d&ar&en 



of temper and bear in mind that scientific experts 

 who examined Mont Pelee the day before its erup- 

 tion gave assurances that there was no danger to 

 be apprehended. I also can not help thinking that 

 probably the same person who classified lies into 

 lies, d d lies, and statistics, must have tabulated 

 liars of varying degrees into liars, d d liars, and 

 scientific experts. But, as already said, I am out 

 of humor, perhaps more with the income-tax col- 

 lector than the weather, and "across the barren 

 desert of my brain there strays not even the 

 starved camel of an idea." 



At present I am looking at things with what 

 may be called a jaundiced eye, and the prepara- 

 tions which are going on for the coming corona- 

 tion, the occupation of the Lord Chancellor hear- 

 ing and deciding claims from the high and mighty 

 to perform menial services, the defacement of 

 Westminster Abbey and other churches and ven- 

 erable public buildings with hoardings for sight- 

 seers, the bacchanalian celebration of "Hog- 

 manay Night" a short time ago, the sight of a 

 British funeral with its ghastly nodding plumes 

 and hired mourners, all parade themselves before 

 124 



