OLD RECOLLECTIONS 287 



waves, at least, were breaking on the beach ; 

 and I heard the sprat-loons howl. How I 

 wondered, and, for the matter of that, still 

 wonder, whence came that mighty roller, and 

 what caused it ! 



The rising generation live in favoured times ; 

 their way is all made plain and smooth. Pic- 

 ture galleries, collections of natural history, 

 botanical gardens and reading-rooms all are 

 open to them ; and also those noble establish- 

 ments for the help and care of suffering huma- 

 nity, our hospitals. And all within quick and 

 easy reach either by water or rail, that mar- 

 vellous network of iron roads or tracks which 

 run in all directions, above ground and under 

 it. And to think that nearly all these vast 

 changes for the good of our common humanity 

 have taken place in my own time ! I have 

 lived to see tradesmen's carts rattling along- 

 main streets over the very spots where I used 

 to get bogged up to the waist, looking after 

 snipes. More changes will, and must, come yet 

 to give living-room to the increasing popula- 

 tion. I must not touch on that question, but 

 I believe that the class to which I belong will 

 yet have sufficient to say about it. The spirit 

 of unrest has reached even into the heart of 



