AT A ROSE-SHOW. 279 



cause he once won a prize for cucumbers, or because the 

 mayor knows his uncle. The latter is either, in his wise 

 silence, quite useless, or, in his fool's loquacity, a dreadful 

 bore — dangerous wherever he has power. To the second I 

 would say, 



'* Cassio, I love thee, but never more be officer of mine " 



until you know more about Roses. To the first I take off 

 my hat, as to " a chief justice among chief justices,"* and 

 wish that he may ever preside in court when I have a cause 

 to plead. 



The arbiter at a Rose-show should be a man who not 

 only lives among Roses, but among Roses in their most 

 perfect phase. He should know the capabilities of each 

 separate variety, as to symmetry, colour, and size, that he 

 may estimate and compare accurately the merits of the 

 flowers before him. He should know thoroughly their 

 habit of growth, their peculiarities of leaf and wood, that he 

 may correct misnomers, and detect additions or duplicates. 

 He should regard his office as a sacred duty, not only be- 

 cause justice and honour are sacred things, but because 

 there seems to be a special sanctity in such beautiful handi- 

 work of God ; and to be untruthful and dishonest in such a 



* So Fuller designates our great Nottinghamshire judge, Markham. 



