“It only wants age to be perfect,” said the doctor, sipping. “All these French white wines require more time than the red.” Ogden again looked through his glass at the dispensary doctor who thus dared to give judgment on a question of such connoisseurship; and then, with the air of one not easily imposed on, said,-- “You have travelled much abroad, perhaps?” Layton bowed a silent assent. “I think I saw a German diploma amongst the papers you forwarded to our committee?” said Karstairs. “Yes, I am a doctor of medicine of Gottingen.” “A university, I verily believe, only known to Englishmen through Canning's doggerel,” said Ogden. “I trust not, sir. I hope that Blumenbach's name alone would rescue it from such oblivion.” “I like the Germans, I confess,” broke in the Colonel. “I served with Arentschild's Hanoverians, and never knew better or pleasanter fellows.” “Oh, I by no means undervalue Germans!” said Ogden. “I think we, at this very moment, owe to them no small gratitude for suggesting to us the inestimable practice of examination for all public employment.” “In my mind, the greatest humbug of an age of humbug!” said Layton, fiercely. “Nay, doctor, you will, I 'm certain, recall your words when I tell you that my friend here, Mr. Ogden, is one of the most distinguished promoters of that system.” “The gentleman would confer a far deeper obligation upon me by sustaining than by withdrawing his thesis,” said Ogden, with a sarcastic smile. “To undertake the task of sustaining the cause of ignorance against knowledge,” said Layton, quietly, “would be an ungrateful one always. In the present case, too, it would be like pitting myself against that gentleman opposite. I decline such an office.” “So, then, you confess that such would be your cause, sir?” said Ogden, triumphantly. “No, sir; but it would partake so much the appearance of such a struggle, that I cannot accept it. What I called a humbug was the attempt to test men's fitness for the public service by an examination at which the most incapable might distinguish himself, and the ablest not pass. The system of examination begot the system of 'grinding,'--a vulgar term for a more vulgar practice, and a system the most fatal to all liberal education, limiting study to a question-and-answer formula, and making acquirements only desirable when within the rubric of a Government commission. Very different would have been the result if the diploma of certain recognized educational establishments had been required as qualification to serve the State; if the law ran, 'You shall be a graduate of this university, or that college, or possess the licentiate degree of that school.'” “Your observations seem, then, rather directed against certain commissioners than the system they practise?” said Odgen, sarcastically. “Scarcely, sir. My experience is very limited. I never met but one of them!”