"If you'll watch our publishers and writers," I again said, "you'll see they'll be slow to let go their English market by making books that would be illegible throughout the British Empire." "What are authors, anyhow?" he demanded. "It is our business men who are our glory." "If you'll watch our business men," I repeated, not without acerbity, "you'll find they have London correspondents, and they'll not care to run two sorts of spelling with their stenographers." Kibosh thought awhile, and then, with his gentle smile, he again removed his chickle and placed it on the window-sill. "But, nevertheless, Masticator will have gained his point," he said. "Scarcely so, if a system fails us, and we do nothing," I suggested. He seemed not to hear me. "And all of the committee, every member, will have gained the point as well." "You'll pardon me, but what is the point?" I now asked him. "And the English language," he continued more and more gently, "it will have gained the point, too." "I must confess," I said, "to utter ignorance of your meaning." Kibosh smiled for a long while, looking at me very kindly. "You will readily appreciate," he at length began, "that the greatest need of mankind is Publicity. It is as essential to the German Emperor as it is to the female society leader, or the trick mule. We are no exceptions, we leaders of thought, and teachers of youth, and captains of industry; we too must have Publicity or--ahem--pass under. And as the demand for Publicity increases, the supply of it naturally diminishes. You understand that? Well, now, any association with Masticator B. Fellows means Publicity at once for the lucky individual. But there are times when the vast sweep of economic currents ties up all the available Publicity, and at those times great enterprises languish from its scarcity. It may befall that even such giant operators as Masticator B. Fellows find themselves embarrassed. It is then only the man of genius whose magic hand can smite the rock in some novel way, and cause Publicity again to gush forth fresh and sparkling--it is then only he who is heard from. There has been such a time of late. Publicity was tied up, and Masticator needed some for his--for certain plans he has to benefit the human race. Now, what does Masticator do? He surveys the general situation, he thinks it over, and presently he says 'Spelling Reform.' He smites the rock, and there you have it. You understand me? Well, supposing you gentlemen do fail to--ahem--make any considerable impression upon the English language, you will have made a considerable impression on the public; the rock will have gushed, Masticator's point will be gained. He will have secured the Publicity he needs for his--his benevolent enterprises; each of you gentlemen will have secured Publicity for your names and works; and we mustn't forget the English language. It will have got Publicity, too; it needs it, like all the rest of us. I'm sure you understand me."