" FORE ! " 



THE writer has no apologies to make 

 for the thinly-veiled criticism of 

 the exactions of modern life that runs 

 like a thread through the so-called 

 "Idle Hour" series, of which this is the 

 fourth. He would not go Thoreau's 

 length, but does intend these little 

 volumes to stand as a fairly good- 

 natured protest against a mode of 

 living that compels mankind to devote 

 an altogether unreasonable proportion 

 of his days to the endless task of 

 providing the things demanded by 

 twentieth century civilization; leaving 

 insufficient opportunity for the rational 

 enjoyment of life. 



If, at times, he verges on the cynical 

 to an extent that jars the suscepti- 

 bilities of those who accept as sound 

 the prescribed routines and conven- 

 tionalities, he can only reply that 

 nothing short of a jolt now and then 

 makes any impression, 

 [vii] 



