It is on tradition and authority that the whole of Mr. Belloc's work is based. He stands already on the heights society is striving to reach. That his influence on the progress of society towards its goal will be considerable we may fairly believe; the exact measure of that influence only the future can determine. * * * * * Printed in Great Britain by Butler & Tanner, Frome and London. * * * * * Transcriber's note The following changes have been made to the text: Page 6: "blinds all of them" changed to "binds all of them". Page 13: "leisurely obligarchy" changed to leisurely oligarchy". Page 20: "crown and best achievment" changed to "crown and best achievement". Page 56: "perusual of the daily newspaper" changed to "perusal of the daily newspaper". Page 88 (in this version of the text): In footnote #1 "Mommesn's volume on the provinces" changed to "Mommsen's volume on the provinces". Page 119: "freeest humour" changed to "freest humour". Page 119: "What did he manufactare" changed to "What did he manufacture". "Page 129: "liqueurs in caf!e" changed to "liqueurs in the cafe!."