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ur　race　is　of　such　mixed　origin。　In　Kipling’s　case　some　of　these　onslaughts　are　doubtless　provoked　by　his　strong　party　feeling　and　pronouncements；　though　the　form　they　take　is　for　the　most　part　criticism　of　his　work。　Even　on　the　supposition　that　this　is　not　ale　quality；　such　treatment　strikes　me　as　ungenerous。　No　man　is　continually　at　his　best；　and　the　writer　of　“Recessional”　and　other　noble　and　beautiful　things　should　be　spared　these　scourgings。　However；　I　have　no　doubt　it　will　all　e　right　in　the　end；　and　I　hope　that　when　this　book　is　published　he　may　be　wearing　the　Order　of　Merit。
Nowadays　everything　is　in　extremes；　and　the　over…praised　of　one　year　are　the　over…depreciated　of　the　next；　since；　as　much　or　more　than　most　people；　critics；　or　the　papers　that　employ　them；　like　to　be　in　the　fashion。　It　is　fortunate　that；　however　much　it　may　be　influenced　at　the　time；　the　ultimate　judgment　lies　with　the　general　public；　which；　in　the　issue；　is　for　the　most　part　just。　It　is　fortunate　also　that　only　a　man’s　best　work　will　e　before　this　final　court；　since　in　our　crowded　age　the　rest　must　soon　evaporate。
The　next　important　event　that　happened　to　me　was　my　nomination　in　the　year　1906　as　a　member　of　the　Royal　mission　on　Coast　Erosion。　It　happened　thus。　Seeing　that　such　a　mission　was　to　be　appointed；　I　wrote　to　Mr。　Lloyd　George；　who　was　then　the　President　of　the　Board　of　Trade　in　the　new　Radical　Government；　explaining　to　him　a　method　I　had　adopted　of　keeping　back　the　sea　by　the　planting　of　Marram　grass。　This　plan　had　proved　most　successful　so　far　as　the　frontage　of　my　house；　Kessingland　Grange；　near　Lowestoft；　was　concerned；　and　I　suggested　that　it　might　with　advantage　be　more　widely　followed。
Mr。　Lloyd　George　asked　me　to　e　to　see　him；　which　I　did；　with　the　result　that　ultimately　I　found　myself　a　member　of　the　Royal　mission　whereof　Lord　Ashby　St。　Ledgers；　then　Mr。　Ivor　Guest；　was　the　Chairman。　Lord　Ashby　St。　Ledgers　　I　liked　very　much；　and　with　whom　I　got　on　extremely　well；　indeed　he　was　always　most　kind　and　considerate　to　me。　So　far　he　has　been　extraordinarily　fortunate　in　life；　and　I　hope　that　his　good　chance　may　continue。　Born　to　great　wealth；　while　still　young　he　finds　himself　a　member　of　the　Government；　a　Privy　Councillor；　and　a　peer　in　his　own　right　without　the　necessity　of　waiting　for　his　father’s　title。　Truly　the　ball　is　at　his　feet　and；　with　his　considerable　business　abilities；　he　should　be　able　to　kick　it　far；　as　I　hope　he　may。
How　strangely　do　the　lots　of　men　vary；　especially　in　this　old…established　land！　One　toils　all　his　life　to　attain　in　old　age；　or　more　probably　not　to　attain　at　all；　what　another　steps　into　from　the　beginning　as　a　natural　right　and　almost　without　effort　on　his　part。　One　man　misfortune　follows　fast　and　death　follows　faster；　another　seems　to　pass　from　childhood　to　a　very　distance　grave　without　a　heartache　or　a　stumble；　neither　he　nor　those　connected　with　him　are　called　upon　to　face　work；　or　want；　or　struggle；　or　to　know　any　kind　of　human　loss　or　suffering　or　anxiety　of　the　soul　—　that　is；　so　far　as　we　can　judge。
Almost　am　I　inclined　to　think　that　the　Prince　Fortunatus　of　this　character；　of　whom　everybody　will　know　several；　must　have　behaved　himself　very　well　in　a　previous　incarnation　and　now　be　reaping　the　harvest　of　reward。　Or　maybe　—　this　is　a　more　unpleasant　idea　—　his　good　things　are　appointed　to　him　here　like　those　of　Dives　in　the　Bible；　and　—　there　are　breakers　ahead。　Unless　the　world　is　regulated　by　pure　chance；　there　must　be　some　explanation　of　these　startling　differences　of　fate。　Or　perhaps　the　fortunate　ones　have　their　own　bitternesses　which　are　invisible　to　other　eyes。　Well；　one　may　speculate　on　such　problems；　but　to　do　the　work　that　es　to　one’s　hand　thoroughly；　to　thank　God　for　and　be　content　with　what　one　has　and　to　envy　no　man　—　these　are　the　only　real　recipes　for　such　satisfaction　and　happiness　as　are　allowed　to　us　in　our　mortal　pilgrimage。　Such；　at　least；　is　my　attitude；　though　I　must　say　I　agree　with　Disraeli　that　life　has　more　to　offer　to　those　who　begin　it　with　3000　pounds　a　year；　and　with　Becky　Sharp　who　remarked　safely　that　in　these　circumstances　it　was　easier　to　be　virtuous！
I　worked　hard　on　that　Royal　mission。　During　the　five　years　of　its　life；　indeed；　I　only　missed　one　day’s　sitting；　and　that　was　because　the　steamer　from　Denmark　could　not　get　me　there　in　time。　Shortly　after　the　mencement　of　its　labours　I　was　nominated　the　Chairman　of　the　Unemployed　Labour　and　Reclamation　mittee；　which　involved　a　good　deal　of　extra；　but　important　and　interesting；　business。　Also　I　was　the　Chairman　of　two　of　the　tours　that　were　made　by　mittees　of　the　mission　to　inspect　the　coasts　of　Great　Britain　and　Ireland；　during　which　tours　I　am　glad　to　say　there　were　no　differences　of　opinion　or　other　troubles；　such　as　have　been　known　to　arise　on　similar　occasions。
When　we　had　been　sitting　about　a　year；　finding　that　there　was　not　really　very　much　in　the　Coast　Erosion　business；　which　had　been　somewhat　exaggerated；　Lord　Ashby　St。　Ledgers　and　I　approached　Mr。　Lloyd　George　one　night　at　a　dinner　party　and　suggested　that；　as　had　been　originally　proposed；　the　question　of　Afforestation　should　be　added　to　our　Reference。　This　was　done；　and　some　experts　in　the　matter　were　appointed　to　the　mission。　After　this　we　investigated　that　great　subject　with　much　zeal　and；　being　pressed　by　the　Government；　presented　an　interim　Report。　It　was　drafted；　with　the　assistance　of　course　of　our　clever　and　industrious　secretary；　Mr。　Grimshaw；　of　the　Board　of　Trade；　by　the　Chairman；　Professor　Somerville；　and　myself；　quorum　pars　magna　fuit　my　extremely　able　and　learned　friend；　Professor　Somerville。　We　presented　a　scheme　for　the　consideration　of　the　Government；　under　which；　had　it　been　adopted；　enormous　areas　of　waste　or　poor　land　in　the　United　Kingdom　would　in　due　course　have　bee　forests　of　great　value。　Needless　to　say　it　was　not　adopted；　it’s　fate　was　the　fate　of　my　Land　Settlement　Report；　minus　the　appointment　of　a　mittee　to　“knock　the　bottom　out　of　it。”　The　fact　is　that　the　venture　was　too　sound　and　quiet　to　be　undertaken　by　a　Government　of　party　men　who　look　for　immediate　political　reward　rather　than　to　the　welfare　of　the　country　forty　or　fifty　years　hence；　especially　when；　as　was　likewise　the　case　in　my　Land　Settlement　Report；　the　immediate　finding　of　large　sums　of　money　is　involved。
Also　the　inevitable　critics　arose。　Gentlemen　who　thought　that　they　ought　to　have　been　on　the　mission；　gentlemen　who　thought　that　they　ought　to　have　been　called　as　witnesses；　gentlemen　who　honestly　disagreed；　shouted　aloud　in　the　accustomed　chorus；　and　in　the　end　the　thing　was　practically　dropped。　Which　is　a　pity；　for　it　would　have　worked　well　in　the　long　run　and　proved　of　great　benefit　to　the　United　Kingdom　in　those　ing　days　when　the　timber　supplies　of　the　world　will　run　short。　Also　it　would　have　given　a　great　deal　of　employment　on　land　which　now　uses　but　little　labour。　However；　I　did　not　feel　its　failure　in　the　same　way　as　I　had　felt　that　of　my　one…man　Report；　since　now　I　shared　the　responsibility　with　about　a　score　of　distinguished　persons　who　had　unanimously　made　our　futile　remendations　to　the　Crown。　It　was　one　more　piece　of；　to　all　appearances；　wasted　work；　that　was　all。　I　must　say　I　do　not　wonder　that　many　officials　bee　slack　and　remain　well　content　to　do　as　little　as　they　can；　seeing　what　are　the　results　which　overtake　those　ardent　spirits　who　show　themselves　guilty　of　trop　de　zele。　Cold　shoulders　and　rapped　knuckles；　these　are　their　portion。
After　the　funeral　of　our　Afforestation　scheme　we　proceeded　to　examine　more　coasts。　I　wonder　if　there　is　a　groin　or　an　eroded　beach　on　the　shores　of　the　United　Kingdom　that　I　have　not　seen　and　thoughtfully　considered。　Amongst　other　places　we　went　to　Ireland；　where；　as　the　Chairman　of　the　mittee；　I　examined　all　the　southern　coasts　of　that　beauteous　isle；　also　a　fine　variety　of　inland　swamps　which　it　was　thought　possible　to　reclaim。
It　was　a　very　interesting　experience　because　of　the　number　and　different　classes　of　people　with　whom　we　came　in　contact　as　we　journeyed　from　place　to　place　in　motor…cars。
I　found　the　Irish　the　most　charming　and　attractive　people　that　I　have　ever　met　and　the　most　inprehensible。　What　rather　disgusted　me；　however；　was　the　mendicant　attitude　of　mind　which　again　and　again　I　observed　among　those　who　gave　evidence　before　us。　They　all　wanted　something　out　of　the　Government；　and　generally　something　for　nothing。　I　remember　growing　enraged　with　one　witness；　a　most　shameless　beggar；　and　saying　to　him；　“The　fact　is；　sir；　that　after　the　British　Government　has　given　you　the　horse；　you　expect　that　they　should　feed　it　also。”
“Shure；　your　Honour！”　he　answered；　quite　unperturbed；　or　words　to　that　effect。
As　I　was　dressing　one　morning　at　a　Cork　hotel；　I　received　a　telegram　informing　me　that　King　Edward　had　died　during　the　night。　We　did　not　leave　Cork　till　ten　or　eleven　o’clock；　but　up　to　that　hour；　although　the　news　was　well　known；　I　saw　no　indication　of　public　mourning。　No　bells　were　rung；　and　no　flags　flew　at　half…mast。　This　may　have　been　mere　carelessness；　or　it　may　have　been　—　something　else。　That　day；　when　stopping　under　a　tree　to　shelter　from　a　heavy　shower；　I　fell　into　conversation　with　an　Irish　farmer　of　the　humorous　type；　and　told　him　the　sad　intelligence。　He　reflected　for　a　moment；　then　said；　“Is　that　so；　your　Honour？　Well；　he’s　gone！　Let’s　thank　God　and　the　saints　it　isn’t　us！”
On　the　other　hand；　the　same　tidings　moved　an　old　woman　in　a　wretched　shanty　in　Connemara　literally　to　tears。
“And　it’s　dead　he　is；”　she　said　to　me。　“Shure；　he　was　a　grand　man！　Never　a　week　but　he　sent　me　five　shillings　with　his　own　name　to　it。”
Further　queries　elicited　the　fact　that　this　old　lady　believed　that　his　late　Majesty　personally　posted　to　her　five　shillings　each　Monday　morning；　which　she　drew　at　the　Post　Office　in　the　shape　of　an　Old　Age　Pension！　Hence　her　loyal　soul。
On　my　return　to　London　I　saw　King　Edward’s　body　lying　in　state　in　Westminster　Hall；　and　afterwards　watched　the　noble　panorama　of　his　funeral　from　the　upper　balcony　of　the　Athenaeum。　Thomas　Hardy　and　I　sat　together；　there　were；　I　remember；　but　few　in　the　club。
The　great　military　pageant　of　the　passing　of　the　mortal　remains　of　King　Edward　brought　back　to　my　mind　that　of　the　burial　of　Queen　Victoria。　This　I　saw　from　the　house　of　one　of　the　minor　Canons；　which　was　exactly　opposite　to　the　steps　of　the　Chapel　at　Windsor。　The　sight　of　the　gorgeous　procession　passing　up　those　steps　impressed　itself　very　deeply　on　me。　The　bearers　staggering　under　the　weight　of　the　massive　leaden　coffin　that　yet　seemed　so　short；　till　once　or　twice　I　thought　that　they　must　fall；　the　cloaked　King　Edward　walking　immediately　behind；　followed　by　a　galaxy　of　princes；　the　officer；　or　aide…decamp；　who　came　to　him；　saluting；　to　make　some　report　or　ask　some　order；　and　received　a　nod　in　answer；　the　troops　with　arms　reversed；　the　boom　of　the　solemn　guns；　the　silent；　watching　multitude；　the　bright　sun　gilding　the　wintry　scene；　the　wind　that　tossed　the　plumes　and　draperies　—　all　these　and　more　made　a　picture　never　to　be　forgotten。　And　now；　after　a　few　brief　years；　the　mourning　monarch　who　formed　its　central；　living　figure　passed　by　in　another　coffin；　himself　the　mourned！
A　few　days　after　the　funeral　I　met　at　dinner　one　of　the　physicians　who　attended　the　late　King　during　his　last　illness。　He　told　me　that　he　did　not　think　that　His　Majesty　knew　he　was　dying；　and　that　no　one　informed　him。　He　thought　that　the　King　believed　that　he　would　pull　through；　as　he　had　often　done　before。　When　it　was　suggested　to　him　that　he　had　better　not　see　people；　he　answered；　“It　amuses　me；”　and　that　he　did　not　want　any　“fuss。”　This　doctor　was　of　opinion　that　there　was　nothing　in　the　story　that　the　King　had　worried　himself　over　the　political　situation；　as　he　was　“not　that　sort　of　man。”　He　died　because　his　heart　was　worn　out；　for　he　had　“warmed　both　hands　at　the　fire　of　life。”　He　did　not　seem　to　be　spiritually　troubled　in　any　way；　though　he　kept　“all　the　forms。”　He　added　that　on　the　day　he　died　the　King　smoked　a　cigar。
Whilst　I　was　still　engaged　upon　this　mission　I　undertook　another　piece　of　work。　One　day　General　Booth　sent　an　officer　to　me　to　ask　if　I　would　write　a　report　upon　the　social　e