2 22 Four-iii-Hand in Britain. 



lost some picturesque features when all the shams are 

 gone. If mankind were not greatly influenced by 

 forms, I could wish that just enough of the " good old 

 times " — which were very bad times indeed — could be 

 preserved, if only to prove how far we have outgrown 

 them; but every form and every sham, from royalty 

 downward, carries its good or evil with it. That not 

 only the substance should be right, but that the form 

 should correspond truly to it, is important if we are to 

 be honest ; so I reconcile myself to the passing away of 

 all forms which no longer honestly represent what they 

 imply. 



Lancaster is a beautiful place and noted for its ad- 

 mirable charitable institutions. The lunatic asylum and 

 an orphanage attracted our special attention. These 

 and kindred institutions abound in England, and are 

 ably conducted. Rich Englishmen do not leave their 

 fortunes for uses of this kind as often as Americans do. 

 The ambition to found a family, and the maintenance of 

 an aristocratic class by means of primogeniture and 

 entail, tend to divert fortunes from this nobler path into 

 the meaner end of elevating a name in the social scale ; 

 but the general public in Britain is most generous, and 

 immense sums in the aggregate are annually collected 

 for charitable institutions. It is common for a class to 

 support its own unfortunates. The commercial travel- 

 lers, for instance, have an extensive home near London 

 for children of their fellows and for members in their 



