JameshadbeenawayfromEnglandforfiveyearsandinthattimeacuriouschange,longsilentlyproceeding,hadmadeitselfopenlyfelt—becomingmanifest,likeaninsidiousdisease,onlywheneverylimbandeveryorganwereinfected.Anewspirithadbeeninaction,eatingintothefoundationsofthenationalcharacteritworkedthroughthemassesofthegreatcities,unnervedbythethreepoisonsofdrink,theSalvationArmy,andpopularjournalism.Amightyforceofhysteriaandsensationalismwascreated,seething,readytoburstitsbonds...Thecankerspreadthroughthecountry-sidetheboundariesofclassandclassarenowsovaguethatquicklythewholepopulationwasaffectedthecurrentliteratureofthedayflourisheduponitthepeopleofEngland,neuroticfromthestressofthelastsixtyyears,becameunstableaswater.Andwiththepettyreversesofthebeginningofthewar,thelastbarriersofshamewerebrokendowntheirarrogancewasdissipated,andsuddenlytheEnglishbecametimorousasaconquerednation,deprecating,apologeticlikefrightenedwomen,theyrantoandfro,wringingtheirhands.Reserve,restraint,self-possession,weresweptaway...Andnowwearefranklyemotionalreedstotteringinthewind,ourboastisthatwearenotevenreedsthatthinkwecryoutforidols.Whoistherethatwillsetupagoldenassthatwemayfalldownandworship?Wegloryinourshame,inourswellinghearts,inoureyesheavywithtears.Wewantsympathyatallcostswerunaboutshowingourbleedingvitals,askingoneanotherwhethertheyarenotindeedahorriblesight.Englishmennowareproudofbeingwomanish,andnothingismoremanlythantoweep.Tobeamanoffeelingisbetterthantobeagentleman—itiscertainlymucheasier.Thehaltofmind,themaim,theblindofwit,havecomebytheirownandthepoorinspirithaveinheritedtheearth.
JameshadleftEnglandwhenthisemotionalstatewascontemptible.Foundchieflyinthedregsofthepopulace,itwasascribedtoignoranceandtotheabuseofstimulants.Whenhereturned,ithadthepublicconsciencebehindit.Hecouldnotunderstandthech