Page:Diary of a Pilgrimage (1891).pdf/276

274 the course of the morning, and it struck me as curious. I remarked about it to my guide.

He said:

"Yes; when a man is much above the average size and strength, we cut one of his legs or arms off, so as to make things more equal; we lop him down a bit, as it were. Nature, you see, is somewhat behind the times; but we do what we can to put her straight."

I said:

"I suppose you can't abolish her?"

"Well, not altogether," he replied. "We only wish we could. But," he added afterwards, with pardonable pride, "we've done a good deal."

I said:

"How about an exceptionally clever man. What do you do with him?"

"Well, we are not much troubled in that way now," he answered. "We have not come across anything dangerous in the shape of brain-power for some very considerable time now. When we do, we perform a surgical operation upon the head, which softens the brain down to the average level."

"I have sometimes thought," mused the old gentleman, "that it was a pity we could not level up some times, instead of always levelling down; but, of course, that is impossible."

I said:

"Do you think it right of you to cut these people up, and tone them down, in this manner?"

He said:

"Of course, it is right."

"You seem very cock-sure about the matter," I retorted. "Why is it 'of course' right?"