SHREWDNESS AND SIMPLICITY 361 



I have just mentioned. " Ees," he said, "zur, but 

 look yonder," and he pointed to the clump of trees at 

 Wynn Green, just over the Wiltshire border, which 

 happens to be a few feet higher than Bulbarrow ; 

 "they do say that that be the highest clump in the 

 world." I faintly suggested that there might be 

 some higher clumps in Asia, if not in Europe. 

 "Well, zur, I've a' been there," he replied, "and 

 they do all say, about there, that it be the highest 

 clump in the world," and I forebore to shake further 

 his faith in its supremacy. 



Some of the older inhabitants have, even now, 

 never travelled by train or seen a railway. The 

 postman, the carrier, the butcher's and baker's 

 carts, are still the chief media of communication 

 with the outer world. Yet their shrewd native 

 sense makes them suspicious of politicians who deal 

 largely in promises. They were caught indeed, 

 some years ago, by the promise held out to them 

 of " three acres and a cow," as the result of the 

 proposed disestablishment and disendowment of the 

 National Church. " I do know it be true," said the 

 wife of one of them, "I've seen 'em a-measuring 

 out of the ground." The gentlemen of the Ordnance 

 Survey happened to have been there, just then, 

 with their mysterious flags and poles and theodolites. 



