Lot of anxiety about 'em, apparently! As to a business
view of politics, I expect the climate's against it.
They'll see over a thing--they're fond of doing that--or
under it, or round one side of it, but they don't seem
to have any way of seeing THROUGH it. What they just love
is a good round catchword; they've only got to hear
themselves say it often enough, and they'll take it for
gospel. They're convinced out of their own mouths. There
was the driver of a bus I used to ride on pretty often,
and if he felt like talking, he'd always begin, 'As I
was a-saying of yesterday--' Well, that's the general
idea--to repeat what they were a-sayin' of yesterday;
and it doesn't matter two cents that the rest of the
world has changed the subject. They've been a-sayin' a
long time that they object to import duties of any sort
or kind, and you won't get them to SEE the business in
changing. If they do this it won't be because they want
to, it will be because Wallingham wants them to."
"I guess that's so," said Williams. "And if Wallingham
gets them to he ought to have a statue in every capital
in the Empire. He will, too. Good cigar this, Lorne!
Where'd you get it?"
"They are Indian cheroots--'Planters,' they call 'em--made
in Madras. I got some through a man named Hesketh, who
has friends out there, at a price you wouldn't believe
for as decent a smoke.
Pages:
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215