He had no object
of making money. To give him his due we must own that he had no
object of making fame. He was impelled by that intense desire to
express himself which often amounts to passion with us, and
sometimes to fury with Americans, and he hardly considered much
what reception his words might receive. It was only when he was
told by others that his lecture might give offence which possibly
would turn to violence, that he made inquiry as to the attendance
of the police. But though they should tear him to pieces he would
say what he had to say. It should not be his fault if the
absurdities of a people whom he really loved were not exposed to
light, so that they might be acknowledged and abandoned.
He had found time to travel to Birmingham, to Manchester, to
Liverpool, to Glasgow, and to other places, and really thought that
he had mastered his great subject. He had worked very hard, but was
probably premature in thinking that he knew England thoroughly. He
had, however, undoubtedly dipped into a great many matters, and
could probably have told many Englishmen much that they didn't know
about their own affairs. He had poked his nose everywhere, and had
scrupled to ask no question. He had seen the miseries of a casual
ward, the despair of an expiring strike, the amenities of a city
slum, and the stolid apathy of a rural labourer's home.
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