beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第30章
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revered lady who had some pretensions to oracular utterance； 〃we are
too cosmopolitan nowadays to be really moved by them。 That is why
one welcomes an intelligible production like 'Cousin Teresa；' that has a
genuine message for one。 One can't understand the message all at once；
of course； but one felt from the very first that it was there。 I've been to
see it eighteen times and I'm going again to…morrow and on Thursday。
One can't see it often enough。〃
* * * *
〃It would be rather a popular move if we gave this Harrowcluff
person a knighthood or something of the sort；〃 said the Minister
reflectively。
〃Which Harrowcluff？〃asked his secretary。
〃Which？ There is only one； isn't there？〃 said the Minister； 〃the
'Cousin Teresa' man； of course。 I think every one would be pleased if
we knighted him。 Yes； you can put him down on the list of certainties …
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under the letter L。〃
〃The letter L；〃 said the secretary； who was new to his job； 〃does that
stand for Liberalism or liberality？〃
Most of the recipients of Ministerial favour were expected to qualify
in both of those subjects。
〃Literature；〃 explained the Minister。
And thus； after a fashion； Colonel Harrowcluff's expectation of
seeing his son's name in the list of Honours was gratified。
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THE YARKAND MANNER
SIR LULWORTH QUAYNE was making a leisurely progress
through the Zoological Society's Gardens in company with his nephew；
recently returned from Mexico。 The latter was interested in comparing
and contrasting allied types of animals occurring in the North American
and Old World fauna。
〃One of the most remarkable things in the wanderings of species；〃 he
observed； 〃is the sudden impulse to trek and migrate that breaks out now
and again； for no apparent reason； in communities of hitherto stay…at…
home animals。〃
〃In human affairs the same phenomenon is occasionally noticeable；〃
said Sir Lulworth； 〃perhaps the most striking instance of it occurred in
this country while you were away in the wilds of Mexico。 I mean the
wander fever which suddenly displayed itself in the managing and
editorial staffs of certain London newspapers。 It began with the
stampede of the entire staff of one of our most brilliant and enterprising
weeklies to the banks of the Seine and the heights of Montmartre。 The
migration was a brief one； but it heralded an era of restlessness in the
Press world which lent quite a new meaning to the phrase 'newspaper
circulation。' Other editorial staffs were not slow to imitate the example
that had been set them。 Paris soon dropped out of fashion as being too
near home； Nurnberg； Seville； and Salonica became more favoured as
planting… out grounds for the personnel of not only weekly but daily
papers as well。 The localities were perhaps not always well chosen； the
fact of a leading organ of Evangelical thought being edited for two
successive fortnights from Trouville and Monte Carlo was generally
admitted to have been a mistake。 And even when enterprising and
adventurous editors took themselves and their staffs further afield there
were some unavoidable clashings。 For instance； the SCRUTATOR；
SPORTING BLUFF； and THE DAMSELS' OWN PAPER all pitched on
Khartoum for the same week。 It was； perhaps； a desire to out…distance
all possible competition that influenced the management of the DAILY
INTELLIGENCER； one of the most solid and respected organs of
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Liberal opinion； in its decision to transfer its offices for three or four
weeks from Fleet Street to Eastern Turkestan； allowing； of course； a
necessary margin of time for the journey there and back。 This was； in
many respects； the most remarkable of all the Press stampedes that were
experienced at this time。 There was no make…believe about the
undertaking； proprietor； manager； editor； sub…editors； leader…writers；
principal reporters； and so forth； all took part in what was popularly
alluded to as the DRANG NACH OSTEN； an intelligent and efficient
office…boy was all that was left in the deserted hive of editorial industry。〃
〃That was doing things rather thoroughly； wasn't it？〃 said the
nephew。
〃Well； you see；〃 said Sir Lulworth； 〃the migration idea was falling
somewhat into disrepute from the half… hearted manner in which it was
occasionally carried out。 You were not impressed by the information
that such and such a paper was being edited and brought out at Lisbon
or Innsbruck if you chanced to see the principal leader… writer or the art
editor lunching as usual at their accustomed restaurants。 The DAILY
INTELLIGENCER was determined to give no loophole for cavil at the
genuineness of its pilgrimage； and it must be admitted that to a certain
extent the arrangements made for transmitting copy and carrying on the
usual features of the paper during the long outward journey worked
smoothly and well。 The series of articles which commenced at Baku
on 'What Cobdenism might do for the camel industry' ranks among the
best of the recent contributions to Free Trade literature； while the views
on foreign policy enunciated 'from a roof in Yarkand' showed at least as
much grasp of the international situation as those that had germinated
within half a mile of Downing Street。 Quite in keeping； too； with the
older and better traditions of British journalism was the manner of the
home…coming； no bombast； no personal advertisement； no flamboyant
interviews。 Even a complimentary luncheon at the Voyagers' Club was
courteously declined。 Indeed； it began to be felt that the self…
effacement of the returned pressmen was being carried to a pedantic
length。 Foreman compositors； advertisement clerks； and other
members of the non… editorial staff； who had； of course； taken no part in
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the great trek； found it as impossible to get into direct communication
with the editor and his satellites now that they had returned as when they
had been excusably inaccessible in Central Asia。 The sulky；
overworked office…boy； who w
