FOOTNOTES:
[1] The phrase used by “Asterisk” in the Daily American of April 9th has no meaning. Very Rev., Very Honourable, are titles that cannot exist in combination. As to the “Most”: “Most Honourable, Most Rev.,” of “Clara,” in the Evenudg German, it is not impossible, but is here inaccurate. His Lordship is not a marquis, nor has he any intention of ascending the steps of the Archiepiscopal throne.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
| A Sketch of Mr Burden—from memory | [Frontispiece] | |
| Mr Burden’s Nephew, Hildebrand Worthing, whose inheritance of gentle blood sadly unfitted him for a commercial life | To face page | [7] |
| Mrs Burden at the age of forty-three. From a miniature | ” ” | [12] |
| Spiritual anxiety of Mr Legros. An impression from the pencil of a friend and pastor, whose house he would frequent for the solution of doctrinal doubts | ” ” | [15] |
| Mrs Burden. An interpretation by Miss McKee, long a governess in the family | ” ” | [16] |
| Cosmo Burden. From the only photograph which adequately renders the restrained but permanent sadness of his features | ” ” | [23] |
| Mr Capes. (A chance study made for the publishers of “Rural England.” No other portrait was obtainable) | ” ” | [34] |
| Mr Harbury | ” ” | [42] |
| Mr Ashington, from a portrait—(under his country name of Mr Curlew)—in “Hosts and Hostesses of Rutlandshire” | ” ” | [53] |
| Lord George Hampton, Pioneer and Explorer, of whom mention is made on page [60]. (From a sketch very kindly communicated by the artist, his sister, Lady Oona Hampton) | ” ” | [55] |
| Captain Ronald. (By the kind permission of the Author and Publisher of “Rulers of Men”) | ” ” | [60] |
| A “Moro-Kanu,” or member of the upper class of the Yaba. This class possesses most of the land, and obtains all the political direction of the Delta. Indeed it is from their domination of a closely aristocratic policy that the principal hopes of an imperial education of that province depend | ” ” | [62] |
| Lord Lambeth (Mr Barnett). From the portrait by Sir Henry Moseley, R.A., K.V.O. | ” ” | [67] |
| The Editor of “The Doctrinaire.” (As he appeared reading his paper—“Causes of our success in South Africa,” to the Royal Society) | ” ” | [95] |
| Lord Benthorpe preventing the disruption of the Empire | ” ” | [116] |
| Mrs Warner’s retreating figure | ” ” | [149] |
| Lord Benthorpe recognising the importance of business men to the Empire | ” ” | [151] |
| The Smile | ” ” | [158] |
| The Bishop of Shoreham (the Honourable the Rev. Peregrine Mauclerc) sitting as an assessor at the trial of Canon Cone for heresy, piracy, conspiracy and schism. An excellent likeness, which we take from the “Cone Trial Illustrated Supplement” of “Christian Soldiers” | ” ” | [169] |
| Mr Burden offering to subscribe whatever may be necessary | ” ” | [181] |
| The Rev. Charles Gapworthy, B.A. (From a block very kindly lent by “The St Lazarus Hys Hostel Magazine: a Review of Social Progress”) | ” ” | [183] |
| Canon Cone in repose, discussing matters unconnected with dogma at the Duchess of Lavington’s. (A sketch purchased from her Grace’s secretary at the time, now door-keeper at the Variety, Bismark, P.A., U.S.A.) | ” ” | [184] |
| Canon Cone delivering his chivalrous attack upon the Incarnation. (A thumbnail sketch taken by the reporter of “Christendom,” and called by him, “Canon Cone in Action”) | ” ” | [184] |
| Dr Mohl. From the oil painting presented to the University of Dorpott by His Majesty William II., Emperor and King | ” ” | [187] |
| Baron Bloch. (From a photograph by M. M. Ballaru et Cie, 147 bis, Rue St Loup. Les Clichés sont la propriété exclusive de la Maison) | ” ” | [188] |
| Major Pondo. (An extract from the picture of the reception at Barnett House. By the courtesy of the proprietors of “Social Sketches,” a weekly magazine) | ” ” | [192] |
| “Competition, sir! competition!” | ” ” | [199] |
| Mr Barnett thoroughly at home | ” ” | [211] |
| The Porter of the M’Korio Delta Development Co. (From a group) | ” ” | [221] |
| “And then the band played” | ” ” | [250] |
| The Three Doctors | ” ” | [258] |
| The unexpected Appearance of Mr Burden | ” ” | [268] |
| Mr Burden in his last unfortunate fit of passion. (From a sketch very kindly provided by Mr Harbury) | ” ” | [297] |
| The serious indisposition of Mr Burden in the train | ” ” | [302] |
MR BURDEN
CHAPTER I
It is remarkable, and a little saddening, to find how few people have heard of Mr Burden, who recently died at his residence, Avonmore, 37 Alexandrovna Road, Upper Norwood. He was, all his life, a man whose influence, though indirect, was considerable; a man certainly not without weight in the foreign policy of this country, and one that affected still more profoundly its social structure.
The assiduity and the regularity of his demeanour forbade him, perhaps, the notoriety that is so prized by many lesser men. His ambitions, where they were not domestic, regarded his business and the preservation of the fortune he had honestly acquired. His judgment, which was excellent, he exercised upon problems connected with the commercial interests into which he had been born, and from which he had never, during a useful life of sixty-four years, desired to dissociate himself.
To the administration of the suburb in which his villa was situated he was far from indifferent; but he had never attempted to enter the House of Commons, though his station, means, and connections would have afforded him ample opportunities in middle age for a career which Englishmen justly regard as among the most honourable, lucrative and eminent.
Such men, happily, exercise, under the orderly conditions of modern England, a far deeper influence upon the fortunes of our great empire than their lack of public fame might argue in less favoured communities. It would be an impertinence to insist upon the many friendships which bound Mr Burden by the closest ties to men who direct no small part of our national fortunes. To those who knew him well it would appear redundant, and, to those who had not heard of him, beside the mark, were an account of all his financial, philanthropic, or religious activity to occupy any part of the following pages. Those pages were called forth under the strong and painful impression of his recent death, and it is their only object to trace a rapid sketch of his family and social position, to make some mention of the last few days of his life, and at the same time to leave some permanent record, lest the memory of such a character and of its trials should perish.