"This is the ideal place for all catarrhal and pulmonary cases," declared Dr. Jones. "I shall always prescribe a trip in Silver Cloud for this class of patients hereafter." "I fully believe in its efficacy," said Professor Gray. "But I fear that it will be too expensive a prescription for many of your poor patients." "That's the trouble, that's the trouble," assented the Doctor, shaking his head sadly. "Millions are yearly dying that might be saved by this and other means on the same line. But the blindness and selfishness of mankind is so absolute and infernal that but little philanthropic work of this sort can be done. There are some noble exceptions, or we should have suffered the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah long since." "But, Doctor, you believe that the world is getting better, do you not?" asked Will. "In what way?" "Well, in every way. No one can doubt that in the arts and sciences more has been done in the past fifty years than in all the previous history of the world." "Granted," assented the Doctor. "All right. Then let us look at the social, moral, and spiritual sides of the question. Socially, certainly, no period of history can compare with the present. We are educating our children, feeding and clothing them better than they ever were before in the world." "I really think we are," again assented Dr. Jones. "Well, then," cried Will, glowing with triumph, thinking that he was fairly smoking the little Doctor out, "what can you say for _your_ side of the question? Was there ever a time when life and property were so protected as now? And were there ever so many Bibles and tracts and other religious matter published and disseminated as at the present time? Missionaries are going by thousands all over the earth, and the gospel will soon have been preached to all nations." "That's so, that's so," concurred the Doctor again. "Come, come, Doctor; defend your side of the question," cried Fred.