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acting: they would be of great use to us. The example of a
real gentleman is, if I may say so without profanity, the best
of all gospels; such a man upon the stage becomes a potent
humanising influence, an Ideal which all may look upon for
a shilling.
I always liked and admired these men, and although I
could not help deeply regretting their certain ultimate per-
dition (for they had no sense of a hereafter, and their only
religion was that of self- respect and consideration for other
people), I never dared to take so great a liberty with them
as to attempt to put them in possession of my own religious
convictions, in spite of my knowing that they were the only
ones which could make them really good and happy, either
here or hereafter. I did try sometimes, being impelled to do
so by a strong sense of duty, and by my deep regret that so
much that was admirable should be doomed to ages if not
eternity of torture; but the words stuck in my throat as soon
as I began.
Whether a professional missionary might have a better
chance I know not; such persons must doubtless know more
about the science of conversion: for myself, I could only be
thankful that I was in the right path, and was obliged to let
others take their chance as yet. If the plan fails by which I
propose to convert them myself, I would gladly contribute
my mite towards the sending two or three trained mission-
aries, who have been known as successful converters of
Jews and Mahometans; but such have seldom much to glory
in the flesh, and when I think of the high Ydgrunites, and
of the figure which a missionary would probably cut among

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