THE CALL OF THE LAND 



The late Sir James Fitzjames Stephen 

 thought that in the particulars just named 

 modern England was falling behind Old 

 England. He had little "enthusiasm about 

 progress" anyway. 



He said: "I suspect . . . that peo- 

 ple are more sensitive, less enterprising and 

 ambitious, less earnestly desirous to get 

 what they want and more afraid of pain, 

 both for themselves and others, than they 

 used to be. If this should be so, it appears 

 to me that all other gain, whether it be 

 wealth, knowledge or humanity, affords no 

 equivalent." ". . . I do not myself see 

 that our mechanical inventions have in- 

 creased the general vigor of men's charac- 

 ters." 



Health is necessary, more particularly, 

 that a man may will and purpose strongly in 

 the great crises of his life. On ordinary 

 occasions, discharging common business, 

 following routine, one may get on tolerably 

 with little robustness. In walking just for 

 exercise you may limp; it does not matter 

 very much. But in a race, limping spells 



