No More Learning

The Indian Government is much too timid with its money--like
an old maiden aunt of mine--always in a funk about her investments. They
don't spend half enough on railways for instance, and they are slow in
a general way, and ought to be made to sit up in all that concerns
the encouragement of private enterprise, and coaxing out into use the
millions of capital that lie dormant in the country. "

The mare was dancing with impatience, and Burke was evidently anxious to
be off, so the men wished him goodbye.

"Who is your genial friend who condemns both Congress and Government in
a breath? " asked Pagett, with an amused smile.

"Just now he is Reggie Burke, keener on polo than on anything else,
but if you go to the Sind and Sialkote Bank tomorrow you would find Mr.
Reginald Burke a very capable man of business, known and liked by an
immense constituency North and South of this. "

"Do you think he is right about the Government's want of enterprise? "

"I should hesitate to say. Better consult the merchants and chambers
of commerce in Cawnpore, Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta. But though these
bodies would like, as Reggie puts it, to make Government sit up, it is
an elementary consideration in governing a country like India, which
must be administered for the benefit of the people at large, that the
counsels of those who resort to it for the sake of making money should
be judiciously weighed and not allowed to overpower the rest. They are
welcome guests here, as a matter of course, but it has been found best
to restrain their influence. Thus the rights of plantation laborers,
factory operatives, and the like, have been protected, and the
capitalist, eager to get on, has not always regarded Government action
with favor. It is quite conceivable that under an elective system the
commercial communities of the great towns might find means to secure
majorities on labor questions and on financial matters. "

"They would act at least with intelligence and consideration.
"

"Intelligence, yes; but as to consideration, who at the present moment
most bitterly resents the tender solicitude of Lancashire for the
welfare and protection of the Indian factory operative? English and
native capitalists running cotton mills and factories. "

"But is the solicitude of Lancashire in this matter entirely
disinterested? "

"It is no business of mine to say. I merely indicate an example of how
a powerful commercial interest might hamper a Government intent in the
first place on the larger interests of humanity. "

Orde broke off to listen a moment. "There's Dr. Lathrop talking to my
wife in the drawing-room," said he.

"Surely not; that's a lady's voice, and if my ears don't deceive me, an
American. "

"Exactly, Dr. Eva McCreery Lathrop, chief of the new Women's Hospital
here, and a very good fellow forbye. Good morning, Doctor," he said, as
a graceful figure came out on the veranda, "you seem to be in trouble. I
hope Mrs. Orde was able to help you. "

"Your wife is real kind and good, I always come to her when I'm in a fix
but I fear it's more than comforting I want. "

"You work too hard and wear yourself out," said Orde, kindly.