MANNERS IN ARC AD Y. 311 



been one of the first to foster that most 

 precious thing, a national, social conscience. 



That the younger country labourers and 

 mechanics are becoming more independent 

 one does not doubt, but the process of exfolia- 

 tion is, I admit, not a beautiful one. No 

 flowers emerge from this national renaissance : 

 only a very stiff and prickly thistle. This is 

 largely due to its unnatural growth in the 

 rank soil of the gardens and stables of the 

 rich. They quickly acquire the abrupt bad 

 manners of the wealthy, and like their masters 

 become impudent to all but those who 

 possess wealth, or what wealth purchases — 

 power. They have in some way to show 

 what they consider their '* independence," to 

 regain their self-respect which they lose in 

 their parasitic service — hence their surliness 

 to those who in no way govern their lives. 



This, however, is true in the main only 

 of those counties where both master and man 

 are parasites upon the producers. The poor 

 in these counties have little sense of social 

 injustice. That has been stifled in the in- 

 dividual competitive struggle for places in the 

 homes of the wealthy. 



It is curious to note how in England young 



