The Man in Possession — page 241: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

236 THE MAN IN POSSESSION. lived here,’”’ said Colonel Lawrence, glancing at the windows, which looked down on the noise and con- fusion of the busy thoroughfare. ‘¢Even in this short time,” he added, ‘‘I confess to being saddened and oppressed by the contrasts you meet at every turn—the squalor and splendour —the frivolity and suffering—the terrible woe—the more terrible waste—the flaunting vice—the grim and ghastly wretchedness. One day’s experience in the streets of your great city would appal the stoutest heart and sadden the strongest.” ‘Yes, that’s true enough,” said Tom sadly. ‘‘It’s no new thing to hear either. But all that’s been done seems useless, and all that has to be done is vaguely and indefinitely postponed. We've legislated, and lectured, and organised, and worked for the poor and the criminal classes . . . and what’s the good of it? what better are they?—or what have we gained? Not even gratitude.” ‘It's because young blood—young life—young energy is wanted in the matter,” said the American. ‘‘Reform means a wide, strong sweep—not a mere dust disturbance with a feather brush. You are all narrow and artificial and hemmed round by past prejudice and present fears. You know the shibbo- leth of your political creed, and are content to gabble that so long as youre in office. You're never sin- cere even in your convictions, and seldom honest even in your decisions. Mind, I don’t say my country is any better, or that our senators and presi- dents work with cleaner hands and honester purpose than your ‘wire-pullers.’ The world generally is COMicloe (Sri C(O)