The troubling and persistent alarum of rebellion calls from many sides, and as instances of its call I have introduced mention of various rebels, whether against authority or custom. I have once or twice ventured also into those twilit regions where the spirit itself stands rebellious against its limits, and questions even the ultimate insane triumph of flesh and circumstance, closing its short-lived interlude. The rebellion may appear to be vain, but when we consider the primitive elements of life from which our paragon of animals has ascended, the mere attempt at rebellion is more astonishing than the greatest recorded miracle, and since man has grown to think that he possesses a soul, there is no knowing what he may come to.
I have added a few other scenes from old times and new, just for variety, or just to remind ourselves that, in the midst of all chaos and perturbation and rage, it is possible for the world to go upon its way, preserving, in spite of all, its most excellent gift of sanity.
CHAP. I. THE CATFISH II. REBELLION III. "EITHER COWARDS OR UNHAPPY" IV. DEEDS NOT WORDS. V. THE BURNING BOOK. VI. "WHERE CRUEL RAGE" VII. THE CHIEF OF REBELS VIII. THE IRON CROWN IX. "THE IMPERIAL RACE" X. THE GREAT UNKNOWN XI. THE WORTH OF A PENNY XII. "FIX BAYONETS!" XIII. "OUR FATHERS HAVE TOLD US" XIV. THE GRAND JURY XV. A NEW CONSCRIPTION XVI. THE LAST OF THE RUNNYMEDES XVII. CHILDREN OF THE STATE. XVIII. THE JUDGMENT OF PARIS. XIX. ABDUL'S RETREAT XX. "NATIVES" XXI. UNDER THE YOKE. XXII. BLACK AND WHITE XXIII. PEACE AND WAR IN THE BALANCE XXIV. THE MAID XXV. THE HEROINE XXVI. THE PENALTY OF VIRTUE XXVII. "THE DAILY ROUND" XXVIII. THE CHARM OF COMMONPLACE XXIX. THE PRIEST OF NEMI. XXX. THE UNDERWORLD OF TIME. XXXI. MENTAL EUGENICS XXXII. THE MEDICINE OF THE MIND XXXIII. THE LAST FENCE XXXIV. THE ELEMENT OF CALM XXXV. "THE KING OF TERRORS" XXXVI. STRULDBRUGS XXXVII. "LIBERTÉ, LIBERTÉ, CHÉRIE!" XXXVIII. A FAREWELL TO FLEET STREET. INDEX
Before the hustling days of ice and of "cutters" rushing to and fro between Billingsgate and our fleets of steam-trawlers on the Dogger Bank, most sailing trawlers and long-line fishing-boats were built with a large tank in their holds, through which the sea flowed freely. Dutch eel-boats are built so still, and along the quays of Amsterdam and Copenhagen you may see such tanks in fishing-boats of almost every kind. Our East Coast fishermen kept them chiefly for cod. They hoped thus to bring the fish fresh and good to market, for, unless they were overcrowded, the cod lived quite as contentedly in the tanks as in the open sea. But in one respect the fishermen were disappointed. They found that the fish arrived slack, flabby, and limp, though well fed and in apparent health.