It is the triumph of a member of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, of a London workman, that Mr.John Burns beholds with unconcealed pleasure in his own success.
There are drawbacks, of course, to this complete self-satisfaction.

Since the workman has triumphed in the person of Mr.John Burns, the working class would do well to follow his example, and heed his advice on all matters affecting its welfare, Mr.Burns argues.

The failures of working-class life and the misery of the poor are due to the lack of those virtues that he possesses, he is apt to maintain.

Hence Mr.Burns is hated as a Pharisee in certain quarters when he extols self-reliance and total abstinence as essential to working-class prosperity, and points to gambling and strong drink as the root of all evil in the State.

It is sometimes urged that Mr.Burns over-praises his own merits; but the fault is really in the opposite direction; he does not appreciate sufficiently that the gifts he possesses--the gifts he has used so fully and so freely--are exceptional.