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ur race is of such mixed origin。 In Kipling’s case some of these onslaughts are doubtless provoked by his strong party feeling and pronouncements； though the form they take is for the most part criticism of his work。 Even on the supposition that this is not ale quality； such treatment strikes me as ungenerous。 No man is continually at his best； and the writer of “Recessional” and other noble and beautiful things should be spared these scourgings。 However； I have no doubt it will all e right in the end； and I hope that when this book is published he may be wearing the Order of Merit。
Nowadays everything is in extremes； and the over…praised of one year are the over…depreciated of the next； since； as much or more than most people； critics； or the papers that employ them； like to be in the fashion。 It is fortunate that； however much it may be influenced at the time； the ultimate judgment lies with the general public； which； in the issue； is for the most part just。 It is fortunate also that only a man’s best work will e before this final court； since in our crowded age the rest must soon evaporate。
The next important event that happened to me was my nomination in the year 1906 as a member of the Royal mission on Coast Erosion。 It happened thus。 Seeing that such a mission was to be appointed； I wrote to Mr。 Lloyd George； who was then the President of the Board of Trade in the new Radical Government； explaining to him a method I had adopted of keeping back the sea by the planting of Marram grass。 This plan had proved most successful so far as the frontage of my house； Kessingland Grange； near Lowestoft； was concerned； and I suggested that it might with advantage be more widely followed。
Mr。 Lloyd George asked me to e to see him； which I did； with the result that ultimately I found myself a member of the Royal mission whereof Lord Ashby St。 Ledgers； then Mr。 Ivor Guest； was the Chairman。 Lord Ashby St。 Ledgers I liked very much； and with whom I got on extremely well； indeed he was always most kind and considerate to me。 So far he has been extraordinarily fortunate in life； and I hope that his good chance may continue。 Born to great wealth； while still young he finds himself a member of the Government； a Privy Councillor； and a peer in his own right without the necessity of waiting for his father’s title。 Truly the ball is at his feet and； with his considerable business abilities； he should be able to kick it far； as I hope he may。
How strangely do the lots of men vary； especially in this old…established land！ One toils all his life to attain in old age； or more probably not to attain at all； what another steps into from the beginning as a natural right and almost without effort on his part。 One man misfortune follows fast and death follows faster； another seems to pass from childhood to a very distance grave without a heartache or a stumble； neither he nor those connected with him are called upon to face work； or want； or struggle； or to know any kind of human loss or suffering or anxiety of the soul — that is； so far as we can judge。
Almost am I inclined to think that the Prince Fortunatus of this character； of whom everybody will know several； must have behaved himself very well in a previous incarnation and now be reaping the harvest of reward。 Or maybe — this is a more unpleasant idea — his good things are appointed to him here like those of Dives in the Bible； and — there are breakers ahead。 Unless the world is regulated by pure chance； there must be some explanation of these startling differences of fate。 Or perhaps the fortunate ones have their own bitternesses which are invisible to other eyes。 Well； one may speculate on such problems； but to do the work that es to one’s hand thoroughly； to thank God for and be content with what one has and to envy no man — these are the only real recipes for such satisfaction and happiness as are allowed to us in our mortal pilgrimage。 Such； at least； is my attitude； though I must say I agree with Disraeli that life has more to offer to those who begin it with 3000 pounds a year； and with Becky Sharp who remarked safely that in these circumstances it was easier to be virtuous！
I worked hard on that Royal mission。 During the five years of its life； indeed； I only missed one day’s sitting； and that was because the steamer from Denmark could not get me there in time。 Shortly after the mencement of its labours I was nominated the Chairman of the Unemployed Labour and Reclamation mittee； which involved a good deal of extra； but important and interesting； business。 Also I was the Chairman of two of the tours that were made by mittees of the mission to inspect the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland； during which tours I am glad to say there were no differences of opinion or other troubles； such as have been known to arise on similar occasions。
When we had been sitting about a year； finding that there was not really very much in the Coast Erosion business； which had been somewhat exaggerated； Lord Ashby St。 Ledgers and I approached Mr。 Lloyd George one night at a dinner party and suggested that； as had been originally proposed； the question of Afforestation should be added to our Reference。 This was done； and some experts in the matter were appointed to the mission。 After this we investigated that great subject with much zeal and； being pressed by the Government； presented an interim Report。 It was drafted； with the assistance of course of our clever and industrious secretary； Mr。 Grimshaw； of the Board of Trade； by the Chairman； Professor Somerville； and myself； quorum pars magna fuit my extremely able and learned friend； Professor Somerville。 We presented a scheme for the consideration of the Government； under which； had it been adopted； enormous areas of waste or poor land in the United Kingdom would in due course have bee forests of great value。 Needless to say it was not adopted； it’s fate was the fate of my Land Settlement Report； minus the appointment of a mittee to “knock the bottom out of it。” The fact is that the venture was too sound and quiet to be undertaken by a Government of party men who look for immediate political reward rather than to the welfare of the coun