Page:Henry Northcote (IA henrynorthcote00snairich).pdf/169

 "Is not that what we agree to call 'human nature'? But really I think it is the duty of every citizen to think of him tenderly. He means well. He is not a bad fellow at bottom."

"I have no patience," said the young man truculently. "Mean well!—not a bad fellow at bottom! Why, he and his satellites are the custodians of the life and liberties of the whole population. One wonders how many innocent lives have been sworn away by this fat-witted blunderer who is barely able to write his own name."

"You are too strong, my son. His responsibilities are immense; the wonder is that he plays up to them in the manner that he does."

"You are all members of the same great and far-reaching society; you have all sworn allegiance to one another. Mediocrity arm in arm with Mediocrity; Law and Order arm in arm with Law and Order."

"Insolent dog!"

"Better the insolence of the dog than the blind ineptitude of the donkey. The barking of a dog can frighten a rogue, but the braying of the ass fills every fool with courage. If he is allowed to lift up his voice, why not I? is what Mediocrity is ever asking of itself. And up goes your own private and personal bray. The other ass says, 'Good Lord, what a clear and beautiful note! Upon my word, I have never heard anything to compare with it.' And you reply modestly, 'My dear fellow, if you could only hear your own clarion tones, you would not say that. My own are modelled upon them, I assure you.' 'Well, my dear friend,' the other ass eagerly rejoins, 'if