A LETTER TO THE AUTHOR ix 



make that spacious land perfect was some trout 

 fishing ! Which it now possesses in good measure. 

 So now, like England, South Africa is " the best 

 country in the world to live in." 



Now that, I was about to say, is a fortunate 

 belief; but I think I must amend the saying. 

 It is not really the belief that matters, but the 

 believer, especially if he turns prophet and per- 

 suades others. This is what you have done, 

 though I don't suppose you ever thought of 

 such a thing. That ineradicable habit of yours 

 of digging for the best in men and matters lays 

 a certain responsibility on you when you translate 

 it into the spirit of a book. Others, noting the 

 evident happiness that comes of such digging, 

 will begin to follow your example. And I can 

 see an ultimate logical result of the labour, widely 

 diffused, in a slight alteration of the confession 

 of faith " the world is the best place to live in." 



And, now I come to think of it, that is what 

 we are all after, isn't it ? Really, my dear B. B., 

 you are a prophet of no mean order. 



Yours, in a state of thoughtfulness, 



H. T. SHERINGHAM. 



