[Gutenberg 53696] • Baden-Powell of Mafeking

INTRODUCTION

TO THE MAN IN THE STREET

It may well and fittingly be complained that of late years we

English folk have shown an unpardonable spirit of curiosity about

things which do not concern us. We have brought into being

more than one periodical publication full of gossip about the

private life and affairs of folk of eminence, and there are too many

of us who are never so much pleased as when we are informed

that a certain great artist abhors meat, or that a famous musician

is inordinately fond of pickled salmon. There was a time when,

to use a homely old phrase, people minded their own business

and left that of their neighbours' alone — that day in some degree

seems to have been left far behind, and most of us feel that we

are being defrauded of our just rights if we may not step across

the threshold of my lady's drawing-room or set foot in the

statesman's cabinet. The fact is that we have itching ears

nowadays, and cherish a passion for gossip which were creditable

to the old women of the open doorways. We want to know all

— which is to say as much as chance will tell us — about the people

of whom the street is talking, and the more we can hear of them,

even of the things which appertain in reality to no one but

themselves, the better we are pleased. But even here, in what is

undoubtedly an evil, there is an element of possible good which

under certain circumstances may be developed into magnificent

results. Since we must talk amongst ourselves, since we must

satisfy this very human craving for what is after all gossip, let us

find great subjects to gossip about. If we must talk in the streets

let us talk about great folk, about great deeds, about great

examples, and since our subjects are great let us talk of them in a

great way. There is no need to chatter idly and to no purpose —

we shall be all the better if our gossip about great men and great

things leads us to even a faint imitation of both.

We EngHsh folk possess at this moment a magnificent oppor-

tunity of talking and thinking about the things and the men

which make for good. It may be that ever since the Empire rose

as one man to sustain the honour and glory of England we have

glorified our fighting man a Httle too much. It may be that we

have raised our voices too loudly in the music-halls and been too

exuberant in our conduct in the streets. But after all, what does

it mean ? We are vulgar, we English, in our outward expression

of joy and delight — yes, but how splendidly our vulgarity is

redeemed and even transformed into a fine thing by our immense

feeling for race and country ! What is it, after all, that we have

been doing during this time of war but building up, renewing,

strengthening that mysterious Something which for lack of a better

word we call Empire ? War, like sorrow, strengthens, chastens,

and encourages. Just as the heart of a strong man is purified

and made stronger by sorrow, so the spirit of a nation is lifted up

and set on a higher pedestal by the trials and the awfulness of

war. Heaven help the people which emerges from a great

struggle broken, sullen, despondent ! — Heaven be thanked that

from the blood of our fellows spilt in South Africa there have

already sprung the flowers of new fortitude and new strength and

new belief in our God-given destiny as the saviours of the world.

It is as it ever was : —