220 BRITAIN FOR THE BRITON 



naturally enough, all hugely interested in the importation of 

 fooJ-stulfs, and this much may be accepted in strict verity, that 

 neither in the future nor at the present time can lielp be 

 expected to come from this large and influential group, which 

 would assist in the smallest degree in solving the agricultural 

 problem. All who are connected with this powerful coterie 

 are financially interestcnl, or think they are, in maintaining 

 present conditions, and to a man they would fight for their 

 continuance. It is a fallacy, yet it exists all the same. 



The Greatest Pessimists 



The man who exercises the most malign influence is perhaps 

 he who is a pessimist by nature, a born grumbler, and one of 

 life's failures. This man is to be met with everywhere, and 

 wherever he may be encountered, or under whatever conditions, 

 he always deals in cold douches and doles out wet blankets to 

 his friends. Take him into your confidence, tell him of your 

 little plans in regard to turning the land to account for the 

 betterment of your life's conditions, unfold your schemes and 

 talk of your hopes and your chances of success, and, as sure as 

 fate, he will so cool your ardour with his chilly douche, and 

 quench your hopes with his wet blanket of everlasting dis- 

 paragement, that you will be filled with discouragement and 

 despair. This is the type of man who will say to you, " Don't 

 for goodness* sake, my dear fellow, do anything of the kind. I 

 tried that game some years ago, and found it was an utter 

 frnutl ; in fact I dropped more money over it than I could 

 afford." " Or," he may say, " don't you believe it, old chap ; 

 you'll only drop your money if you try anything of the kind. 

 Look at old Smith, for example, lie thought he could make 

 something out of it, but after a year or two he dropped it like a 

 hot coal. Stop where you are, is my advice." 



This type of man is as plentiful as bees in summer, and as 

 ubiquitous as the sparrow. He is to be met with in every grade 

 of society, as also in the columns of the daily Press; but 

 whether his utterances be oral or written there is always the 

 same pessimistic note running through them which proclaims 

 him to be what in reality he is — one of life's failures, or at 

 least a pessimist of the worst type. Nevertheless, this man, 

 iailure that he may be, and born grumbler that he is, exercises 

 considerable influence over certain members of the community, 

 and he is, therefore, a factor in the ([uestion we are considering. 



If you venture to point out the significant fact that all 

 other countries in the world but ours make much of their 

 agriculture, and regard it as their most valuable industry, he 



