22 THE KEEPER'S BOOK 



and well-grounded self-esteem with an habitual nice 

 and delicate regard to the rights and feelings of others." 

 Let us admit that this is no easy matter. But as John 

 Stuart Blackie said : " Difficulties are the true test of 

 greatness : cowards shrink from them ; fools bungle 

 them ; wise men conquer them. " And again : * ' Prudence 

 yields to circumstance ; folly quarrels with it ; pride 

 defies it ; wisdom uses it ; and genius controls it." 



As far as the keeper is concerned in his official 

 position, his principal neighbours are the shepherd, the 

 farmer and his labourers, the neighbouring keepers, and 

 the townsfolk and villagers. In dealing with these 

 let us remember that a little tact is worth a world of 

 bullying, a little give and take more powerful for good 

 than endless protestation and argument. In all his 

 relations the main point to be remembered is that con- 

 sideration for a neighbour's interests is the first step 

 towards the security of one's own. And if serious diffi- 

 culties do present themselves, say with prejudiced and 

 unreasoning farmers, it is better for the keeper to refer 

 the matter to his master, who can speak and act with 

 greater authority than he, than for him to undertake a 

 campaign which might make his position unpopular and 

 even untenable. There is nothing more difficult to 

 learn than the art of correction, unless it be the disci- 

 pline of accepting it in the right spirit. The work 

 achieved in this direction by the Services and our public 

 schools is noteworthy and admirable. But we must 

 remember that it is but the minority who have served 



