We are of course sure that Mr. Ponsonby's sophistries are
well meant, and that he sincerely believes in the paltry stuff he talks in defence of an enemy whom ho does not in the least understand and in arraignment of fellow-country- men about whom he is equally misled. The trouble with him and those like him is want of common-sense and of intel- lectual sincerity. They are intoxicated with the sense of their own virtue. We must confess that we feel about him and big colleagues very much as the fireman felt about the invalid in Steven- son's delightful fable. It will be remembered that while the fire was going on and the roof falling in, the fireman held a metaphysical discussion with the invalid, who, being a pernickety logic-monger, objected to being rescued. It ended in the following speech by the
man in the helmet : " could forgive you being sick,' ho said at last, as a portion of the wall fell out, but I cannot bear you being such a fooL' And with that he heaved up his fireman's axe, for he was eminently just, and clove the sick malt to the bed." We wish the words were politer, but we feel bound to apply them to Mr. Ponsonby.
Previous page
