The Anti-Treating League, as it is called, administers a novel pledge which must have been conceived in a very understanding mind.

Those enlisted undertake neither to treat nor to be treated.

They may drink, so far as the pledge is concerned, as much as they like; but they must drink at their own expense; and others must not drink at their expense.

The good nature and sociability of Irishmen, too often the mere result of inability to say 'no,' need not be sacrificed.

But even if they were, the loss of these social graces would be far more than compensated by a self-respect and seriousness of life out of which something permanent might be built.