The investigation into the attempt on the Prince of Wales
shows that it was in one way less, and in another more, important than was supposed. Sipido seems to have been one of a group of neurotic lads who attended an Anarchist club, and revelled in blood - and . thunder speeches. Two of them, Meert and Meyer, taunted Sipido with want of courage to shoot the Prince, where- upon, to prove his manliness, he went and shot at him. That reduces the " plot " to small dimensions, but shows that Royal persons have a new peril to encounter. They have always been in danger from a very few personal or political enemies, and from a great many lunatics, who fix' their attention upon the greatest person of whom they have any knowledge ; but these groups are now reinforced by a crowd of nervous, excitable, half-taught boys, superior "larrikins " who have never been flogged, and take to assassination as an excitement, as their predecessors took to spouting or screamy verses. Their numbers and their
utter want of the sense of responsibility make them dangerous, but it is a little difficult to know what to do with them. Two years at sea as boys under a boatswain with a handy rattan would be the best curative for them, but might induce too many fathers of good-for-nothing lads to incite them to such attempts. We suppose the practical alternative is prison labour, but they come ont hopeless castaways.
