第8章

Weweredrifting，Icouldsee，towardsDoctorHaig\'ssystemofdietary，andwhethertheexclusionorinclusionoffishandchickenweremostconducivetohighefficiency，whenBritten，whohadrefusedlemonadeandclaretanddemandedBurgundy，brokeout，andwasdiscoveredtobedemandinginhisthroatjustwhatweYoungLiberalsthoughtwewereupto？

"Iwant，"saidBritten，repeatinghischallengealittlelouder，"tohearjustexactlywhatyouthinkyouaredoinginParliament？"

Lewislaughednervously，andthoughtwewere"SeekingtheGoodoftheCommunity。"

"HOW？"

"BeneficientLegislation，"saidLewis。

"Beneficientinwhatdirection？"insistedBritten。"Iwanttoknowwhereyouthinkyouaregoing。"

"AmeliorationofSocialConditions，"saidLewis。

"That\'sonlyaphrase！"

"Youwouldn\'thavemesketchbillsatdinner？"

"I\'dlikeyoutoindicatedirections，"saidBritten，andwaited。

"UpwardandOn，"saidLewiswithconsciousneatness，andturnedtoaskMrs。BuntingHarblowaboutherlittleboy\'sFrench。

ForatimetalkfrothedoverBritten\'shead，butthenaturalmischiefinMrs。Millinghamhadbeenstirred，andshewaspresentlyechoinghisdemandinlisping，quasi-confidentialundertones。"WhatAREweLiberalsdoing？"ThenEsmeerfellinwiththerevolutionaries。

Tobeginwith，Iwasalittleshockedbythisclamourforfundamentals——andalittledisconcerted。IhadtheexperiencethatIsupposecomestoeveryoneattimesofdiscoveringoneselftogetherwithtwodifferentsetsofpeoplewithwhomonehasmaintainedtwodifferentsetsofattitudes。Ithadalwaysbeen，I

perceived，aninstinctivesuppressioninourcirclethatweshouldn\'tbemorethanvagueaboutourpoliticalideals。Ithadalmostbecomepartofmymoralitytorespectthisconvention。Itwasunderstoodwewereallworkinghard，andkeepingourselvesfit，tremendouslyfit，underAltiora\'sinspiration，ProBonoPublico。

BuntingHarblowhadhisunder-secretaryship，andLewiswasonthevergeoftheCabinet，andthesethingsweconsideredtobeinthenatureofconfirmations……Itaddedtotbediscomfortofthesituationthattheseplungingenquirieswerebeingmadeinthepresenceofourwives。

Therebelsectionofourpartyforcedthetalk。

EdwardCramptonwaspresentlydeclaring——Iforgetinwhatrelation：

"Thecountryiswithus。"

Mylong-controlledhatredoftheCramptons\'stereotypedphrasesabouttheCountryandtheHousegotthebetterofme。Ishowedmyclovenhooftomyfriendsforthefirsttime。

"Wedon\'trespecttheCountryasweusedtodo，"Isaid。"Wehaven\'tthesamebeliefweusedtohaveinthewillofthepeople。

It\'snogood，Crampton，tryingtokeepthatup。WeLiberalsknowasamatteroffact——nowadayseveryoneknows——thatthemonsterthatbroughtusintopowerhas，amongotherdeficiencies，nohead。We\'vegottogiveitone——ifpossiblewithbrainsandawill。Thatliesinthefuture。Forthepresentifthecountryiswithus，itmeansmerelythatwehappentohaveholdofitstether。"

Lewiswasshocked。A"mandate"fromtheCountrywassacredtohissystemofpretences。

Brittenwasn\'tsubduedbyhisfirstrebuff；presentlyhewasatusagain。Therewereseveralattemptstocheckhisoutbreakofinterrogation；IremembertheCramptonsaskedquestionsaboutthewelfareofvariouscousinsofLewiswhowereunknowntotherestofus，andMargarettriedtoengageBritteninasympatheticdiscussionoftheArtsandCraftsexhibition。ButBrittenandEsmeerwerepersistent，Mrs。Millinghamwasmischievous，andintheendourrisinghopesofYoungLiberalismtooktotheirthicketsforgood，whilewetalkedalloverthemoftheprevalentvacuityofpoliticalintentions。Margaretwasperplexedbyme。ItisonlynowI

perceivejusthowperplexingImusthavebeen。"Ofcourse，shesaidwiththatfaintstressofapprehensioninhereyes，onemusthaveaims。"And，"itisn\'talwayseasytoputeverythingintophrases。"

"Don\'tbelong，"saidMrs。EdwardCramptontoherhsubandasthewivestroopedout。AndafterwardswhenwewentupstairsIhadanindefinablepersuasionthattheladieshadbeencriticisingBritten\'sshareinourtalkinanaltogetherunfavourablespirit。

Mrs。Edwardevidentlythoughthimaggressiveandimpertinent，andMargaretwithaquietfirmnessthatbrookednoresistance，tookhimatonceintoacornerandshowedhimItalianphotographsbyCoburn。

Wedispersedearly。

IwalkedwithBrittenalongtheChelseabackstreetstowardsBatterseaBridge——helodgedonthesouthside。

"Mrs。Millingham\'sadear，"hebegan。

"She\'sadear。"

"Ilikedherdemandforahansombecauseafour-wheelerwastoosafe。"

"Shewasworkedup，"Isaid。"She\'sawomanoffaultlesscharacter，butherinstincts，asAltiorawouldsay，areanarchistic——whenshegivesthemachance。"

"Soshetakesitoutinhansomcabs。"

"Hansomcabs。"

"She\'swise，"saidBritten……

"Ihope，Remington，"hewentonafterapause，"Ididn\'tragyourothergueststoomuch。I\'veasortoffeelingatmoments——

Remington，thosechapsaresoinfernallynot——notbloody。It\'spartofaman\'sdutysometimesatleasttoeatredbeefandgetdrunk。

Howishetounderstandgovernmentifhedoesn\'t？Itscaresmetothinkofyourlot——byasortofmisapprehension——beinginpower。A

kindofneuralgiainthehead，bywayofgovernment。Idon\'tunderstandwhereYOUcomein。Thoseothers——they\'venolusts。

Theiridealisanaemia。YouandI，wehadatleastalusttotakeholdoflifeandmakesomethingofit。They——theywanttotakeholdoflifeandmakenothingofit。Theywanttocutoutallthestimulants。Justasthoughlifewasanythingelsebutareactiontostimulation！"……

Hebegantotalkofhisownlife。Hehadhadill-fortunethroughmostofit。Hewaspoorandunsuccessful，andagirlhehadbeenveryfondofhadbeenattackedandkilledbyahorseinafieldinaveryhorriblemanner。Thesethingshadwoundedandtorturedhim，buttheyhadn\'tbrokenhim。Theyhad，itseemedtome，madeakindofcrippledanduglydemigodofhim。Hewas，Ibegantoperceive，somuchbetterthanIhadanyrighttoexpect。AtfirstIhadbeenratherstruckbyhisunkemptlook，anditmademyreactionallthestronger。Therewasabouthimsomething，akindofrawandbleedingfaithinthedeepthingsoflife，thatstirredmeprofoundlyasheshowedit。Mysetofpeoplehadirritatedhimanddisappointedhim。

Idiscoveredathistouchhowtheyirritatedhim。Hereproachedmeboldly。HemademefeelashamedofmyeasyacquiescencesasI

walkedinmysleektallneatnessbesidehisratheroldcoat，hisratherbatteredhat，hissturdiershortershape，andlistenedtohisdenunciationsofourself-satisfiedNewLiberalismandProgressivism。

"Ithasthesamerelationtoprogress——therealityofprogress——thatthethingstheypaintondoorpanelsinthesuburbshavetoartandbeauty。There\'sasortoffiliation……YourAltiora\'sjustthepoliticalequivalentoftheladieswhoselltracedclothforembroidery；she\'sadealerinRefinedSocialReformfortheParlour。

Therealprogress，Remington，isagraverthingandapainfullerthingandaslowerthingaltogether。Look！THAT"——andhepointedtowhereunderaboardinginthelightofagaslampadingyprostitutestoodlurking——"wasinBabylonandNineveh。Yourlittlelotmakebelievetherewon\'tbeanythingofthesortafterthisParliament！They\'regoingtovanishatafewtopnotesfromAltioraBailey！Remington！——it\'sfoolery。It\'sprigsatplay。It\'smake-

believe，make-believe！Yourpeopletherehaven\'tgotholdofthings，aren\'tbeginningtogetholdofthings，don\'tknowanythingoflifeatall，shirklife，avoidlife，getinlittlebrightcleanroomsandtalkbigoveryourbumpersoflemonadewhiletheNightgoesbyoutside——untouched。ThoseCramptonfoolsslinkbyallthis，"——hewavedatthewomanagain——"pretenditdoesn\'texist，orisgoingtobebanishedrootandbranchbyanActtokeepchildreninthewetoutsidepublic-houses。Doyouthinktheyreallycare，Remington？Idon\'t。It\'smake-believe。Whattheywanttodo，whatLewiswantstodo，whatMrs。BuntingHarblowwantsherhusbandtodo，istositandfeelverygraveandnecessaryandrespectedontheGovernmentbenches。Theythinkofputtingtheirfeetoutlikestatesmen，andtiltingshinyhatswithbecomingbrimsdownovertheirsuccessfulnoses。Presentationportraittoaclubatfifty。

That\'stheirReality。That\'stheirscope。Theydon\'t，it\'smanifest，WANTtothinkbeyondthat。ThethingsthereARE，Remington，they\'llneverface！thewonderandthedepthoflife，——

lust，andthenight-sky，——pain。"

"Butthegoodintention，"Ipleaded，"theGoodWill！"

"Sentimentality，"saidBritten。"NoGoodWillisanythingbutdishonestyunlessitfretsandburnsandhurtsanddestroysaman。

Thatlotofyourshavenothingbutagoodwilltothinktheyhavegoodwill。Doyouthinktheylieawakeofnightssearchingtheirheartsaswedo？Lewis？Crampton？Orthoseneat，admiring，satisfiedlittlewives？Seehowtheyshrankfromtheprobe！"

"Weall，"Isaid，"shrinkfromtheprobe。"

"Godhelpus！"saidBritten……

"Wearebutverminatthebest，Remington，"hebrokeout，"andthegreatestsaintonlyawormthathaslifteditsheadforamomentfromthedust。Wearedamned，wearemeanttobedamned，coralanimalculaebuildingupward，upwardinaseaofdamnation。Butofallthedamnedthingsthateverweredamned，yourdamnedshirking，temperate，sham-efficient，self-satisfied，respectable，make-

believe，Fabian-spiritedYoungLiberalistbeutterlydamnedest。"

Hepausedforamoment，andresumedinanentirelydifferentnote：

"WhichiswhyIwassosurprised，Remington，tofindYOUinthisset！"

"You\'rejusttheoldplungeryouusedtobe，Britten，"Isaid。"

You\'regoingtoofarwithallyourmightforthesakeofthedamns。

Likeadonkeythatdragsitscartupabanktogetthistles。

There\'sdepthsinLiberalism——"

"WeweretalkingaboutLiberals。"

"Liberty！"

"Liberty！WhatdoYOORlittlelotknowofliberty？"

"Whatdoesanylittlelotknowofliberty？"

"Itwaitsoutside，toobigforourunderstanding。Likethenightandthestars。Andlust，Remington！lustandbitterness！Don\'tI

knowthem？withallthesweetnessandhopeoflifebittenandtrampled，thedeareyesandthebrainthatlovedandunderstood——andmypoormumbleofalifegoingon！I\'mwithinsightofbeingadrunkard，Remington！I\'mafailurebymoststandards！Lifehascutmetothebone。ButI\'mnotafraidofitanymore。I\'vepaidsomethingoftheprice，I\'veseensomethingofthemeaning。"

Heflewoffatatangent。"I\'dratherdieinDeliriumTremens，"hecried，"thanbeaCramptonoraLewis……"

"Make-believe。Make-believe。"ThephraseandBritten\'ssquatgestureshauntedmeasIwalkedhomewardalone。IwenttomyroomandstoodbeforemydeskandsurveyedpapersandfilesandMargaret\'sadmirableequipmentofme。

IperceivedintheluridlightofBritten\'ssuggestionsthatsoitwasMr。GeorgeAlexanderwouldhavemountedastatesman\'sprivateroom……

3

Iwasneveratanystagealoyalpartyman。Idoubtifpartywilleveragainbetheforceitwasduringtheeighteenthandnineteenthcenturies。Menarebecomingincreasinglyconstructiveandselective，lesspatientundertraditionandthebondageofinitialcircumstances。Aseducationbecomesmoreuniversalandliberating，menwillsortthemselvesmoreandmorebytheirintellectualtemperamentsandlessandlessbytheiraccidentalassociations。

Thepastwillrulethemless；thefuturemore。Itisnotsimplypartybutschoolandcollegeandcountyandcountrythatlosetheirglamour。Onedoesnothearnearlyasmuchasourforefathersdidofthe"oldHarrovian，""oldArvonian，""oldEtonian"claimtothisorthatunfairadvantageorunearntsympathy。EventheScotchandtheDevoniansweakenalittleintheirclannishness。Awideningsenseoffairplaydestroyssuchthings。Theyfollowfreemasonrydown——

freemasonryofwhichoneischieflyremindednowadaysinEnglandbypropitiatorysymbolsoutsideshadypublic-houses……

Thereis，ofcourse，atypeofmanwhichclingsveryobstinatelytopartyties。Thesearethemenwithstrongreproductiveimaginationsandnoimaginativeinitiative，suchmenasCladingbowl，forexample，orDayton。Theyarethescholars-at-largeinlife。ForthemthefactthatthepartysystemhasbeenessentialinthehistoryofEnglandfortwohundredyearsgivesitanoverwhelmingglamour。

Theyhavereadhistoriesandmemoirs，theyseethegreatgreypileofWestminsternotsomuchforwhatitisasforwhatitwas，richwithdramaticmemories，populouswithgloriousghosts，phrasingitselfinevitablyinanecdotesandquotations。Itseemsalmostscandalousthatnewthingsshouldcontinuetohappen，swampingwithstrangequalitiesthesavouroftheseoldassociations。

ThatMr。RamsayMacdonaldshouldwalkthroughWestminsterHall，thrusthimself，itmaybe，throughtheverypieceofspacethatonceheldCharlestheMartyrpleadingforhislife，seemshorribleprofanationtoDayton，alastposthumousoutrage；andhewould，I

think，liketohavethefrontbenchesleftemptynowforever，oratmostadornedwithlaureatedivorytablets："HereDizzysat，"and"OnthisSpotWilliamEwartGladstonemadehisFirstBudgetSpeech。"

Failingthis，hedemands，ifonlyassignsofmodestyandrespectonthepartofthesurvivors，meticulousimitation。"Mr。G。，"hemurmurs，"wouldnothavedonethat，"andlamentsavanishedsubtletyevenwhileMr。Eveshamisspeaking。Heisalwaysgloomilydisposedtolapseintowonderingsaboutwhatthingsarecomingto，wonderingsthathavenograinofcuriosity。Hisconceptionofperfectconductisindustriouspersistencealongtheworn-down，well-markedgroovesofthegreatrecordeddays。Soinfinitelymoreimportanttohimisthedocumented，respectedthingthantheelusivepresent。

CladingbowlandDaytondonotshineintheHouse，thoughCladingbowlisasoundmanonacommittee，andDaytonkeepstheOLDCOUNTRY

GAZETTE，themostgentlemanlypaperinLondon。Theyprevail，however，intheirclubsatlunchtime。There，withthepleasantconsciousnessofamorning\'sworkfreefromeitherzealorshirking，theyminglewithpermanentofficials，prominentlawyers，evenafewofthesoberertypeofbusinessmen，andrelaxtheirmindsinthediscussionofthemorningpaper，ofthearchitectureoftheWestEnd，andofthelatestpublicappointments，ofgolf，ofholidayresorts，ofthelastjudicialwitticismsandforensic"crushers。"

TheNewYearandBirthdayhonourslistsarealwaysverysagelyandexhaustivelyconsidered，andanecdotesarepopularandkeenlyjudged。Theydonottalkofthethingsthatarereallyactiveintheirminds，butintheformalandhabitualmannertheysupposetobepropertointelligentbutstillhonourablemen。Socialism，individualmoneymatters，andreligionareforbiddentopics，andsexandwomenonlyinsofarastheyappearinthelawcourts。Itistomethestrangestofconventions，thisassumptionofunrealloyaltiesandtraditionalrespects，thisrepudiationandconcealmentofpassionateinterests。Itislikewearingglovesinsummerfields，orbathinginagown，orfallinginlovewiththeheroineofanovel，orwritingunderapseudonym，orbecomingamaskedTuareg……

Itisnot，Ithink，thatmenofmyspeciesareinsensitivetothegreatpastthatisembodiedinWestminsteranditstraditions；wearenotsomuchwantinginthehistoricalsenseasalivetothegreatnessofourpresentopportunitiesandthestillvasterfuturethatispossibletous。Londonisthemostinteresting，beautiful，andwonderfulcityintheworldtome，delicateinherincidentalandmultitudinouslittleness，andstupendousinherpregnanttotality；Icannotbringmyselftouseherasamuseumoranoldbookshop。WhenIthinkofWhitehallthatlittleaffaironthescaffoldoutsidetheBanquetingHallseemstrivialandremoteincomparisonwiththepossibilitiesthatofferthemselvestomyimaginationwithinthegreatgreyGovernmentbuildingscloseathand。

Itgivesmeaqualmofnostalgiaeventonamethoseplacesnow。I

thinkofSt。Stephen\'stowerstreamingupwardsintothemistyLondonnightandthegreatwetquadrangleofNewPalaceYard，fromwhichthehansomcabsofmyfirstexperienceswereoustedmoreandmorebytaxicabsasthesecondParliamentofKingEdwardtheSeventhaged；I

thinkoftheAdmiraltyandWarofficewiththeirtallMarconimastssendingoutinvisiblethreadsofdirectiontothearmiesinthecamps，togreatfleetsabouttheworld。Thecrowded，darklyshiningrivergoesfloodingthroughmymemoryonceagain，ontothosenarrowseasthatpartusfromourrivalnations；Iseequadranglesandcorridorsofspaciousgrey-tonedofficesinwhichundistinguishedlittlemenandlittlefilesofpaperslinkustoislandsinthetropics，tofrozenwildernessesgashedforgold，tovasttemple-

studdedplains，toforestworldsandmountainworlds，toportsandfortressesandlighthousesandwatch-towersandgrazinglandsandcornlandsallabouttheglobe。OncemoreItraverseVictoriaStreet，grimyanddark，wheretheAgentsoftheEmpirejostleoneanother，passthebigembassiesintheWestEndwiththeirflagsandscutcheons，followthebroadavenuethatleadstoBuckinghamPalace，witnessthecomingandgoingoftroopsandofficialsandguestsalongitfromeverylandonearth……Interwoveninthetextureofitall，mocking，perplexing，stimulatingbeyondmeasure，isthegleamingconsciousness，thechallengingknowledge："Youandyourkindmightstill，ifyoucouldbutgraspithere，mouldallthedestinyofMan！"

4

MyfirstthreeyearsinParliamentwereyearsofactivediscontent。

ThelittlegroupofyoungerLiberalstowhichIbelongedwasveryignorantofthetraditionsandqualitiesofourolderleaders，andquiteoutoftouchwiththemassoftheparty。ForatimeParliamentwasenormouslytakenupwithmoribundissuesandoldquarrels。TheearlyEducationallegislationwassectarianandunenterprising，andtheLicensingBillwentlittlefurtherthantheattemptedrectificationofaConservativemistake。Iwasaltogetherforthenationalisationofthepublic-houses，andofthisendtheBillgavenointimations。Itwasjustbeer-baiting。Iwasrecalcitrantalmostfromthebeginning，andspokeagainsttheGovernmentsoearlyasthesecondreadingofthefirstEducationBill，theonetheLordsrejectedin1906。Iwentalittlebeyondmyintentionintheheatofspeaking，——itisawaywithinexperiencedman。IcalledtheBilltimid，narrow，ameresoptothejealousiesofsectsandlittle-mindedpeople。Icontrasteditsaimandmethodswiththemanifestneedsofthetime。

Iamnotaparticularlygoodspeaker；afterthemannerofawriterI

worrytofindmymeaningtoomuch；butthiswasoneofmysuccesses。

IspokeafterdinnerandtoafairlyfullHouse，forpeoplewerealreadyalittlecuriousaboutmebecauseofmywritings。SeveraloftheConservativeleaderswerepresentandstayed，andMr。

Evesham，Iremember，cameostentatiouslytohearme，withthatengagingfriendlinessofhis，andgavemeatthefirstchanceanapproving"Hear，Hear！"IcanstillrecallquitedistinctlymytwofutileattemptstocatchtheSpeaker\'seyebeforeIwasabletobegin，thenervousquiverofmyrathertoopreparedopening，theeffectofhearingmyownvoiceandmysubconsciouswonderastowhatIcouldpossiblybetalkingabout，therealisationthatIwasgettingonfairlywell，theimmensesatisfactionafterwardsofhavingonthewholebroughtitoff，andtheabsurdgratitudeIfeltforthatencouragingcheer。

AddressingtheHouseofCommonsislikenootherpublicspeakingintheworld。Itssemi-colloquialmethodsgiveitanairofbeingeasy，butitsshiftingaudience，thecomingsandgoingsandhesitationsofmembersbehindthechair——notmereaudienceunits，butmenwhomatter——thedesolatingemptinessthatspreadsitselfroundthemanwhofailstointerest，thelittlecompact，disciplinedcrowdinthestrangers\'gallery，thelight，elusive，flickeringmovementshighupbehindthegrill，thewigged，attentive，wearySpeaker，thetableandthemaceandthechapel-likeGothicbackgroundwithitssombreshadows，conspiretogether，produceaconfused，uncertainfeelinginme，asthoughIwaswalkinguponapavementfulloftrap-doorsandpatchesofuncoveredmorass。A

misplaced，well-meant"Hear，Hear！"isapttobeextraordinarilydisconcerting，andundernoothercircumstanceshaveIhadtospeakwithquitethesamesidewaystwistthatthearrangementoftheHouseimposes。Onedoesnotrecogniseone\'sownvoicethreadingoutintothestirringbrown。UnlessIwasexcitedorspeakingtothemindofsomeparticularpersoninthehouse，Iwasapttolosemyfeelingofanauditor。Ihadnosenseofwhithermysentencesweregoing，suchasonehaswithapublicmeetingwellunderone\'seye。Andtoloseone\'ssenseofanauditorisforamanofmytemperamenttoloseone\'ssenseoftheimmediate，andtobecomeprolixandvaguewithqualifications。

5

MydiscontentswiththeLiberalpartyandmymentalexplorationofthequalityofpartygenerallyiscuriouslymixedupwithcertainimpressionsofthingsandpeopleintheNationalLiberalClub。TheNationalLiberalClubisLiberalismmadevisibleintheflesh——andDoultonware。Itisanextraordinarybigclubdoneinabold，wholesale，shiny，marbledstyle，richlyfurnishedwithnumerouspaintings，steelengravings，busts，andfull-lengthstatuesofthelateMr。Gladstone；anditsspaciousdining-rooms，itslong，hazy，crowdedsmoking-roomwithinnumerablelittletablesandgroupsofmeninarmchairs，itsmagazineroomandlibraryupstairs，havejustthatundistinguishedandunconcentrateddiversitywhichisformetheLiberalnote。Thepensivemembersitsandhearsperplexingdialectsandevenfragmentsofforeignspeech，andamongtheclusteringmassesoflessinsistentwhiteshisrovingeyecatchesprofilesandcomplexionsthatsendhismindafieldtoCalcuttaorRangoonortheWestIndiesorSierraLeoneortheCape……

Iwasnotinfrequentlythatpensivemember。IusedtogototheClubtodoubtaboutLiberalism。

Abouttwoo\'clockinthedaythegreatsmoking-roomiscrowdedwithcountlesslittlegroups。Theysitaboutsmallroundtables，orincirclesofchairs，andthehazeoftobaccoseemstoprolongthegreatnarrowplace，withitspillarsandbays，toinfinity。Someofthegroupsarebig，asmanyasadozenmentalkinloudtones；someareduologues，andthereisalwaysasprinklingoflonely，dissociatedmen。Atfirstonegetsanimpressionofmengoingfromgrouptogroupandasitwerelinkingthem，butasonewatchescloselyonefindsthatthesemenjustvisitthreeorfourgroupsattheoutside，andknownothingoftheothers。Onebeginstoperceivemoreandmoredistinctlythatoneisdealingwithasortofhumanmosaic；thateachpatchinthatgreatplaceisofadifferentqualityandcolourfromthenextandnevertobemixedwithit。

Mostclubshaveacommonlink，alowestcommondenominatorintheClubBore，whosparesnoone，buteventheNationalLiberalboresarespecialisedandsectional。AsonelooksroundoneseeshereaclumpofmenfromtheNorthCountryorthePotteries，hereanislandofSouthLondonpoliticians，hereacoupleofyoungJewsascendantfromWhitechapel，hereacircleofjournalistsandwriters，hereagroupofIrishpoliticians，heretwoEastIndians，hereapriestorso，hereaclumpofold-fashionedProtestants，herealittleknotofeminentRationalistsindulginginablasphemousstorySOTTOVOCE。

NextthemareagroupofanglicisedGermansandhighlyspecialisedchess-players，andthentwooftheoddest-lookingpersons——bulgingwithdocumentsandintentuponextraordinarybusinesstransactionsoverlongcigars……

Iwouldlistentoastormyseaofbabblement，andtrytoextractsomeconstructiveintimations。EverynowandthenIgotawhiffofpolitics。ItwascleartheywereagainsttheLords——againstplutocrats——againstCossington\'snewspapers——againstthebrewers……

Itwastremendouslyclearwhattheywereagainst。Thetroublewastofindoutwhatonearththeywerefor！……

AsIsatandthought，thestreakedandmottledpillarsandwall，thevariousviews，aspects，andportraitsofMr。andMrs。Gladstone，thepartitionsofpolishedmahogany，theyellow-vestedwaiters，woulddissolveandvanish，andIwouldhaveavisionofthissampleofmiscellaneousmenoflimited，diverseinterestsandauniversallittlenessofimaginationenlarged，unlimited，nolongerasamplebutacommunity，spreading，stretchingouttoinfinity——allinlittlegroupsandduologuesandcircles，allwiththeirspecialandnarrowconcerns，allwiththeirbackstomostoftheothers。

Whatbutacommonantagonismwouldeverkeepthesemultitudestogether？Iunderstoodwhymodernelectioneeringismorethanhalfofitdenunciation。Letuscondemn，ifpossible，letusobstructanddeprive，butnotletusdo。Thereisnorealappealtothecommonplacemindin"Letusdo。"Thatcallsforthecreativeimagination，andfewhavebeenaccustomedtorespondtothatcall。

Theothermerelyneedsjealousyandbate，ofwhichtherearegreatandeasilyaccessiblereservoirsineveryhumanheart……

Irememberthatvisionofendless，narrow，jealousindividualityveryvividly。Aseethinglimitlessnessitbecameatlast，likeawasteplacecoveredbycrawlinglocuststhatmensweepupbythesackloadanddrownbythemillioninditches……

Grotesquelyagainstitcametheleanfeatures，thesidelongshymovementsofEdwardCrampton，seatedinacircleoftalkerscloseathand。Ihadawhiffofhisstrained，unmusicalvoice，andbehold！

hewassayingsomethingaboutthe"WillofthePeople……"

Theimmenseandwonderfuldisconnectednessesofhumanlife！I

forgotthesmokeandjabberoftheclubaltogether；Ibecamealonelyspiritflungaloftbysomequeeraccident，astoneuponaledgeinsomehighandrockywilderness，andbelowasfarastheeyecouldreachstretchedtheswarminginfinitesimalsofhumanity，likegrassuponthefield，likepebblesuponunboundedbeaches。Wasthereevertobeinhumanlifemorethanthatendlessstrugglingindividualism？Wasthereindeedsomegiantry，someimmensevaliantsynthesis，stilltocome——orpresentitmightbeandstillunseenbyme，orwasthisthebeginningandwithalthelastphaseofmankind？……

Iglimpsedforawhilethestupendousimpudenceofourambitions，thetremendousenterprisetowhichthemodernstatesmanisimplicitlyaddressed。Iwasasitwereoneofalittleswarmofwould-bereefbuilderslookingbackattheteemingslimeupontheoceanfloor。Allthehistoryofmankind，allthehistoryoflife，hasbeenandwillbethestoryofsomethingstrugglingoutoftheindiscriminatedabyss，strugglingtoexistandprevailoverandcomprehendindividuallives——aneffortofinsidiousattraction，anideaofinvincibleappeal。Thatsomethinggreaterthanourselves，whichdoesnotsomuchexistasseekexistence，palpitatingbetweenbeingandnot-being，howmarvellousitis！Ithasworntheformandvisageoftenthousanddifferentgods，soughtashapeforitselfinstoneandivoryandmusicandwonderfulwords，spokenmoreandmoreclearlyofamysteryoflove，amysteryofunity，dabblingmeanwhileinbloodandcrueltybeyondthecommonimpulsesofmen。Itissomethingthatcomesandgoes，likealightthatshinesandiswithdrawn，withdrawnsocompletelythatonedoubtsifithaseverbeen……

6

Iwouldmarkwithacuriousinterestthestraycountrymemberoftheclubupintownforanightorso。Mymindwouldbebusywithspeculationsabouthim，abouthishome，hisfamily，hisreading，hishorizons，hisinnumerablefellowswhodidn\'tbelongandnevercameup。IwouldfillintheoutlineofhimwithmemoriesofmyuncleandhisStaffordshireneighbours。HewasperhapsAldermanThisorCouncillorThatdownthere，agreatmaninhisward，J。P。withinsevenmilesoftheboundaryoftheborough，andaGodinhishome。

Herehewasnobody，andveryshy，andeitheralittletooarrogantoralittletoomeektowardsourverydemocraticmanneredbutstilllivenedwaiters。WasheperhapsthebackboneofEngland？Heover-

atehimselflestheshouldappearmean，wentthroughourSpecialDinnerconscientiously，drank，unlesshewasteetotal，ofunfamiliarwines，anddidhisbest，inspiteoftherules，totip。Afterwards，inastateofflushedrepletion，hewouldhaveoldbrandy，blackcoffee，andabandedcigar，orinthenameoftemperanceomitthebrandyandhaverathermorecoffee，inthesmoking-room。Iwouldsitandwatchthatstiffdignityofself-indulgence，andwonder，wonder……

Aninfernalclairvoyancewouldcometome。Iwouldhavevisionsofhiminrelationtohiswife，checkingalways，sometimesbullying，sometimesbeingostentatiously"kind"；Iwouldseehimglancefurtivelyathisdomesticservantsuponhisstaircase，orstiffenhisupperlipagainstthereluctant，protestingbusinessemployee。

Weimaginativepeoplearebaseenough，heavenknows，butitisonlyinraremoodsofbitterpenetrationthatwepiercedowntothebaserlusts，thevilershames，theeverlastinglyingandmuddle-headedself-justificationofthedull。

Iwouldturnmyeyesdownthecrowdedroomandseeothersofhimandothers。Whatdidhethinkhewasupto？Didheforamomentrealisethathispresenceunderthatceramicgloryofaceilingwithmemeant，ifithadanyrationalmeaningatall，thatwewerejointlydoingsomethingwiththenationandtheempireandmankind？……Howonearthcouldanyonegetholdofhim，makeanynobleuseofhim？Hedidn\'treadbeyondhisnewspaper。Heneverthought，butonlyfollowedimaginingsinhisheart。Heneverdiscussed。Atthefirsthintofdiscussionhistempergaveway。

Hewas，Iknew，adeep，thinly-coveredtankofresentmentsandquiteirrationalmoralrages。YetwithalIwouldhavetoresistanimpulsetogoovertohimandnudgehimandsaytohim，"Lookhere！Whatindeeddoyouthinkwearedoingwiththenationandtheempireandmankind？Youknow——MANKIND！"

IwonderwhatreplyIshouldhavegot。

Sofarasanyaveragecouldbestruckandsofarasanybackbonecouldbelocated，itseemedtomethatthissilent，shy，replete，sub-angry，middle-classsentimentalistwasinhisendlessspeciesandvarietiesanddialectsthebackboneofourparty。SofarasI

couldbeconsideredasrepresentinganythingintheHouse，I

pretendedtositfortheelementsofHIM……

7

ForatimeIturnedtowardstheSocialists。Theyatleasthadanairofcoherentintentions。AtthattimeSocialismhadcomeintopoliticsagainafteraperiodofdepressionandobscurity，withatremendousECLAT。TherewasvisiblyafollowingofSocialistmemberstoChrisRobinson；mysteriouslyuncommunicativegentlemeninsoftfelthatsandshortcoatsandsquare-toedbootswhorepliedtocasualadvancesalittlesurprisinglyinrichNorthCountrydialects。Membersbecameawareofa"seagreenincorruptible，"asColonelMarlowputittome，speakingontheAddress，aslendertwistedfiguresupportingitselfonastickandspeakingwithafirethatwasaltogetherrevolutionary。ThiswasPhilipSnowden，thememberforBlackburn。Theyhadcomeinnearlyfortystrongaltogether，andwithanairofpresentlymeaningtocomeinmuchstronger。Theywereonlyoneaspectofwhatseemedatthattimeabignationalmovement。Socialistsocieties，wegathered，werespringingupalloverthecountry，andeveryonewasinquiringaboutSocialismanddiscussingSocialism。IthadtakentheUniversitieswithparticularforce，andanyyoungsterwiththeslightestintellectualpretensionwaseitheractivelyfororbrilliantlyagainst。ForatimeourYoungLiberalgroupwasostentatiouslysympathetic……

WhenIthinkoftheSocialiststherecomesavividmemoryofcertaineveninggatheringsatourhouse……

ThesegatheringshadbeenorganisedbyMargaretastheoutcomeofadiscussionattheBaileys\'。AltiorahadbeenveryemphaticanduncharitableuponthefutilityoftheSocialistmovement。Itseemedthateventheleadersfoughtshyofdinner-parties。

"Theynevermeeteachother，"saidAltiora，"muchlesspeopleontheotherside。Howcantheybegintounderstandpoliticsuntiltheydothat？"

"Mostofthemhavetotallyunpresentablewives，"saidAltiora，"totally！"andquotedinstances，"andtheyWILLbringthem。Ortheywon\'tcome！Someofthepoorcreatureshavescarcelylearnttheirtablemanners。Theyjustmakeholesinthetalk……"

IthoughttherewasagreatdealoftruthbeneathAltiora\'soutburst。ThepresentationoftheSocialistcaseseemedverygreatlycrippledbythewantofacommonintimacyinitsleaders；

thewantofintimacydidn\'tatfirstappeartobemorethananaccident，andourtalkledtoMargaret\'sattempttogetacquaintanceandeasyintercourseafootamongthemandbetweenthemandtheYoungLiberalsofourgroup。Shegaveaseriesofweeklydinners，planned，Ithink，alittletooaccuratelyuponAltiora\'smodel，andaftereachwehadascatholicareceptionaswecouldcontrive。

Ourreceptionswereindeed，Ishouldthink，aboutascatholicasreceptionscouldbe。Margaretfoundherselfwithaweeklyhousefulofinsolubleproblemsinintercourse。Onedidone\'sbest，butonegotanightmarefeelingastheeveningworeon。

Itwasoneofthefewunanimitiesofthesepartiesthateveryoneshouldbealittleoddinappearance，funnyaboutthehairorthetieortheshoesormoregenerally，andthatburstsofviolentaggressionshouldalternatewithanattitudeentirelydefensive。A

numberofourguestshadanairofwaitingforacluethatnevercame，andstoodandsataboutsilently，mildlyamusedbutnotabitsurprisedthatwedidnotdiscovertheirdistinctiveOpen-Sesames。

Therewasasprinklingofmanifestseersandprophetessesinshapelessgarments，fartoomany，Ithought，forreallyeasysocialintercourse，andanyconversationatanymomentwasliabletobecomeoracular。Onewasinastateoftensionfromfirsttolast；themostinnocentremarkseemedcapableofexplodingresentment，andrepliescameoutatthemostunexpectedangles。WeYoungLiberalswentaboutpuzzledbutpolitetothegatheringwehadevoked。TheYoungLiberals\'traditionisonthewholewonderfullydiscreet，superfluoussteamisletoutfarawayfromhomeintheBalkansorAfrica，andtheneat，stifffiguresoftheCramptons，BuntingHarblow，andLewis，eitherinextremelywell-cutmorningcoatsindicativeoftheHouse，orinwhatissometimeswrittenofas"faultlesseveningdress，"stoodaboutonthoseevenings，theyandtheirveryquietlyandsimplyandexpensivelydressedlittlewives，likeadatumlineamidstlakesandmountains。

Ididn\'tatfirstseetheconnectionbetweensystematicsocialreorganisationandarbitrarynoveltiesindietaryandcostume，justasIdidn\'trealisewhythemostcomprehensiveconstructiveprojectsshouldappeartobesupportedsolelybyoddandexceptionalpersonalities。Ononeoftheseeveningsalittlegroupofratherjolly-lookingprettyyoungpeopleseatedthemselvesfornoparticularreasoninalargecircleonthefloorofmystudy，andengaged，sofarasIcouldjudge，inthegameofHunttheMeaning，theintellectualequivalentofHunttheSlipper。ItmusthavebeenthatsameeveningIcameuponanunbleachedyounggentlemanbeforetheovalmirroronthelandingengagedinremovingtheremainsofananchovysandwichfromhisprotrudedtongue——visibleendsofcresshavingmisledhimintothebeliefthathewasdealingwithdoctrinallypermissiblefood。Itwasnotunusualtobegivenhand-

billsandprintedmatterbyourguests，butthereIhadtheadvantageoverLewis，whowastootactfultorefusethestuff，tooneatlydressedtopocketit，andhadnowriting-deskavailableuponwhichhecouldrelievehimselfinamannerflatteringtothegiver。

Sothathishandsgotfullerandfuller。Arelentless，compactlittlewomaninwhatMargaretdeclaredtobeanextremelyexpensiveblackdresshasalsoprintedherselfonmymemory；shehadsetherheartuponmycontributingtoaweeklyperiodicalinthelentilinterestwithwhichshewasassociated，andIspentmuchtimeandcareinevadingher。

MinglingwiththemorehygienictypeswereanumberofAnti-PuritanSocialists，bulgingwithbiasagainsttemperance，andbreakingoutagainstausteremethodsoflivingallovertheirfaces。Theirmannerwaspackedwithheartiness。TheywereapttochoketheapproachestothelittlebuffetMargarethadsetupdownstairs，andthereengageindiscussionsofDeterminism——italwaysseemedtobeDeterminism——whichbecameheartierandnoisier，butneveracrimoniouseveninthesmallhours。ItseemedimpossibletosettleaboutthisDeterminismoftheirs——ever。AndtherewereworldlySocialistsalso。Iparticularlyrecallalarge，active，buoyant，lady-killingindividualwithaneyeglassborneuponabroadblackribbon，whoswamaboutusoneevening。Hemighthavebeenaslightlyfrayedactor，inhislargefrock-coat，hiswhitewaistcoat，andthesortofblackandwhitechecktrousersthattwinkle。Hehadahigh-pitchedvoicewitharistocraticintonations，andheseemedtobeinaperpetualstateofinterrogation。"Whatareweallhe-afor？"hewouldaskonlytooaudibly。"Whatarewedoinghe-a？

What\'stheconnection？"

WhatWAStheconnection？

WemadeaspecialeffortwithourlastassemblyinJune，1907。WetriedtogetsomethinglikearepresentativecollectionoftheparliamentaryleadersofSocialism，thevariousexponentsofSocialistthoughtandanumberofYoungLiberalthinkersintooneroom。Dorvilcame，andHoratioBulch；FeatherstonehaughappearedfortenminutesandtalkedcharminglytoMargaretandthenvanishedagain；therewasWilkinsthenovelistandToomerandDr。Tumpany。

ChrisRobinsonstoodaboutforatimeinanewcomforter，andMagdebergandWillPipesandfiveorsixLabourmembers。Andonoursidewehadourparticularlittlegroup，BuntingHarblow，Crampton，Lewis，alllookingasbroad-mindedandopentoconvictionastheypossiblycould，andevenoccasionallytalkingoutfromtheirbushesalmostboldly。Butthegatheringasawholerefusedeithertomingleordispute，andasanexperimentinintercoursetheeveningwasafailure。UnexpecteddissociationsappearedbetweenSocialistsonehadsupposedfriendly。Icouldnothaveimagineditwaspossibleforhalfsomanypeopletoturntheirbacksoneverybodyelseinsuchsmallroomsasours。Buttheunsaidthingsthosebacksexpressedbrokeout，Iremarked，withrefreshedvirulenceinthevariousorgansofthevarioussectionsofthepartynextweek。

Italked，Irememher，withDr。Tumpany，alargeyoungmaninastilllargerprofessionalfrock-coat，andwithagreatshockofveryfairhair，whowascandidateforsomeNorthCountryconstituency。Wediscussedthepoliticaloutlook，and，likesomanySocialistsatthattime，hewasfullofvaguethreateningsagainsttheLiberalparty。IwasstruckbyathinginhimthatIhadalreadyobservedlessvividlyinmanyothersoftheseSocialistleaders，andwhichgavemeatlastacluetothewholebusiness。Hebehavedexactlylikeamaninpossessionofvaluablepatentrights，whowantstobedealtwith。Hehadanairofhavingacornerinideas。ThenitflashedintomyheadthatthewholeSocialistmovementwasanattemptedcornerinideas……

8

LatethatnightIfoundmyselfalonewithMargaretamidthedebrisofthegathering。

Isatbeforethefire，handsinpockets，andMargaret，lookingwhiteandweary，cameandleantuponthemantel。

"Oh，Lord！"saidMargaret。

Iagreed。ThenIresumedmymeditation。

"Ideas，"Isaid，"countformorethanIthoughtintheworld。"

Margaretregardedmewiththatneutralexpressionbehindwhichshewasaccustomedtowaitforclues。

"WhenyouthinkoftheheightanddepthandimportanceandwisdomoftheSocialistideas，andseethemenwhoarerunningthem，"I

explained……"AbigsystemofideaslikeSocialismgrowsupoutoftheobviouscommonsenseofourpresentconditions。It\'sasimpersonalasscience。Allthesemen——They\'vegivennothingtoit。

They\'rejustpeoplewhohavepeggedoutclaimsuponabigintellectualNo-Man\'s-Land——anddon\'tfeelquitesureofthelaw。

There\'sasortofquarrelsomeuneasiness……IfweprofessedSocialismdoyouthinkthey\'dwelcomeus？Notamanofthem！

They\'dfeelitwasburglary……"

"Yes，"saidMargaret，lookingintothefire。"ThatisjustwhatI

feltaboutthemalltheevening……ParticularlyDr。Tumpany。"

"Wemustn\'tconfuseSocialismwiththeSocialists，Isaid；"that\'sthemoralofit。IsupposeifGodweretofindHehadmadeamistakeindatesorsomething，andwentbackandannihilatedeverybodyfromOwenonwardswhowasinanywayknownasaSocialistleaderorteacher，Socialismwouldbeexactlywhereitisandwhatitisto-day——agrowingrealisationofconstructiveneedsineveryman\'smind，andalittlecornerinpartypolitics。So，Isuppose，itwillalwaysbe……ButtheyWEREadamnedlot，Margaret！"

Ilookedupatthelittlenoiseshemade。"TWICE！"shesaid，smilingindulgently，"to-day！"(EventhesmilewasAltiora\'s。)

Ireturnedtomythoughts。TheyWEREadamnedhumanlot。Itwasanexcellentwordinthatconnection……

Buttheideasmarchedon，theideasmarchedon，justasthoughmen\'sbrainswerenomorethanstepping-stones，justasthoughsomegreatbraininwhichwearealllittlecellsandcorpuscleswasthinkingthem！……

"Idon\'tthinkthereisamanamongthemwhomakesmefeelheistrustworthy，"saidMargaret；"unlessitisFeatherstonehaugh。"

Isattakinginthisproposition。

"They\'llneverhelpus，Ifeel，"saidMargaret。

"Us？"

"TheLiberals。"

"Oh，damntheLiberals！"Isaid。"They\'llneverevenhelpthemselves。"

"Idon\'tthinkIcouldpossiblygetonwithanyofthosepeople，"

saidMargaret，afterapause。

Sheremainedforatimelookingdownatmeand，Icouldfeel，perplexedbyme，butIwantedtogoonwithmythinking，andsoI

didnotlookup，andpresentlyshestoopedtomyforeheadandkissedmeandwentrustlingsoftlytoherroom。

Iremainedinmystudyforalongtimewithmythoughtscrystallisingout……

Itwasthen，Ithink，thatIfirstapprehendedclearlyhowthatoppositiontowhichIhavealreadyalludedoftheimmediatelifeandthementalhinterlandofaman，canbeappliedtopublicandsocialaffairs。Theideasgoon——andnopersonorpartysucceedsinembodyingthem。Therealityofhumanprogressnevercomestothesurface，itisapowerinthedeeps，anundertow。Itgoesoninsilencewhilementhink，instudieswheretheywriteself-

forgetfully，inlaboratoriesundertheurgencyofanimpersonalcuriosity，intherareilluminationofhonesttalk，inmomentsofemotionalinsight，inthoughtfulreading，butnotineverydayaffairs。Everydayaffairsandwhateverismadeaneverydayaffair，aretransactionsoftheostensibleself，thebeingofhabits，interests，usage。Temper，vanity，hastyreactiontoimitation，personalfeeling，aretheirsubstance。Nomancanabolishhisimmediateselfandspecialiseinthedepths；ifheattemptthat，hesimplyturnshimselfintosomethingalittlelessthanthecommonman。Hemayhaveanimmensehinterland，butthatdoesnotabsolvehimfromafrontage。Thatistheessentialerrorofthespecialistphilosopher，thespecialistteacher，thespecialistpublicist。Theyrepudiatefrontage；claimtobepurehinterland。ThatiswhatbotheredmeaboutCodger，aboutthosevariousschoolmasterswhohadpreparedmeforlife，abouttheBaileysandtheirdreamofanofficialrulingclass。Ahumanbeingwhoisaphilosopherinthefirstplace，ateacherinthefirstplace，orastatesmaninthefirstplace，istherebyandinevitably，thoughhebringGod-likegiftstothepretence——aquack。Theseareattemptstolivedeep-

sideshallow，insideout。Theyproducemerelyanewpettiness。TounderstandSocialism，again，istogainanewbreadthofoutlook；tojoinaSocialistorganisationistojoinanarrowcultwhichisnoteventolerablyserviceableinpresentingorspreadingtheideasforwhichitstands……

IperceivedIhadgotsomethingquitefundamentalhere。Ithadtakenmesomeyearstorealisethetruerelationofthegreatconstructiveideasthatswayedmenotonlytopoliticalparties，buttomyself。Ihadbeendisposedtoidentifytheformulaeofsomeonepartywithsocialconstruction，andtoregardtheotherasnecessarilyanti-constructive，justasIhadbeeninclinedtofollowtheBaileysintheself-righteousnessofsupposingmyselftobewhollyconstructive。ButIsawnowthateverymanofintellectualfreedomandvigourisnecessarilyconstructive-mindednowadays，andthatnomanisdisinterestedlyso。Eachoneofusrepeatsinhimselftheconflictoftheracebetweenthesplendourofitspossibilitiesanditsimmediateassociations。Wemaybeshapingimmortalthings，butwemustsleepandanswerthedinnergong，andhaveoursaltofflatteryandself-approval。Inpoliticsamancountsnotforwhatheisinmomentsofimaginativeexpansion，butforhiscommonworkaday，selfishself；andpoliticalpartiesareheldtogethernotbyacommunityofultimateaims，butbythestablerbondofanaccustomedlife。Everybodyalmostisforprogressingeneral，andnearlyeverybodyisopposedtoanychange，exceptinsofarasgrossincrementsarechange，inhisparticularmethodoflivingandbehaviour。Everypartystandsessentiallyfortheinterestsandmentalusagesofsomedefiniteclassorgroupofclassesintheexcitingcommunity，andeverypartyhasitsscientific-mindedandconstructiveleadingsection，withwell-

definedhinterlandsformulatingitssocialfunctionsinapublic-

spiritedform，anditssuperficial-mindedfollowingconfessingitsmeannessesandvanitiesandprejudices。Noclasswillabolishitself，materiallyalteritswayoflife，ordrasticallyreconstructitself，albeitnoclassisindisposedtoco-operateintheunlimitedsocialisationofanyotherclass。Inthatcapacityforaggressionuponotherclassesliestheessentialdrivingforceofmodernaffairs。Theinstincts，thepersons，theparties，andvanitiesswayandstruggle。Theideasandunderstandingsmarchonandachievethemselvesforall——inspiteofeveryone……

ThemethodsandtraditionsofBritishpoliticsmaintaintheformoftwogreatparties，withridergroupsseekingtogainspecificendsintheeventofasmallGovernmentmajority。Thesetwomainpartiesaremoreorlessheterogeneousincomposition。Each，however，hascertainnecessarycharacteristics。TheConservativePartyhasalwaysstoodquitedefinitelyfortheestablishedpropertiedinterests。Theland-owner，thebiglawyer，theEstablishedChurch，andlatterlythehugeprivatemonopolyoftheliquortradewhichhasbeencreatedbytemperancelegislation，aretheessentialConservatives。Interwovennowwiththenativewealthyarethefamiliesofthegreatinternationalusurers，andavastmiscellaneousmassoffinancialenterprise。Outsidetherangeofresistanceimpliedbytheseinterests，theConservativePartyhasalwaysshownitselfjustasconstructiveandcollectivistasanyotherparty。Thegreatlandownershavebeenaswell-disposedtowardstheendowmentofhighereducation，andaswillingtoco-

operatewiththeChurchinprotectiveandmildlyeducationallegislationforchildrenandtheworkingclass，asanypoliticalsection。Thefinanciers，too，areadventurous-spiritedandeagerformechanicalprogressandtechnicalefficiency。Theyarepreparedtospendpublicmoneyuponresearch，uponportsandharboursandpubliccommunications，uponsanitationandhygienicorganisation。A

certainrudebenevolenceofpublicintentionisequallycharacteristicoftheliquortrade。Providedhiscomfortleadstonoexcessesoftemperance，theliquortradeisquiteeagertoseethecommonmanprosperous，happy，andwithmoneytospendinabar。

Allsectionsofthepartyareaggressivelypatrioticandfavourablyinclinedtotheideaofanupstanding，well-fed，andwell-exercisedpopulationinuniform。Ofcoursetherearereactionarylandownersandold-fashionedcountryclergy，fulloflocalisedself-importance，jealousevenofthecottagerwhocanread，buttheyhaveneitherthepowernortheabilitytoretardtheconstructiveforcesinthepartyasawhole。Ontheotherhand，whenmatterspointtoanydefinitelyconfiscatoryproposal，tothepublicownershipandcollectivecontrolofland，forexample，orstateminingandmanufactures，orthenationalisationoftheso-calledpublic-houseorextendedmunicipalenterprise，oreventoanincreaseofthetaxationofproperty，thentheConservativePartypresentsanearlyadamantinebar。Itdoesnotstandfor，itIS，theexistingarrangementintheseaffairs。

EvenmoredefinitelyaclasspartyistheLabourParty，whoseimmediateinterestistoraisewages，shortenhoursoflabor，increaseemployment，andmakebettertermsfortheworking-mantenantandworking-manpurchaser。Itsleadersarenodoubtconstructiveminded，butthemassofthefollowingisnaturallysuspiciousofeducationanddiscipline，hostiletothehighereducation，and——exceptforanobviousantagonismtoemployersandpropertyowners——almostdestituteofideas。Whatelsecanitbe？

Itstandsfortheexpropriatedmultitude，whosewholesituationanddifficultyarisefromitsindividuallackofinitiativeandorganisingpower。Itfavoursthenationalisationoflandandcapitalwithnosenseofthedifficultiesinvolvedintheprocess；

but，ontheotherhand，theequallyreasonablesocialisationofindividualswhichisimpliedbymilitaryserviceissteadilyandquitenaturallyandquiteillogicallyopposedbyit。ItisonlyinrecentyearsthatLabourhasemergedasaseparatepartyfromthehugehospitablecaravanseraiofLiberalism，andthereisstillaverymarkedtendencytostepbackagainintothatmultitudinousassemblage。

FormultitudinousnesshasalwaysbeentheLiberalcharacteristic。

Liberalismneverhasbeennorevercanbeanythingbutadiversifiedcrowd。Liberalismhastovoiceeverythingthatisleftoutbytheseotherparties。Itisthepartyagainstthepredominatinginterests。

Itisatoncethepartyofthefailingandoftheuntried；itisthepartyofdecadenceandhope。Fromitsnatureitmustbeavagueandplanlessassociationincomparisonwithitsantagonist，neithersoconstructiveontheonehand，norontheothersocompetenttohindertheinevitableconstructionsofthecivilisedstate。

Essentiallyitisthepartyofcriticism，the"Anti"party。Itisasystemofhostilitiesandobjectionsthatsomehowachievesattimesanelusivecommonsoul。Itisagatheringtogetherofallthesmallerinterestswhichfindthemselvesatadisadvantageagainstthebigestablishedclasses，theleaseholdtenantasagainstthelandowner，theretailtradesmanasagainstthemerchantandthemoneylender，theNonconformistasagainsttheChurchman，thesmallemployerasagainstthedemoralisinghospitablepublican，themanwithoutintroductionsandbroadconnectionsagainstthemanwhohasthesethings。Itisthepartyofthemanysmallmenagainstthefewerprevailingmen。IthasnomoreessentialreasonforlovingtheCollectiviststatethantheConservatives；thesmalldealerisdoomedtoabsorptioninthatjustasmuchasthelargeowner；butitresortstothestateagainstitsantagonistsasinthemiddleagescommonmenpittedthemselvesagainstthebaronsbysidingwiththeking。TheLiberalPartyisthepartyagainst"classprivilege"

becauseitrepresentsnoclassadvantages，butitisalsothepartythatisonthewholemostsetagainstCollectivecontrolbecauseitrepresentsnoestablishedresponsilibity。Itisconstructiveonlysofarasitsantagonismtothegreatownerismorepowerfulthanitsjealousyofthestate。Itorganisesonlybecauseorganisationisforceduponitbytheorganisationofitsadversaries。ItlapsesinandoutofalliancewithLabourasitswaysbetweenhostilitytowealthandhostilitytopublicexpenditure……

EverymodernEuropeanstatewillhaveinsomeformorotherthesethreeparties：theresistent，militant，authoritative，dull，andunsympatheticpartyofestablishmentandsuccess，therichparty；

theconfused，sentimental，spasmodic，numerouspartyofthesmall，struggling，various，undisciplinedmen，thepoorman\'sparty；andathirdpartysometimesdetachingitselffromthesecondandsometimesreunitingwithit，thepartyofthealtogetherexpropriatedmasses，theproletarians，Labour。ChangeConservativeandLiberaltoRepublicanandDemocrat，forexample，andyouhavetheconditionsintheUnitedStates。TheCrownoradethroneddynasty，theEstablishedChurchoradispossessedchurch，nationalistsecessions，thepersonalitiesofpartyleaders，maybreakup，complicate，andconfusetheself-expressionofthesethreenecessarydivisionsinthemodernsocialdrama，theanalystwillmakethemoutnonethelessforthat……

AndthenIcamebackasifIcamebacktoarefrain；——theideasgoon——asthoughweareallnomorethanlittlecellsandcorpusclesinsomegreatbrainbeyondourunderstanding……

SoitwasIsatandthoughtmyproblemout……Istillremembermysatisfactionatseeingthingsplainlyatlast。Itwaslikecloudsdispersingtoshowthesky。Constructiveideas，ofcourse，couldn\'tholdapartytogetheralone，"interestsandhabits，notideas，"Ihadthatnow，andsothegreatconstructiveschemeofSocialism，invadingandinspiringallparties，wasnecessarilyclaimedonlybythiscollectionofoddsandends，thisresiduumofdisconnectedandexceptionalpeople。ThiswastruenotonlyoftheSocialistidea，butofthescientificidea，theideaofveracity——ofhumanconfidenceinhumanity——ofallthatmatteredinhumanlifeoutsidethelifeofindividuals……TheonlyrealpartythatwouldeverprofessSocialismwastheLabourParty，andthatintheentirelyone-sidedformofanirresponsibleandnon-constructiveattackonproperty。Socialisminthatmutilatedform，theteethandclawswithouttheeyesandbrain，IwantedaslittleasIwantedanythingintheworld。

Perfectlyclearitwas，perfectlyclear，andwhyhadn\'tIseenitbefore？……Ilookedatmywatch，anditwashalf-pasttwo。

Iyawned，stretched，gotupandwenttobed。

9

Myideasaboutstatecrafthavepassedthroughthreemainphasestothefinalconvictionsthatremain。Therewasthefirstimmediacyofmydreamofportsandharboursandcities，railways，roads，andadministeredterritories——thevisionIhadseeninthehazefromthatlittlechurchaboveLocarno。Slowlythathadpassedintoamoreelaboratelegislativeconstructiveness，whichhadledtomyuneasyassociationwiththeBaileysandtheprofessedlyconstructiveYoungLiberals。TogetthatorderedlifeIhadrealisedtheneedoforganisation，knowledge，expertness，awidemovementofco-ordinatedmethods。OntheindividualsideIthoughtthatalifeofurgentindustry，temperance，andcloseattentionwasindicatedbymyperceptionoftheseends。ImarriedMargaretandsettowork。Butsomethinginmymindrefusedfromtheoutsettoacceptthesedeterminationsasfinal。Therewasalwaysadoubtlurkingbelow，alwaysafaintresentment，aprotestingcriticism，afeelingofvitallyimportantomissions。

Iarrivedatlastattheclearrealisationthatmypoliticalassociates，andIinmyassociationwiththem，wereoddlynarrow，priggish，andunreal，thattheSocialistswithwhomwewereattemptingco-operationwerepreposterouslyirrelevanttotheirowntheories，thatmypoliticallifedidn\'tinsomewaycomprehendmorethanitself，thatratherperplexinglyIwasmissingthethingIwasseeking。Britten\'sfootnotestoAltiora\'sself-assertions，herfitsofenergeticplanning，herquarrelsandralliesandvanities，hisilluminatingattacksonCramptonismandtheheavy-spiritedtrivialityofsuchLiberalismastheChildren\'sCharter，servedtopointmywaytomypresentconclusions。Ihadbeentryingtodealallalongwithhumanprogressassomethingimmediateinlife，somethingtobeimmediatelyattackedbypoliticalpartiesandgroupspointingprimarilytothatend。Inowbegantoseethatjustasinmyownbeingtherewastherathershallow，rathervulgar，self-

seekingcareerist，whoworeanadmirablesilkhatandbustledself-

consciouslythroughthelobby，andamuchgreaterandindefinitelygrowingunpublishedpersonalitybehindhim——myhinterland，Ihavecalledit——soinhumanaffairsgenerallythepermanentrealityisalsoahinterland，whichisneverreallyimmediate，whichdrawscontinuallyuponhumanexperienceandinfluenceshumanactionmoreandmore，butwhichisitselfnevertheactualplayeruponthestage。Itistheunseendramatistwhonevertakesacall。NowitwasjustthroughthefactthatourgroupabouttheBaileysdidn\'tunderstandthis，thatwithasortoffranticenergytheyweretryingtodevelopthatshamexpertofficialdomoftheirstoplan，regulate，anddirecttheaffairsofhumanity，thattheperplexingnoteofsillinessandshallownessthatIhadalwaysfeltandfeltnowmostacutelyunderBritten\'sgibes，camein。Theywereneglectinghumanlifealtogetherinsocialorganisation。

Inthedevelopmentofintellectualmodestyliesthegrowthofstatesmanship。Ithasbeenthechronicmistakeofstatecraftandallorganisingspiritstoattemptimmediatelytoschemeandarrangeandachieve。Priests，schoolsofthought，politicalschemers，leadersofmen，havealwaysslippedintotheerrorofassumingthattheycanthinkoutthewhole——oratanyratecompletelythinkoutdefiniteparts——ofthepurposeandfutureofman，clearlyandfinally；theyhavesetthemselvestolegislateandconstructonthatassumption，and，experiencingtheperplexingobduracyandevasionsofreality，theyhavetakentodogma，persecution，training，pruning，secretiveeducation；andallthestupiditiesofself-

sufficientenergy。Inthepassionoftheirgoodintentionstheyhavenothesitatedtoconcealfact，suppressthought，crushdisturbinginitiativesandapparentlydetrimentaldesires。Andsoitisblunderinglyandwastefully，destroyingwiththemaking，thatanyextensionofsocialorganisationisatpresentachieved。

Directly，however，thisideaofanemancipationfromimmediacyisgrasped，directlythedominatingimportanceofthiscritical，lesspersonal，mentalhinterlandintheindividualandofthecollectivemindintheraceisunderstood，thewholeproblemofthestatesmanandhisattitudetowardspoliticsgainanewsignificance，andbecomesaccessibletoanewseriesofsolutions。Hewantsnolongerto"fixup，"aspeoplesay，humanaffairs，buttodevotehisforcestothedevelopmentofthatneededintellectuallifewithoutwhichallhisshallowattemptsatfixinguparefutile。Heceasestobuildonthesands，andsetshimselftogatherfoundations。

Yousee，Ibeganinmyteensbywantingtoplanandbuildcitiesandharboursformankind；Iendedinthemiddlethirtiesbydesiringonlytoserveandincreaseageneralprocessofthought，aprocessfearless，critical，real-spirited，thatwouldinitsowntimegivecities，harbours，air，happiness，everythingatascaleandqualityandinalightaltogetherbeyondthematch-strikingimaginationsofacontemporarymind。Iwantedfreedomofspeechandsuggestion，vigourofthought，andthecultivationofthatimpulseofveracitythatlurksmoreorlessdiscouragedineveryman。WiththatIfelttheremustgoanemotion。Ihituponaphrasethatbecameatlastsomethingofarefraininmyspeechandwritings，toconveythespiritthatIfeltwasattheveryheartofrealhumanprogress——

loveandfinethinking。

(IsupposethatnowadaysnonewspaperinEnglandgetsthroughaweekwithouttherepetitionofthatphrase。)

Myconvictionscrystallisedmoreandmoredefinitelyuponthis。Themoreofloveandfinethinkingthebetterformen，Isaid；theless，theworse。AnduponthisfreshbasisIsetmyselftoexaminewhatI

asapoliticianmightdo。IperceivedIwasatlastfindinganadequateexpressionforallthatwasinme，forthoseforcesthathadrebelledatthecrudepresentationsofBromstead，atthesecreciesandsuppressionsofmyyouth，atthedullunrealitiesofCityMerchants，attheconventionsandtimiditiesofthePinkyDinkys，atthephilosophicalrecluseofTrinityandthephrasesandtradition-worshipofmypoliticalassociates。Noneofthesethingswerehalfalive，andIwantedlifetobeintenselyaliveandawake。

Iwantedthoughtlikeanedgeofsteelanddesirelikeaflame。Therealworkbeforemankindnow，Irealisedonceandforall，istheenlargementofhumanexpression，thereleaseandintensificationofhumanthought，thevividerutilisationofexperienceandtheinvigorationofresearch——andwhateveronedoesinhumanaffairshasorlacksvalueasithelpsorhindersthat。

WiththatIhadgotmyproblemclear，andthesolution，sofarasI

wasconcerned，layinfindingoutthepointintheostensiblelifeofpoliticsatwhichIcouldmostsubservetheseends。IwasstillagainstthemuddlesofBromstead，butIhadhuntedthemdownnowtotheiressentialform。Thejerry-builtslums，theroadsthatwentnowhere，thetarredfences，litigiousnotice-boardsandbarbedwirefencing，thelitterandtheheapsofdump，wereonlytheoutwardappearanceswhoseultimaterealitieswerejerry-builtconclusions，hastypurposes，aimlesshabitsofthought，andimbecilebarsandprohibitionsinthethoughtsandsoulsofmen。Howarewethroughpoliticstogetatthatconfusion？

Wewanttoinvigorateandreinvigorateeducation。Wewanttocreateasustainedcounterefforttotheperpetualtendencyofalleducationalorganisationstowardsclassicalism，secondaryissues，andtheevasionoflife。

Wewanttostimulatetheexpressionoflifethroughartandliterature，anditsexplorationthroughresearch。

Wewanttomakethebestandfinestthoughtaccessibletoeveryone，andmoreparticularlytocreateandsustainanenormousfreecriticism，withoutwhichart，literature，andresearchalikedegenerateintotraditionorimposture。

Thenalltheotherproblemswhicharenowsoinsoluble，destitution，disease，thedifficultyofmaintaininginternationalpeace，thescarcelyfacedpossibilityofmakinglifegenerallyandcontinuallybeautiful，become——EASY……

ItwascleartomethatthemostvitalactivitiesinwhichIcouldengagewouldbethosewhichmostdirectlyaffectedtheChurch，publichabitsofthought，education，organisedresearch，literature，andthechannelsofgeneraldiscussion。IhadtoaskmyselfhowmypositionasLiberalmemberforKinghamsteadsquaredwithandconducedtothisessentialwork。

CHAPTERTHESECOND

SEEKINGASSOCIATES

1

IhavetoldofmygradualabandonmentofthepretensionsandhabitsofpartyLiberalism。InasenseIwasmovingtowardsaristocracy。

Regardingthedevelopmentofthesocialandindividualmentalhinterlandastheessentialthinginhumanprogress，IpassedonverynaturallytothepracticalassumptionthatwewantedwhatImaycall"hinterlanders。"OfcourseIdonotmeanbyaristocracythechangingunorganisedmedleyofrichpeopleandprivilegedpeoplewhodominatethecivilisedworldofto-day，butasopposedtothis，apossibilityofco-ordinatingthewillofthefinerindividuals，byhabitandliterature，intoabroadcommonaim。Wemusthaveanaristocracy——notofprivilege，butofunderstandingandpurpose——ormankindwillfail。IfindthisdawningmoreandmoreclearlywhenI

lookthroughmyvariouswritingsoftheyearsbetween1903and1910。

Iwasalreadyemergingtoplainstatementsin1908。

Ireasonedafterthisfashion。Thelineofhumanimprovementandtheexpansionofhumanlifeliesinthedirectionofeducationandfinerinitiatives。Ifhumanitycannotdevelopaneducationfarbeyondanythingthatisnowprovided，ifitcannotcollectivelyinventdevicesandsolveproblemsonamuchricher，broaderscalethanitdoesatthepresenttime，itcannothopetoachieveanyverymuchfinerorderoranymoregeneralhappinessthanitnowenjoys。

Wemustbelieve，therefore，thatitCANdevelopsuchatrainingandeducation，orwemustabandonsecularconstructivehope。Andheremypeculiardifficultyasagainstcrudedemocracycomesin。Ifhumanityatlargeiscapableofthathigheducationandthosecreativefreedomsourhopedemands，muchmoremustitsbetterandmorevigoroustypesbesocapable。Andifthosewhohavepowerandleisurenow，andfreedomtorespondtoimaginativeappeals，cannotbewontotheideaofcollectiveself-development，thenthewholeofhumanitycannotbewontothat。Fromthatonepassestowhathasbecomemygeneralconceptioninpolitics，theconceptionoftheconstructiveimaginationworkinguponthevastcomplexofpowerfulpeople，cleverpeople，enterprisingpeople，influentialpeople，amidstwhompowerisdiffusedto-day，toproducethatself-

conscious，highlyselective，open-minded，devotedaristocraticculture，whichseemstometobethenecessarynextphaseinthedevelopmentofhumanaffairs。Iseehumanprogress，notasthespontaneousproductofcrowdsofrawmindsswayedbyelementaryneeds，butasanaturalbutelaborateresultofintricatehumaninterdependencies，ofhumanenergyandcuriosityliberatedandactingatleisure，ofhumanpassionsandmotives，modifiedandredirectedbyliteratureandart……

Butnowthereaderwillunderstandhowitcameaboutthat，disappointedbytheessentiallittlenessofLiberalism，anddisillusionedabouttherepresentativequalityoftheprofessedSocialists，Iturnedmymindmoreandmoretoascrutinyofthebigpeople，thewealthyandinfluentialpeople，againstwhomLiberalismpitsitsforces。Iwasaskingmyselfdefinitelywhether，afterall，itwasnotmyparticularjobtoworkthroughthemandnotagainstthem。WasInotaltogetheroutofmyelementasanAnti-？Weren\'ttherebigboldqualitiesaboutthesepeoplethatcommonmenlack，andthepossibilityoffarmoresplendiddreams？Weretheyreallytheobstacles，mighttheynotberatherthevehiclesofthepossiblenewbraveriesoflife？