NOTES 115 



A Committee is dealing with this strange state of affairs ; 

 it may be that they will recommend drastic changes, but con- 

 siderable driving power will be necessary to secure that the 

 present unfair system is altered ; for the vested interests con- 

 cerned are numerous, powerful and tenacious. 

 May 4, 1917. 



Types : Radicals and Tories 



There is not perhaps in the whole world from San Francisco 

 to Tokio quite such an unutterable ass as Mr. Suttonly Such, 

 M.P. Some people might think that Colonel Hangitall, M.P., 

 excels ; but, though we should suffer both gladly, the latter is 

 wanting in certain qualities which bring the former under the 

 zoological definition — for example, he does not possess the 

 characteristic voice. That is, it is the former who more nearly 

 resembles the perfervid Scotchman of whom it was said " that 

 he is never himself unless he gets upon his banks and brays." 

 The Ultra-Tory is more passive. When he is not " shootin' 

 and fishm'/' all that one sees of him is the top of a bald head 

 behind a paper at a club ; and he generally does his pishing 

 and pshawing to himself, except perhaps when he is taking an 

 aperatif with congenial spirits just before lunch 0/ dinner. He 

 is indeed usually a quiet person — though not for any reason 

 except that he is quite above arguing ; and when he perceives a 

 discussion imminent he retires quickly behind his own superiority. 

 But the Ultra- Radical is active — very active. He is a vigorous 

 old man with a ragged beard under his chin — because he does 

 not know how to shave properly ; and he is generally accom- 

 panied by his wife or daughter — homely persons who accept 

 his opinions with conviction — or are indeed sometimes re- 

 sponsible for them without the Radical knowing it. He is 

 moderately well-to-do, having succeeded in the perhaps dubious 

 enterprises of his particular shop. His opinions are written 

 upon his face. His decisive mouth and his grey eyes bring 

 conviction. Of him it can be said that he has put away doubt 

 from him for ever ; for indeed there is nothing more detestable 

 in our life than doubt of any kind — it is almost like having 

 dirty cuffs and collars. In fact both he and the Ultra-Tory 

 are Men of Principle as we denned it a little while ago ; and 

 their opinions were firmly established shortly after they left 

 school. The Radical is of course a member of his local caucus, 



