My real and ulterior motive in welcoming this interview with a registered Englishman was to get, free of charge, an allopathic dose of 24-karat English. I wanted to bask in the bright light of an intellect that had no flickers in it and absorb some of the infallibility that is so prevalent in these parts. We met. I steadied myself and said:--"I'm glad to know you--that is, I am extremely pleased to have the honour of making your acquaintance." He looked at me with a kindly light in his steel blue eye, and after a short period of deliberation spoke as follows:--"Thanks." [Illustration: "_Thanks_"] "The international developments of recent years have been such as should properly engender a feeling of the warmest brotherhood between all branches of the Anglo-Saxon race," I said. "I don't think that any fair-minded American has it in for Great Britain--that is, it seems to me that all former resentment growing out of early conflicts between the two countries has given way to a spirit of tolerant understanding. Do you not agree with me?" He hesitated for a moment, as if not desiring to commit himself by a hasty or impassioned reply, and then delivered himself as follows:--"Quite." "It seems to me," I said, following the same line of thought, "that fair-minded people on both sides of the water are getting sore--that is, losing patience with the agitators who preach the old doctrine that our attitude toward Great Britain is necessarily one of enmity. We cannot forget that when the European Powers attempted to concert their influence against the United States at the outset of the late war with Spain you bluffed them out--that is, you induced them to relinquish their unfriendly intentions. Every thoughtful man in America is on to this fact--that is, he understands how important was the service you rendered us--and he is correspondingly grateful. The American people and the English people speak the same language, theoretically. Our interests are practically identical in all parts of the world--that is, we are trying to do everybody, and so are you. What I want to convey is that neither nation can properly work out its destiny except by co-operating with the other. Therefore any policy looking toward a severance of friendly relations is unworthy of consideration." "Rot!" said he. "Just at present all Americans are profoundly grateful to the British public for its generous recognition of the sterling qualities of our beloved Executive," I continued. "Over in the States we think that 'Teddy' is the goods--that is, the people of all sections have unbounded faith in him. We think he is on the level--that is, that his dominant policies are guided by the spirit of integrity. As a fair-minded Briton, who is keeping in touch with the affairs of the world, may I ask you your candid opinion of President Roosevelt?" After a brief pause he spoke as follows:--"Ripping!"