TEE FIELD-PLAY. 19 



lines to upset trains, by the dynamite explosions at 

 Government offices, railway stations, and even at news- 

 paper offices, the sending of letters filled with explo- 

 sives, firing dynamite in trout streams just to destroy 

 the harmless fish ; a character which in the country has 

 hitherto manifested itself in the burning of ricks and 

 farm buildings. Science is always putting fresh power 

 into the hands of this class. In cities they have 

 partly awakened to the power of knowledge ; in the 

 country they still use the match. If any one thinks 

 that there is no danger in England because there are no 

 deep-seated causes of discontent, such as foreign rule, 

 oppressive enactments, or conscription, I can assure 

 him that he is wofuUy mistaken. This class needs no 

 cause at all ; prosperity cannot allay its hatred, and 

 adversity does not weaken it. It is certainly unwise 

 to the last degree to provoke this demon, to control 

 which as yet no means have been found. You can- 

 not arrest the invisible; you cannot pour Martini- 

 Henry bullets into a phantom. How are you going 

 to capture people who blow themselves into atoms in 

 order to shatter the frame of a Czar ? 



In its dealings with the lower class this generation 

 is certainly far from wise. Never was the distinction 

 so sharp between the poor — the sullen poor who stand 

 scornful and desperate at the street corners — and the 

 well-to-do. The contrast now extends to every one 

 who can afford a black coat. It is not confined to the 

 millionaire. The contrast is with every black coat. 

 Those who only see the drawing-room side of society, 

 those who move, too, in the well-oiled atmosphere of 

 commercial offices, are quite ignorant of the savage 



