This letter I quote, with his permission, because it conveys a lesson to those who are inclined always to think that the conditions of the present time are very bad.

It was written July 7, 1897.

Mr.Bryce spoke of the possibility of coming to America in a month or so, and continued: "I hope I may have a chance of seeing you if I do get over, and of drawing some comfort from you as regards your political phenomena, which, so far as I can gather from those of your countrymen I have lately seen, furnish some good opportunities for a persistent optimist like myself to show that he is not to be lightly discouraged.

Don't suppose that things are specially 'nice,' as a lady would say, in Europe either.

They are not." Mr.Bryce was a very friendly and extraordinary competent observer of things American; and there was this distinct note of discouragement about our future in the intimate letter he was thus sending.