ar。 Hateful as is the struggle for life in every form； this rough…and…tumble of the literary arena seems to me sordid and degrading beyond all others。 Oh； your prices per thousand words！ Oh； your paragraphings and your interviewings！ And oh； the black despair that awaits those down…trodden in the fray。
Last midsummer I received a circular from a typewriting person； soliciting my custom； some one who had somehow got hold of my name； and fancied me to be still in purgatory。 This person wrote： 〃If you should be in need of any extra assistance in the pressure of your Christmas work； I hope；〃 etc。
How otherwise could one write if addressing a shopkeeper？ 〃The pressure of your Christmas work〃！ Nay； I am too sick to laugh。
XIX
Some one； I see； is lifting up his sweet voice in praise of Conscription。 It is only at long intervals that one reads this kind of thing in our reviews or newspapers； and I am happy in believing that most English people are affected by it even as I am； with the sickness of dread and of disgust。 That the thing is impossible in England； who would venture to say？ Every one who can think at all sees how slight are our safeguards against that barbaric force in man which the privileged races have so slowly and painfully brought into check。 Democracy is full of menace to all the finer hopes of civilization； and the revival； in not unnatural panionship with it； of monarchic power based on militarism； makes the prospect dubious enough。 There has but to arise some Lord of Slaughter； and the nations will be tearing at each other's throats。 Let England be imperilled； and Englishmen will fight； in such extremity there is no choice。 But what a dreary change must e upon our islanders if； without instant danger； they bend beneath the curse of