Thus I decided that an intellectual grasp of things in general is impossible, then, woman-like, turned and did a little reasoning of my own.
Were there not enough strong young souls like the Lad’s to break through the woven spells of theory and wake the world from sleep?
CHAPTER XXII
“—just to stir up stagnation, you know, and rouse interest by telling people how things really are; for it’s ignorance that’s the matter, sheer ignorance, and I’m convinced that if the rich can be made to understand the condition of the poor, they’ll take measures to better it, so I’m trying to raise the standard of general intelligence and bring the classes together—”
The sentence went on and on. I could hardly remember when it had begun. The Young Reformer, who was calling on me, had asked me to co-operate, and I had innocently asked in what.
“—public opinion is what we want,” he was saying, “and we are safe if we can get the press on our side; for it’s the press that really rules the country, and not the pulpit, and I say the thing is to get the great popular organs on our side and let them work with us instead of against us, and they will if we only use tact; for I’ve found that if you only use tact the thing is done.”
“What special work are you attempting?” I asked.
“Oh, everything,” said the Young Reformer, cheerfully. “It doesn’t make any difference. When I see an evil I begin to call attention to it. You have got to be busy if you are going to accomplish anything.”
“And what would you like to have me do?” I inquired, gazing at my guest with undisguised curiosity.
There was an indescribable air of aimless activity about him. He sat, in a somewhat vague and tentative way, on the edge of his chair, holding on his knee a bundle of newspapers and manuscript that he had been too busy to put down.