272 EARLY REMINISCENCES but do you not think that an illustration would stamp your teaching ineffaceably on the minds of your pupils ? " " Undoubtedly it would." " I have on me," said I, " garments for travelling abroad, recently purchased at Baker's in Holborn. Now, of course, I have no right to them. May not your pupils appropriate them and tear them into shreds, each of which will be sufficiently large to serve for a pen-wiper ? Under the circumstances, would it not be better if you were denuded of your garments, and that you distributed them among the dear children ? You are well known, at least to them. I am not. And to see you perambulating Munster Square divested of garments to which you have no right, as they belong to the Community, would furnish such a proof of your sincerity, and present such a striking illustration of your teaching, as would never be forgotten." He turned red as blood and sent me out of the vestry. When I have been in Brussels, at first I put up at Au Progres, a little hotel behind the beautiful town hall. It was kept by two sisters, was very reasonable, and the food was uncommonly good. The dinner tables were so crowded that it was not easy to get a place. After some years I went to Au Progres again, and found that the sisters had disposed of the business, which had been purchased by a man who was a strong Socialist. The old clientele had disappeared, and for dinner no more than three or four appeared. I got into conversation with the innkeeper. He was furious at the building that was in progress in the town ; stately streets were lined by handsome houses, and great display was made in the shop windows. " All this is evil ! " said he. " Why should the bourgeoisie be rich and live so well, dress sc well, and furnish their homes so well, when the artisan class has to toil to scrape together quelques petits sous ? All these houses should be given up to them." " Tiens" said I, " Monsieur, I perceive that you wear in your tie about the cravat a very handsome pin and, if I mistake not, there is a costly diamond in it. You have no right to it. Go, and throw it to the gamins in the market place: but so—only one will be the better off for it, the one who picks it up. Better by far that you should break it up with the coal hammer and strew the street with the splinters.
