IX. 



RAGGING 



Every sincere and conscientious attempt to 

 increase the gaiety of nations must merit the 

 respect that all genuine philanthropic effort 

 evokes. The man who can make two smiles 

 grow where one grew before is rightly entitled 

 to be regarded as a public benefactor, and to 

 label my cousin George Biffin a drone, simply 

 because he is under no necessity to work for a 

 living, would be as unjust as it is obviously 

 discourteous. 



It may, indeed, be safely asserted that in the 

 course of a brief and apparently otiose existence 

 Cousin George has done more than most of his 

 contemporaries to augment the sum of human 

 happiness. As the result of his persistent 

 labours, light and laughter have invaded many 

 of the earth's darkest and most desolate places, 

 while innumerable lost and broken souls have 

 found fresh comfort and courage in the con- 

 templation of his facetious activities. 

 It is now some ten years since George was 



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