32 ACTIVE AND LESS IMPASSIONED MAN. 



wisely so. His genius fits him much more for life on 

 the camel's back, or in a boat, or in a balloon than for 

 life on the domestic hearth or in the study. He 

 may possibly bring happiness to domestic life by 

 worthy ideals and helpful service, but too often he 

 is an impostor as a husband and his marriage is a 

 fraud. 



The journalistic performer has great advantages; 

 not only can he perform his pranks but he can print 

 them. He is full of crazes, and calls upon the nation 

 to suspend its avocations, resolve itself into a com- 

 mittee, and consider them. Here is a suggestion of 

 the sort of craze to which he is subject : Old women 

 in great numbers are being systematically thrown into 

 the Thames. Not a moment is to be lost. Consider 

 what might happen to our own dear grandmothers ! 

 Does a cold-blooded generation ask for proof ? An 

 old woman's corpse is secretly bought from the 

 " shady " porter of the nearest parochial " dead- 

 house ; " secretly thrown into the Thames ; it is fished 

 up again with much publicity and many flourishes. 

 Dignitaries of the Church, after secret consultation, 

 publicly testify to the zeal and good intentions of the 

 fisher. Let scoffers beware ! Have they not them- 

 selves toppled an old woman or two over the Embank- 

 ment on a dark night ? Besides if they do not keep 

 quiet the saviour of old women will name them. The 

 unimpassioned are given to be saviours. The acknow- 

 ledged saviour is probably not ill-pleased with himself. 

 We can of ourselves do nothing right but we can 

 believe in hitn, dream of him, thank God for him, and 

 ask him to address us. 



Mr. Ruskin, being himself unscorched though 

 sometimes using scorching words by the fire of 



