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208 as for benefitting by the ideas of others, there is little doubt that every one is improved by hearing the opinions of the intellectual. But," she continued, "is it not possible to hear too many ideas, and to spend too much time in analysing them. You will pardon me," she went on, "if I entertain a prejudice in this matter, for I have spent the greater portion of my life in the country, and have got to believe that one is more likely to receive truly great ideas from Nature than from man."

"But in the face of this," I said, "does not the majority of your people possess an inclination to drift to the large cities?"

"No," she replied, in a surprised tone, "it cannot be said that such is the case. On the contrary, it is just the opposite, for by far the greater number choose, and love to live in, the country. Nearly all our gifted men live there; some, indeed, in a seclusion. that many of us think unbecoming, and I can safely say that our rulers—with, of course, a few exceptions—spend more than half their term of office at their rural seats."

"It is not so with us," I said; "for it is the ambition of nearly every one to live in or near the great cities, which are growing, in old and new