Pagettwasfarfromsatisfiedwiththis，andwishedtohavetheoldgentleman’sopinionontheproprietyofmanagingallIndianaffairsonthebasisofanelectivesystem。
　　Ordedidhisbesttoexplain，butitwasplainthevisitorwasboredandbewilder~dFrankly，hedidn’tthinkmuchofcommittees；theyhadaMu-
　　nicipalCommitteeatLahoreandhadelectedamenialservant，anorderly，asamemberHehadbeeninformedofthisongoodauthority，andafterthat，committeeshadceasedtointeresthim。
　　ButallwasaccordingtotheruleofGovernment，and，pleaseGod，itwasallforthebest。
　　“Whatanoldfossilitis！”criedPagett，asOrdereturnedfromseeinghisguesttothedoor；“justlikesomeoldblue-bloodedhidalgoofSpainWhatdoeshereallythinkoftheCongressafterall，andoftheelectivesystem？”
　　“HatesitalllikepoisonWhenyouaresureofamajority，electionisafinesystem；butyoucanscarcelyexpecttheMahommedans，themastmasterfulandpowerfulminorityinthecountry，tocontemplatetheirownextinctionwithjoyTheworstofitisthatheandhisco-religionists，whoaremany，andthelandedproprietors，also，ofHindurace，arefrightenedandputoutbythiselectiopbusinessandbytheimportancewehavebestowedonlawyers，pleaders，writers，andthelike，whohave，uptonow，beeninabjectsubmissiontothem。
　　Theysaylittle，hutafteralltheyarethemostimportantfagotsinthegreatbundleofcommunities，andalltheglibbunkumintheworldwouldnotpayfortheirestrangementTheyhavecontrolledtheland。”
　　“ButIamassuredthatexperienceoflocalself-gov~rnmentinyourmunicipalitieshasbeenmostsatisfactory，andwhenoncetheprincipleisacceptedinyourcentres，don’tyouknow，itisboundtospread，andthese~mportant——ah’mpeopleofyourswouldlearnitliketherestIseenodifficultyatall。”andthesmoothlipsclosedwiththecomplacent256
　　WORKSOFRUDYARDKIPLING
　　snaphabitualtoPagett，M。P。，the“manofcheerfulyesterdaysandconfidentto-morrows。”
　　Ordelookedathimwithadrearysmile。
　　’~Tbeprivilegeofelectionhasbeenmostreluctantlywithdrawnfromscoresofmunicipalities，othershavehadtobesummarilysuppressed，and，outsidethePresidencytowns，theactualworkdonehasbeenbadlyperformedThisisoflessmoment，perhaps-itonlysendsupthelocaldeath-rates-thanthefactthatthepublicinterestinmunicipalelections，neververystrong，haswaned，andiswaning，inspiteofcarefulnursingonthepartofGovernmentservants。”
　　“Canyouexplainthislackofinterest？”saidPagett，puttingasidetherestofOrde’sremarks。
　　’~YoumayfindawardofthekeyinthefactthatonlyoneineverythousandafourpopulationcanspellThentheyareinfinitelymoreinterestedinreligionandcastequestionsthaninanysortofpoliticsWhenthebusinessofmereexistenceisover，theirmindsareoccupiedbyaseriesofinterests，pleasures，rituals，superstitions，andthelike，basedoncenturiesoftraditionandusageYou，perhaps，findithardtoconceiveofpeopleabsolutelydevoidofcuriosity，towhomthebook，thedailypaper，andtheprintedspeechareunknown，andyouwoulddescribetheirlifeasblankThat’saprofoundmistakeYouareinanotherland，anothercentury，downonthebed-rockofsociety，wherethefamilymerely，andnotthecommunity，isall-importantTheaverageOrientalcannotbebroughttolookbeyondhisclanHislife，too，isnaorecompleteandself-sufficing，andlesssordidandlow-thoughtedthanyoumightimagineItisbovineandslowinsomerespects，butitisneveremptyYouandIareinclinedtoputthecartbeforethehorse，andtoforgetthatitisthemanthatiselemental，notthebook。
　　’Thecornandthecattleareallmycare，AndtherestisthewillofGod。’
　　Whyshouldsuchfolklookupfromtheirimmemoriallyappointedroundofdutyandintereststomeddlewiththeunknownandfusswithvoting-papersHowwouldyou，atopofallyourinterestscaretoconductevenone-tenthofyourlifeaccordingtothemannersandcustomsofthePapuans，let’ssay？That’swhatitcomesto。”
　　“Butiftheywon’ttakethetroubletovote，whydoyouanticipatethatMohammedans，proprietors，andtherestwouldbecrushedbymajoritiesofthem？”
　　AgainPagettdisregardedtheclosingsentence。
　　“Because，thoughthelandholderswouldnotmoveafingeronanypurelypoliticalquestion，theycouldberaisedindangerousexcitementbyreligioushatreds。
　　Alreadythefirstnoteofthishasbeensoundedbythepeoplewhoaretryingtogetupanagitationonthecow-killingquestion，andeveryyearthereistroubleovertheMohammedanMuharrumprocessions。
　　“Butwholooksafterthepopularrights，beingthusunrepresented？”
　　“TheGovernmentofHcrMajestytheQueen，EmpressofIndia，inwhich，iftheCongresspromotersaretobebelieved，thepeoplehaveanimplicittrust；fortheCongresscircular，speciallypreTHEENLIGHTENMENTSOFPAGETT，M。P。
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　　paredforrusticcomprehension，saysthemovementis’fortheremissionoftax，theadvancementofHindnstan，andthestrengtheningoftheBritishGovemment。’
　　Thispaperisheadedinlargeletters-’MAVTHEPROSPEEITYOFTH~EMPIREOFINDIA
　　ENDURE。”’
　　“Really！”saidPagett，“thatshowssomeclevernessButtherearethingsbetterworthimi’ationinourEnglisbmethodsof-er-politicalstatementthanthissortofamiablefraud。”
　　“Anyhow。”resumedOrde，“youperceivethatnotawordissaidaboutelectionsandtheelectiveprinciple，andthereticenceoftheCongresspromotershereshowstheyarewiseintheirgeneration。”
　　“Buttheelectiveprinciplemusttriumphintheend，andthelittledifficultiesyouseemtoanticipatewouldgivewayontheintroductionofawell-balancedscheme，capableofindefiniteextension。”
　　“Butisitpossibletodeviseaschemewhich，alwaysassumingthatthepeopletookanyinterestinit，withoutenormousexpense，ruinousdislocationoftheadminist：ationanddangertothepublicpeace，cansatisfytheaspirationsofMrHumeandhisfollowing，andyetsafeguardtheinterestsoftheMahommedans，thelandedandwealthyclasses，theConservativeHindus，theEurasians，Parsees，Sikhs，Rajputs，nativeChristians，domiciledEuropeansandothers，whoareeachimportantandpowerfulintheirway？”
　　Pagett’sattention，however，wasdivertedtothegate，whereagroupofcultivatorsstoodinapparenthesitation。
　　“HerearethetwelveApostles，hyJove-comestraightoutofRaffaele’scartoons。”saidtheM。P。，withthefreshappreciationofanewcomer。
　　Orde，lothtobeinterrupted，turnedimpatientlytowardthevillagers，andtheirleader，handinghislongstafftooneofhiscompanions，advancedtothehouse。
　　“ItisoldJelbo，theLumherdar，orhead-manofPindSharkot，andavery’intelligentmanforavillager。”
　　TheJatfarmerhadremovedhisshoesandstoodsmilingontheedgeoftheverandaHisstronglymarkedfeaturesglowedwithrussetbronze，andhisbrighteyesgleamedunderdeeplysetbrows，contractedbylifelongexposuretosunshineHisbeardandmoustachestreakedwithgreysweptfromboldcliffsofbrowandcheekinthelargesweepsoneseesdrawnbyMichaelAngelo，andstrandsoflongblackhairmingledwiththeirregularlypiledwreathsandfoldsofhisturbanThedraperyofstoutbluecottoncloththrownoverhisbroadshouldersandgirtroundhisnarrowloins，hungfromhistallforminbroadlysculpturedfolds，and~ewouldhavemadeasuperbmodelforanartistinsearchofapatriarch。
　　Ordegreetedhimcordially，andafterapolitepausethecountrymanstartedoffwithalongstorytoldwithimpressiveearnestnessOrdelistenedandsmiled，interruptingthespeakerat’~mestoargueandreasonwithhiminatonewhichPagettcouldhearwaskindly，andfinallycheckingthefluxofwordswasabouttodismisshim，whenPagettsuggestedthatheshouldbeaskedabouttheNationalCongress。
　　ButJellochadneverheardofit。
　　Hewasapoormanandsuchthings，bythefavorofhisHonor，didnotconcernhim。
　　“What’sthematterwithyourbigfriendthathewassoterriblyinearnest？”askedPagett，whenhehadleft。
　　“NothingmuchHewantsthebloodofthepeopleinthenextvillage，whohavehadsmallpoxandcattleplagueprettybadly，andbythehelpofawizard，acurrier，andseveralpigshavepasseditontohisownvillage’Wantstoknowiftheycan’tberuninforthisawfulcrimeItseemstheymadeadreadfulcharivariatthevillageboundary，threwaquantityofspell-bearingobjectsovertheborder，abuffalo’sskullandotherthings；thenbrandedachamur-whatyouwouldcallacurrier-onhishinderpartsanddrovehimandanumberofpigsoverintoJelIno’svillageJelbosayshecanbringevidencetoprovethatthewizarddirectingtheseproceedings，whoisaSansi，hasbeenguiltyoftheft，arson，rattle-killing，perjuryandmurder，butwouldprefertohavehimpunishedforbewitchingthemandinflictingsmall-pox。”
　　“Andhowonearthdidyouanswersuchalunatic？”
　　“LunaticItheoldfellowisassaneasyouorI；andhehassomegroundofcomplaintagainstthoseSansisIas~edifhewouldlikcanativesuperintendentofpolicewithsomementomakeinquiries，butheobjectedonthegroundsthepolicewereratherworsethansmallpoxandcriminaltribesputtogether。”
　　“Crimin~tribes-er-Idon’tquiteunderstand。”saidPaget~
　　“WehaveinIndiamanytribesofpeoplewhointheslackanti-Britishdaysbecamerobbers，invariouskindandpreye~onthepeopleTheyarebeingrestrainedandreclaimedlittlebylittle，andintimewillbecomeuscfu；citizens，buttheystillcherishhereditar~traditionsofcrime，andareadifficullottodealwithBythewaywh~；aboutthepoliticalrightsofthesefolkunderyourschemes？Thecountrypeoplecallthemvermin，butIsup-posetheywouldbeelectorswithth~
　　rest。”
　　“Nonsens~speaalprovisionwouldbemadefortheminawell-consideredelectoralscheme，andtheywoulddoubtlessbetreatedwithfittingseverity。”saidPagett，withamagisterialair。
　　“Severity，yes-butwhetheritwouldbefittingisdoubtfulEventhosepoordevilshaverights，and，afterall，theyonlypracticewhattheyhavebeentaught。”
　　“Butcriminals，Ordel“
　　“Yes，criminalswithcodesandritualsofcrime，godsandgodlingsofcrime，andahundredsongsandsayingsinpraiseofitPuzzling，isn’tit？”
　　“It’ssimplydreadfulTheyoughttobeputdownatonceAretheremanyofthem？”
　　“Notmorethanaboutsixtythousandinthisprovince，formanyofthetrlbesbroadlydescribedascriminalarereallyvagabondandcrimlnalonlyonoccasion，whileothersarebeingsettledandreclaimedTheyareofgreatantiquity，alegacyfromthepast，thegolden，gloriousAryanpastofMaxMuller，Birdwoodandtherestofyourspindrif~
　　philosophers。”
　　AnorderlybroughtacardtoOrdeTHEENLIGHTENMENTSOFPAGETT，M。P。
　　2SQ
　　whotookitwithamovementofirritationattheinterruption，andbandedittoPagett；alargecardwitharuledborderinredink，andinthecentreinschoolboycopperplate，MrDmaNath。
　　“Givesalaam。”saidthecivilian，andthereenteredinhasteaslenderyouth，cladinacloselyfittingcoatofgreyhomespun，tighttrousers，patent-leathershoes，andasmallblackvelvetcap。
　　Histhincheektwitched，andhiseyeswanderedrestlessly，fortheyoungmanwasevidentlynervousanduncomfortable，thoughstrivingtoassumeafreeandeasyair。
　　“Yourhonormayperhapsrememberme。”hesaidinEnglisb，andOrdescannedhimkeenly。
　　“IknowyourfacesomehowYoubelongedtotheShershahdistrictIthink，whenIwasinchargethere？”
　　“Yes，Sir，myfatheriswriteratShershah，andyourhonorgavemeaprizewhenIwasfirstintheMiddleSchoolexaminationfiveyearsagoSincethenIhaveprosecutedmystudies，andIamnowsecondyear’sstudentintheMissionCollege~“
　　“Ofcourse：youareKedarNath’sson-theboywhosaidhelikedgeographybetterthanplayorsugarcakes，andIdidn’tbelieveyou。
　　Howisyourfathergettingon？”