinessinlifeithasbeentogovernagainstitswillthedemocracyofIreland。WhatshouldwesayifRussianstrikerswereofferedthesympatheticarbitrationoftheheadoftheRussianPoliceinFinlandorPoland？AndifwedonotknowthatthewholecivilisedworldseesIrelandwithPolandasatypicaloppressednation，itistimewedid。

TheChairman，whateverhispersonalvirtues，mustbebyinstinctandhabitakintothecapitalistsinthedispute。TwomoreoftheCommissionersactuallywerethecapitalistsinthedispute。ThencameMr。

Henderson(pushinghistrolleyandcheerilycrying，"Byyourleave。”)，andthenanotherlessknowngentlemanwhohad"corresponded"withtheBoardofTrade，andhadthusgainedsomestrangeclaimtorepresenttheverypoor。

Nowpeoplelikethismightquitepossiblyproducearationalenoughreport，andinthisorthatrespectevenimprovethings。Menofthatkindaretolerablykind，tolerablypatriotic，andtolerablybusiness-like。

Butifanyonesupposesthatmenofthatkindcanconceivablyquietanyreal"quarrelwiththeManoftheOtherKind，themanwhomIfirstdescribed，itisfrantic。Thecommonworkerisangryexactlybecausehehasfoundoutthatalltheseboardsconsistofthesamewell-dressedKindofMan，whethertheyarecalledGovernmentalorCapitalist。Ifanyonehopesthathewillreconcilethepoor，Isay，asIsaidatthebeginning，thatsuchaonehasnotlookedonthelightofdayordweltinthelandoftheliving。

ButIdonotcriticisesuchaCommissionexceptforonemostpracticalandurgentpurpose。ItwillbeansweredtomethatthefirstKindofManofwhomIspokecouldnotreallybeonboardsandcommittees，asmodernEnglandismanaged。Hisdirt，thoughnecessaryandhonourable，wouldbeoffensive:hisspeech，thoughrichandfigurative，wouldbealmostincomprehensible。Letusgrant，forthemoment，thatthisisso。ThisKindofMan，withhissootyhairorsanguinaryadjectives，cannotberepresentedatourcommitteesofarbitration。Therefore，theotherKindofMan，fairlyprosperous，fairlyplausible，athomeatleastwiththemiddleclass，capableatleastofreachingandtouchingtheupperclass，hemustremaintheonlyKindofManforsuchcouncils。

Verywell。Ifthen，yougiveatanyfuturetimeanykindofcompulsorypowerstosuchcouncilstopreventstrikes，youwillbedrivingthefirstKindofMantoworkforaparticularmasterasmuchasifyoudrovehimwithawhip。

THEMEDIAEVALVILLAIN

IseethattherehavebeenmoreattemptsatthewhitewashingofKingJohn。

Butthegentlemanwhowrotehasafurtherinterestinthematter；forhebelievesthatKingJohnwasinnocent，notonlyonthispoint，butasawhole。HethinksKingJohnhasbeenverybadlytreated；thoughIamnotsurewhetherhewouldattributetothatPlantagenetasaintlymeritormerelyahumdrumrespectability。

IsympathisewiththewhitewashingofKingJohn，merelybecauseitisaprotestagainstourwaxworkstyleofhistory。Everybodyisinaparticularattitude，withparticularmoralattributes；RufusisalwayshuntingandCoeur-de-Lionalwayscrusading；HenryVIIIalwaysmarrying，andCharlesIalwayshavinghisheadcutoff；Alfredrapidlyandinrotationmakinghispeople"sclocksandspoilingtheircakes；andKingJohnpullingoutJews"teethwiththecelerityandindustryofanAmericandentist。Anythingisgoodthatshakesallthisstiffsimplification，andmakesusrememberthatthesemenwereoncealive；

thatis，mixed，free，flippant，andinconsistent。ItgivesthemindahealthykicktoknowthatAlfredhadfits，thatCharlesIpreventedenclosures，thatRufuswasreallyinterestedinarchitecture，thatHenryVIIIwasreallyinterestedintheology。

Andasthesescrapsofrealitycanstartleusintomoresolidimaginationofevents，socanevenerrorsandexaggerationsiftheyareontherightside。ItdoessomegoodtocallAlfredaprig，CharlesIaPuritan，andJohnajollygoodfellow；ifthismakesusfeelthattheywerepeoplewhomwemighthavelikedordisliked。IdonotmyselfthinkthatJohnwasanicegentleman；butforallthatthepopularpictureofhimisallwrong。Whetherhehadanygenerousqualitiesornot，hehadwhatcommonlymakesthempossible，dare-devilcourage，forinstance，andhot-

headeddecision。But，aboveall，hehadamoralitywhichhebroke，butwhichwemisunderstand。

ThemediaevalmindturnedcentrallyuponthepivotofFreeWill。IntheirsocialsystemthemediaevalsweretoomuchPARTI-PER-PALE，astheirheraldswouldsay，toorigidlycutupbyfencesandquarteringsofguildordegree。Butintheirmoralphilosophytheyalwaysthoughtofmanasstandingfreeanddoubtfulatthecross-roadsinaforest。Whiletheycladandboundthebodyand(tosomeextent)themindtoostifflyandquaintlyforourtaste，theyhadamuchstrongersensethanwehaveofthefreedomofthesoul。Forthemthesoulalwayshungpoisedlikeaneagleintheheavensofliberty。Manyofthethingsthatstrikeamodernasmostfantasticcamefromtheirkeensenseofthepowerofchoice。

Forinstance，thegreatestoftheSchoolmendevotesfoliostotheminutedescriptionofwhattheworldwouldhavebeenlikeifAdamhadrefusedtheapple；whatkings，laws，babies，animals，planetswouldhavebeeninanunfallenworld。SointenselydoeshefeelthatAdammighthavedecidedtheotherwaythatheseesacompleteandcomplexvisionofanotherworld，aworldthatnowcanneverbe。

Thissenseofthestreamoflifeinamanthatmayturneitherwaycanbefeltthroughalltheirpopularethicsinlegend，chronicle，andballad。

Itisafeelingwhichhasbeenweakenedamongusbytwoheavyintellectualforces。TheCalvinismoftheseventeenthcenturyandthephysicalscienceofthenineteenth，whateverothertruthstheymayhavetaught，havedarkenedthislibertywithasenseofdoom。Wethinkofbadmenassomethinglikeblackmen，aseparateandincurablekindofpeople。

TheByronicspiritwasreallyasortofoperaticCalvinism。Itbroughtthevillainuponthestage；thelostsoul；themodernversionofKingJohn。ButthecontemporariesofKingJohndidnotfeellikethatabouthim，evenwhentheydetestedhim。Theyinstinctivelyfelthimtobeamanofmixedpassionslikethemselves，whowasallowinghisevilpassionstohavemuchtoogoodatimeofit。Theymighthavespokenofhimasamaninconsiderabledangerofgoingtohell；buttheywouldhavenottalkedofhimasifhehadcomefromthere。IntheballadsofPercyorRobinHooditfrequentlyhappensthattheKingcomesuponthescene，andhisultimatedecisionmakestheclimaxofthetale。Butwedonotfeel，aswedointheByronicormodernromance，thatthereisadefinitestagedirection"EnterTyrant。”Nordowebeholdadeusexmachinawhoiscertaintodoallthatismildandjust。TheKingintheballadisinastateofvirileindecision。Sometimeshewillpassfromatoweringpassiontothemostsweepingmagnanimityandfriendliness；sometimeshewillbeginanactofvengeanceandbeturnedfromitbyajest。Yetthisaugustlevityisnotmoralindifference；itismoralfreedom。ItisthestrongsenseinthewriterthattheKing，beingthetypeofmanwithpower，willprobablysometimesuseitbadlyandsometimeswell。InthissenseJohniscertainlymisrepresented，forheispicturedassomethingthatnoneofhisownfriendsorenemiessaw。Inthatsensehewascertainlynotsoblackasheispainted，forhelivedinaworldwhereeveryonewaspiebald。

KingJohnwouldberepresentedinamodernplayornovelasakindofdegenerate；ashiftyeyedmoralmaniacwithatwistinhissoul"sbackboneandgreenbloodinhisveins。Themediaevalswerequitecapableofboilinghiminmeltedlead，buttheywouldhavebeenquiteincapableofdespairingofhissoulinthemodernfashion。AstrikingafortioricaseisthatofthestrangemediaevallegendofRoberttheDevil。RobertwasrepresentedasamonstrousbirthsenttoanembitteredwomanactuallyinanswertoprayerstoSatan，andhisearlieractionsaresimplythoseoftheinfernalfireletlooseuponearth。Yetthoughhecanbecalledalmostliterallyachildofhell，yettheclimaxofthestoryishisrepentanceatRomeandhisgreatreparation。Thatistheparadoxofmediaevalmorals:asitmustappeartothemoderns。WemusttrytoconceivearaceofmenwhohatedJohn，andsoughthisblood，andbelievedeveryabominationabouthim，whowouldhavebeenquitecapableofassassinatingortorturinghimintheextremityoftheiranger。Andyetwemustadmitthattheywouldnotreallyhavebeenfundamentallysurprisedifhehadshavedhisheadinhumiliation，givenallhisgoodstothepoor，embracedthelepersinalazar-house，andbeencanonisedasasaintinheaven。SostronglydidtheyholdthatthepivotofWillshouldturnfreely，whichnowisrusted，andsticks。

Forwe，whateverourpoliticalopinions，certainlyneverthinkofourpublicmenlikethat。IfweholdtheopinionthatMr。LloydGeorgeisanobletribuneofthepopulaceandprotectorofthepoor，wedonotadmitthathecaneverhavepalteredwiththetruthorbargainedwiththepowerful。IfweholdtheequallyidioticopinionthatheisaredandrabidSocialist，maddeningmobsintomutinyandtheft，thenweexpecthimtogoonmaddeningthem——andus。Wedonotexpecthim，letussay，suddenlytogointoamonastery。Wehavelosttheideaofrepentance；

especiallyinpublicthings；thatiswhywecannotreallygetridofourgreatnationalabusesofeconomictyrannyandaristocraticavarice。

Progressinthemodernsenseisaverydismaldrudge；andmostlyconsistsofbeingmovedonbythepolice。Wemoveonbecausewearenotallowedtomoveback。Butthereallyraggedprophets，therealrevolutionistswhoheldhighlanguageinthepalacesofkings，theydidnotconfinethemselvestosaying，"Onward，Christiansoldiers，"stillless，"Onward，Futuristsoldiers"；whattheysaidtohighemperorsandtowholeempireswas，"Turnye，turnye，whywillyedie？"

THEDIVINEDETECTIVE

Everypersonofsoundeducationenjoysdetectivestories，andthereareevenseveralpointsonwhichtheyhaveaheartysuperioritytomostmodernbooks。Adetectivestorygenerallydescribessixlivingmendiscussinghowitisthatamanisdead。Amodernphilosophicstorygenerallydescribessixdeadmendiscussinghowanymancanpossiblybealive。Butthosewhohaveenjoyedtheromanpoliciermusthavenotedonething，thatwhenthemurdereriscaughtheishardlyeverhanged。"That，"saysSherlockHolmes，"istheadvantageofbeingaprivatedetective"；

afterhehascaughthecansetfree。TheChristianChurchcanbestbedefinedasanenormousprivatedetective，correctingthatofficialdetective——theState。This，indeed，isoneoftheinjusticesdonetohistoricChristianity；injusticeswhicharisefromlookingatcomplexexceptionsandnotatthelargeandsimplefact。Weareconstantlybeingtoldthattheologiansusedracksandthumbscrews，andsotheydid。

Theologiansusedracksandthumbscrewsjustastheyusedthimblesandthree-leggedstools，becauseeverybodyelseusedthem。ChristianitynomorecreatedthemediaevaltorturesthanitdidtheChinesetortures；itinheritedthemfromanyempireasheathenastheChinese。

TheChurchdid，inanevilhour，consenttoimitatethecommonwealthandemploycruelty。Butifweopenoureyesandtakeinthewholepicture，ifwelookatthegeneralshapeandcolourofthething，therealdifferencebetweentheChurchandtheStateishugeandplain。TheState，inalllandsandages，hascreatedamachineryofpunishment，morebloodyandbrutalinsomeplacesthanothers，butbloodyandbrutaleverywhere。TheChurchistheonlyinstitutionthateverattemptedtocreateamachineryofpardon。TheChurchistheonlythingthateverattemptedbysystemtopursueanddiscovercrimes，notinordertoavenge，butinordertoforgivethem。Thestakeandrackweremerelytheweaknessesofthereligion；itssnobberies，itssurrenderstotheworld。

Itsspeciality——or，ifyoulike，itsoddity——wasthismercilessmercy；

theunrelentingsleuthhoundwhoseekstosaveandnotslay。

IcanbestillustratewhatImeanbyreferringtotwopopularplaysonsomewhatparalleltopics，whichhavebeensuccessfulhereandinAmerica。

ThePassingoftheThirdFloorBackisahumaneandreverentexperiment，dealingwiththeinfluenceofoneunknownbutdivinefigureashepassesthroughagroupofSqualidcharacters。Ihavenodesiretomakecheapfunoftheextremelyabruptconversionsofallthesepeople；thatisapointofart，notofmorals；and，afterall，manyconversionshavebeenabrupt。Thissaviour"smethodofmakingpeoplegoodistotellthemhowgoodtheyarealready；andinthecaseofsuicidaloutcasts，whosemoralbacksarebroken，andwhoaresoakedwithsincereself-contempt，Icanimaginethatthismightbequitetherightway。IshouldnotdeliverthismessagetoauthorsormembersofParliament，becausetheywouldsoheartilyagreewithit。

Still，itisnotaltogetherherethatIdifferfromthemoralofMr。

Jerome"splay。Idiffervitallyfromhisstorybecauseitisnotadetectivestory。ThereisinitnoneofthisgreatChristianideaoftearingtheireviloutofmen；itlackstherealismofthesaints。

Redemptionshouldbringtruthaswellaspeace；andtruthisafinething，thoughthematerialistsdidgomadaboutit。Thingsmustbefaced，eveninordertobeforgiven；thegreatobjectionto"lettingsleepingdogslie"isthattheylieinmoresensesthanone。ButinMr。Jerome"sPassingoftheThirdFloorBacktheredeemerisnotadivinedetective，pitilessinhisresolvetoknowandpardon。Ratherheisasortofdivinedupe，whodoesnotpardonatall，becausehedoesnotseeanythingthatisgoingon。Itmay，ormaynot，betruetosay，"Toutcomprendreesttoutpardonner。”Butitismuchmoreevidentlytruetosay，"RiencomprendreestrienPardonner，"andthe"ThirdFloorBack"doesnotseemtocomprehendanything。Hemight，afterall，beaquiteselfishsentimentalist，whofounditcomfortingtothinkwellofhisneighbours。

Thereisnothingveryheroicinlovingafteryouhavebeendeceived。Theheroicbusinessistoloveafteryouhavebeenundeceived。

WhenIsawthisplayitwasnaturaltocompareitwithanotherplaywhichIhadnotseen，butwhichIhavereadinitsprintedversion。ImeanMr。

RannKennedy"sServantintheHouse，thesuccessofwhichsprawlsoversomanyoftheAmericannewspapers。Thisalsoisconcernedwithadim，yetevidentlydivine，figurechangingthedestiniesofawholegroupofpersons。Itisabetterplaystructurallythantheother；infact，itisaveryfineplayindeed；butthereisnothingaestheticorfastidiousaboutit。Itisasmuchormorethantheothersensational，democratic，and(Iusethewordinasoundandgoodsense)Salvationist。

Butthedifferenceliespreciselyinthis——thattheChristofMr。

Kennedy"splayinsistsonreallyknowingallthesoulsthatheloves；hedeclinestoconquerbyakindofsupernaturalstupidity。Hepardonsevil，buthewillnotignoreit。Inotherwords，beisaChristian，andnotaChristianScientist。Thedistinctiondoubtlessispartlyexplainedbytheproblemsseverallyselected。Mr。JeromepracticallysupposesChristtobetryingtosavedisreputablepeople；andthat，ofcourse，isnaturallyasimplebusiness。Mr。KennedysupposesHimtobetryingtosavethereputablepeople，whichisamuchlargeraffair。ThechiefcharactersinTheServantintheHouseareapopularandstrenuousvicar，universallyrespected，andhisfashionableandforciblewife。Itwouldhavebeennogoodtotellthesepeopletheyhadsomegoodinthem——forthatwaswhattheyweretellingthemselvesalldaylong。Theyhadtoberemindedthattheyhadsomebadinthem——instinctiveidolatriesandsilenttreasonswhichtheyalwaystriedtoforget。Itisinconnectionwiththesecrimesofwealthandculturethatwefacetherealproblemofpositiveevil。ThewholeofMr。Blatchford"scontroversyaboutsinwasvitiatedthroughoutbyone"sconsciousnessthatwheneverhewrotetheword"sinner"hethoughtofamaninrags。Buthere，again，wecanfindtruthmerelybyreferringtovulgarliterature——itsunfailingfountain。

Whoeverreadadetectivestoryaboutpoorpeople？Thepoorhavecrimes；

butthepoorhavenosecrets。Anditisbecausetheproudhavesecretsthattheyneedtobedetectedbeforetheyareforgiven。

THEELFOFJAPAN

TherearethingsinthisworldofwhichIcansayseriouslythatIlovethembutIdonotlikethem。Thepointisnotmerelyverbal，butpsychologicallyquitevalid。Catsarethefirstthingsthatoccurtomeasexamplesoftheprinciple。Catsaresobeautifulthatacreaturefromanotherstarmightfallinlovewiththem，andsoincalculablethathemightkillthem。Someofmyfriendstakequiteahighmorallineaboutcats。Some，likeMr。Titterton，Ithink，admireacatforitsmoralindependenceandreadinesstoscratchanybody"ifhedoesnotbehavehimself。”Others，likeMr。Belloe，regardthecatascruelandsecret，afitfriendforwitches；onewhowilldevoureverything，except，indeed，poisonedfood，"soutterlylackingisitinChristiansimplicityandhumility。”Formypart，Ihaveneitherofthesefeelings。IadmirecatsasIadmirecatkins；thoselittlefluffythingsthathangontrees。Theyarebothprettyandbothfurry，andbothdeclarethegloryofGod。AndthisabstractexultationinalllivingthingsistrulytobecalledLove；

foritisahigherfeelingthanmereaffectionalconvenience；itisavision。Itisheroic，andevensaintly，inthis:thatitasksfornothinginreturn。IlovealltheeatsinthestreetasSt。FrancisofAssisilovedallthebirdsinthewoodorallthefishesinthesea；notsomuch，ofcourse，butthenIamnotasaint。Buthedidnotwishtobridleabirdandrideonitsback，asonebridlesandridesonahorse。

Hedidnotwishtoputacollarroundafish"sneck，markedwiththename"Francis，"andtheaddress"Assisi"——asonedoeswithadog。Hedidnotwishthemtobelongtohimorhimselftobelongtothem；infact，itwouldbeaveryawkwardexperiencetobelongtoalotoffishes。Butamandoesbelongtohisdog，inanotherbutanequallyrealsensewiththatinwhichthedogbelongstohim。Thetwobondsofobedienceandresponsibilityvaryverymuchwiththedogsandthemen；buttheyarebothbonds。Inotherwords，amandoesnotmerelyloveadog；ashemight(inamysticalmoment)loveanysparrowthatperchedonhiswindow-

silloranyrabbitthatranacrosshispath。Amanlikesadog；andthatisaseriousmatter。