Nemesis follows Mr. Chamberlain with no lagging foot. A ghastly
rumour is afloat, and he is already suspect. The evil ones declare that he wishes to buy Airthrie Castle, a lovely place in Stirlingshire. He is even credited with an intention of paying for it. "Old fogies" like ourselves would think the purchase a sign of grace, fancying that it showed a love of nature, an appreciation of scenery, and a taste for solitude ; but the Echo is horrified. It denies the report indignantly, de- claring that Mr. Chamberlain has thrown in his lot with those who hold enclosed pleasure-parks relics of the feudal ages, and to be removed. We have no enmity to Mr. Chamberlain ; but if we had we could not wish him a worse doom than this—to long for the country, yet be sentenced by agrarian newspapers to dwell for ever among the smoke-saturated multitudes of an in- dustrial town. If this sort of opinion spreads, and a man may not buy seclusion with his earnings, China will be a freer as well as a happier land than England. Imagine Mr. Gladstone ostracised because there are trees round Hawarden !
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