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Nobody cares。 Who cares for anything but the show and bluster which are threatening our ruin？ English food； not long ago the best in the world； is falling off in quality； and even our national genius for cooking shows a decline； to anyone who knows England； these are facts significant enough。 Foolish persons have prated about 〃our insular cuisine；〃 demanding its reform on Continental models； and they have found too many like unto themselves who were ready to listen； the result will be； before long； that our excellence will be forgotten； and paltry methods be universally introduced； together with the indifferent viands to which they are suited。 Yet； if any generality at all be true； it is a plain fact that English diet and English virtue……in the largest sense of the word……are inseparably bound together。
Our supremacy in this matter of the table came with little taking of thought； what we should now do is to reflect upon the things which used to be instinctive； perceive the reasons of our excellence； and set to work to re…establish it。 Of course the vilest cooking in the kingdom is found in London； is it not with the exorbitant growth of London that many an ill has spread over the land？ London is the antithesis of the domestic ideal； a social reformer would not even glance in that direction； but would turn all his zeal upon small towns and country districts； where blight may perhaps be arrested； and whence； some day； a reconstituted national life may act upon the great centre of corruption。 I had far rather see England covered with schools of cookery than with schools of the ordinary kind； the issue would be infinitely more hopeful。 Little girls should be taught cooking and baking more assiduously than they are taught to read。 But with ever in view the great English principle……that food is only cooked aright when it yields the utmost of its native and characteristic savour。 Let sauces be utterly forbidden……save the natural sauce made of gravy。 In the same way with sweets； keep in view the insurpassable English ideals of baked tarts （or pies； if so you call them）； and boiled puddings； as they are the wholesomest； so are they the most delicious of sweet cakes yet invented； it is merely a question of having them well made and cooked。 Bread； again； we are getting used to bread of poor quality； and ill…made； but the English loaf at its best……such as you were once sure of getting in every village……is the faultless form of the staff of life。 Think of the glorious revolution that could be wrought in our troubled England if it could be ordained that no maid； of whatever rank； might bee a wife unless she had proved her ability to make and bake a perfect loaf of bread。
XII
The good S… writes me a kindly letter。 He is troubled by the thought of my loneliness。 That I should choose to live in such a place as this through the summer； he can understand； but surely I should do better to e to town for the winter？ How on earth do I spend the dark days and the long evenings？
I chuckle over the good S…'s sympathy。 Dark days are few in happy Devon； and such as befall have never brought me a moment's tedium。 The long； wild winter of the north would try my spirits； but here； the season that follows autumn is merely one of rest； Nature's annual slumber。 And I share in the restful influence。 Often enough I pass an hour in mere drowsing by the fireside； frequently I let my book drop； satisfied to muse。 But more often than not the winter day is blest with sunshine……the soft beam which is Nature's smile in dreaming。 I go forth； and wander far。 It pleases me to note changes of landscape when the leaves have fallen； I see streams and ponds which during summer were hidden； my favourite lanes have an unfamiliar aspect； and I bee better acquainted with them。 Then； there is a rare beauty in the structure of trees ungarmented； and if perchance snow or frost have silvered their tracery against the sober sky； it bees a marvel which never tires。
Day by day I look at the coral buds on the lime…tree。 Something of regret will mingle with my joy when they begin to break。
In the middle years of my life……those years that were the worst of all……I used to dread the sound of a winter storm which woke me in the night。 Wind and rain lashing the house filled me with miserable memories and apprehensions； I lay thinking of the savage struggle of man with man； and often saw before me no better fate than to be trampled down into the mud of life。 The wind's wail seemed to me the voice of a world in anguish； rain was the weeping of the feeble and the oppressed。 But nowadays I can lie and listen to a night… storm with no intolerable thoughts； at worst； I fall into a passionate sadness as I remember those I loved and whom I shall see no more。 For myself； there is even fort in the roaring dark； for I feel the strength of the good walls about me； and my safety from squalid peril such as pursued me through all my labouring life。 〃Blow； blow； thou winter wind！〃 Thou canst not blow away the modest wealth which makes my security。 Nor can any 〃rain upon the roof〃 put my soul to question； for life has given me all I ever asked…… infinitely more than I ever hoped……and in no corner of my mind does there lurk a coward fear of death。
XIII
If some stranger from abroad asked me to point out to him the most noteworthy things in England； I should first of all consider his intellect。 Were he a man of everyday level； I might indicate for his wonder and admiration Greater London； the Black Country； South Lancashire； and other features of our civilization which； despite eager rivalry； still maintain our modern pre…eminence in the creation of ugliness。 If； on the other hand； he seemed a man of brains； it would be my pleasure to take him to one of those old villages； in the midlands or the west； which lie at some distance from a railway station； and in aspect are still untouched by the baser tendencies of the time。 Here； I would tell my traveller； he saw something which England alone can show。 The simple beauty of the architecture； its perfect adaptation to the natural surroundings； the neatness of everything though without formality； the general cleanness and good repair； the grace of cottage gardens； that tranquillity and security which make a music in the mind of him who gazes……these are what a man must see and feel if he would appreciate the worth and the power of England。 The people which has made for itself such homes as these is distinguished； above all things； by its love of order； it has understood； as no other people； the truth that 〃order is heaven's first law。〃 With order it is natural to find stability； and the bination of these qualities； as seen in domestic life； results in that peculiarly English product； our name for which……though but a pale shadow of the thing itself……has been borrowed by other countries： fort。
Then Englishman's need of 〃fort〃 is one of his best characteristics； the possibility that he may change in this respect； and bee indifferent to his old ideal of physical and mental ease； is the gravest danger manifest in our day。 For 〃fort；〃 mind you； does not concern the body alone； the beauty and orderliness of an Englishman's home derive their value； nay； their very existence； from the spirit which directs his whole life。 Walk from the village to the noble's mansion。 It； too； is perfect of its kind； it has the dignity of age； its walls are beautiful； the gardens； the park about it are such as can be found only in England； lovely beyond pare； and all this represents the same moral characteristics as the English cottage； but with greater activities and responsibilities。 If the noble grow tired of his mansion； and； letting it to some crude owner of millions； go to live in hotels and hired villas； if the cottager sicken of his village roof； and transport himself to the sixth floor of a 〃block〃 in Shoreditch； one sees but too well that the one and the other have lost the old English sense of fort； and； in losing it； have suffered degradation alike as men and as citizens。 It is not a question of exchanging one form of fort for another； the instinct which made an Englishman has in these cases perished。 Perhaps it is perishing from among us altogether； killed by new social and political