"A MEDLEY OF PHILOSOPHY AND WAR." [To THE EDITOR OF
THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—You may rest assured I think that the above virile and common-sense article in your issue of the 19th inst. will be perused with interest and gratitude by large numbers in Great Britain who, having solely the welfare of their country at heart, are sick unto death of the play of " faction " and its paralyzing effect on the present Government in dealing with this question of National Service. Your apt reference to Addison's "Cate" reminds me of the comment of Bacon on the speech of Themistoeles the Athenian, who, when desired at a feast to touch a lute, said, "He could not fiddle, but yet he could make a small town a great city." The comment of Bacon was as follows :—
"These words (holpen a little with a metaphor) may express two differing abilities in those that deal in business of estate. For if a true survey be taken of counsellors and statesmen there may be found (though rarely) those which can make a small state great and yet cannot fiddle, as on the other side there will be found a great many that can fiddle very cunningly, but yet are so far from being able to make a small state great as their gift lieth the other way, to bring a great and flourishing estate to ruin and decay. And certainly those degenerate arts and shifts whereby many counsellors and governors gain both favour with their masters and estimation with the vulgar deserve no better name than fiddling ; being things rather pleasing for the timo and graceful to themselves only than tending to the weal and advance- ment of the state which they serve."
That was written in 1625, and these " counsellors " and "statesmen" are still fiddling. Let us hope that the fate of the notorious fiddler of Imperial Rome will not overtake us Es/roll, Chapelallerton, Leeds.
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