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so all through lifethe poster was always an improvement on the play。〃
〃It is rapidly coming to that；〃 answered the Minor Poet。 〃Nature； as a
well known painter once put it； is not 'creeping up' fast enough to keep
pace with our ideals。 In advanced Germany they improve the waterfalls
and ornament the rocks。 In Paris they paint the babies' faces。〃
〃You can hardly lay the blame for that upon civilisation；〃 pleaded the
Girton Girl。 〃The ancient Briton had a pretty taste in woads。〃
〃Man's first feeble steps upon the upward path of Art；〃 assented the
Minor Poet； 〃culminating in the rouge…pot and the hair…dye。〃
〃Come！〃 laughed the Old Maid； 〃you are narrow…minded。
Civilisation has given us music。 Surely you will admit that has been of
help to us？〃
〃My dear lady；〃 replied the Minor Poet； 〃you speak of the one
accomplishment with which Civilisation has had little or nothing to do； the
one art that Nature has bestowed upon man in common with the birds and
insects； the one intellectual enjoyment we share with the entire animal
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creation； excepting only the canines； and even the howling of the dogone
cannot be suremay be an honest； however unsatisfactory； attempt
towards a music of his own。 I had a fox terrier once who invariably
howled in tune。 Jubal hampered； not helped us。 He it was who stifled
music with the curse of professionalism； so that now； like shivering shop…
boys paying gate… money to watch games they cannot play； we sit mute in
our stalls listening to the paid performer。 But for the musician； music
might have been universal。 The human voice is still the finest instrument
that we possess。 We have allowed it to rust； the better to hear clever
manipulators blow through tubes and twang wires。 The musical world
might have been a literal expression。 Civilisation has contracted it to
designate a coterie。〃
〃By the way；〃 said the Woman of the World； 〃talking of music； have
you heard that last symphony of Grieg's？ It came in the last parcel。 I
have been practising it。〃
〃Oh！ do let us hear it；〃 urged the Old Maid。 〃I love Grieg。〃
The Woman of the World rose and opened the piano。
〃Myself； I have always been of opinion〃 I remarked。
〃Please don't chatter；〃 said the Minor Poet。
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CHAPTER III
〃I never liked her；〃 said the Old Maid； 〃I always knew she was
heartless。〃
〃To my thinking；〃 said the Minor Poet； 〃she has shown herself a true
woman。〃
〃Really；〃 said the Woman of the World； laughing； 〃I shall have to
nickname you Dr。 Johnson Redivivus。 I believe； were the subject under
discussion； you would admire the coiffure of the Furies。 It would occur
to you that it must have been naturally curly。〃
〃It is the Irish blood flowing in his veins；〃 I told them。 〃He must
always be 'agin the Government。'〃
〃We ought to be grateful to him；〃 remarked the Philosopher。 〃What
can be more uninteresting than an agreeable conversation I mean； a
conversationwhere everybody is in agreement？ Disagreement； on the
other hand； is stimulating。〃
〃Maybe that is the reason；〃 I suggested； 〃why modern society is so
tiresome an affair。 By tabooing all difference of opinion we have
eliminated all zest from our intercourse。 Religion； sex； politics any
subject on which man really thinks； is scrupulously excluded from all
polite gatherings。 Conversation has become a chorus； or； as a writer
wittily expressed it； the pursuit of the obvious to no conclusion。 When
not occupied with mumbling； 'I quite agree with you''As you say''That
is precisely my opinion'we sit about and ask each other riddles： 'What
did the Pro…Boer？' 'Why did Julius Caesar？'〃
〃Fashion has succeeded where Force for centuries has failed；〃 added
the Philosopher。 〃One notices the tendency even in public affairs。 It is
bad form nowadays to belong to the Opposition。 The chief aim of the
Church is to bring itself into line with worldly opinion。 The
Nonconformist Conscience grows every day a still smaller voice。〃
〃I believe；〃 said the Woman of the World； 〃that was the reason why
Emily never got on with poor dear George。 He agreed with her in
everything。 She used to say it made her feel such a fool。〃
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〃Man is a fighting animal；〃 explained the Philosopher。 〃An officer
who had been through the South African War was telling me only the other
day： he was with a column； and news came in that a small commando
was moving in the neighbourhood。 The column set off in the highest of
spirits； and after three days' trying work through a difficult country came
up with； as they thought； the enemy。 As a matter of fact； it was not the
enemy； but a troop of Imperial Yeomanry that had lost its way。 My friend
informs me that the language with which his column greeted those
unfortunate Yeomen their fellow countrymen； men of their own blood
was most unsympathetic。〃
〃Myself； I should hate a man who agreed with me；〃 said the Girton
Girl。
〃My dear；〃 replied the Woman of the World； 〃I don't think any would。〃
〃Why not？〃 demanded the Girton Girl。
〃I was thinking more of you； dear；〃 replied the Woman of the World。
〃I am glad you all concur with me；〃 murmured the Minor Poet。 〃I
have always myself regarded the Devil's Advocate as the most useful
officer in the Court of Truth。〃
〃I remember being present one evening；〃 I observed； 〃at a dinner…
party where an eminent judge met an equally eminent K。 C。； whose
client the judge that very afte