To the will is added a very characteristic codicil in
regard to the Dalham Hall Estate, which was bought by Mr. Rhodes last summer and is settled on his male heirs. Mr. Rhodes, after expressing his belief in the value to the nation of "the country landlord " class—a belief in which we entirely concur—and after pointing out that the position of the head of a country family is so often ruined by the charges on the estate, directs that no " loafer " shall ever be permitted to inherit the estate. In fact, to become tenant for life of the estate a man must never encumber the estate, and must belong or have belonged for ten years to some profession, and also, if he is not a soldier, must be a member of a Militia or Volunteer corps. We have dealt at length with this singular bequest elsewhere, and will only point out here the danger of destroying the man of leisure with high aims who devotes his life to public duties while trying to hit "the loafer." We admire greatly the country gentlemanclass, and believe that England owes an immense debt to her younger sons, but we cannot think it wise to try to create an artificial younger son Out of the head of the family. Besides, you cannot extinguish loafers by making men take to professions. The professions swarm with loafers of the worst kind. It is curious to note that Mr. Rhodes, or those responsible for the drafting of his will, has forgotten the Yeomanry, but possibly Militia would be held to include Yeomanry.
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