Any one who cared to write a book about it could probably show that most of the wars and afflictions that have come on the world are due to attempts made by incompetent people to be their brothers' keepers. They start great wars to stop little ones, cause great evils by trying to remedy little ones, and otherwise make nuisances of themselves to the limit of their power. Why don't these people take to writing books instead of trying to set things right? Writing the books would free their surcharged spirits, and the world could go its way without bothering to read what they wrote. The more I think of it the more convinced I am that the writing of books would cure a lot of our evils--chiefly because it would help to rid the people who wrote the books of their feeling of responsibility for other people and their affairs. The fact that they had set down their views in fair type would ease their consciences and enable them to go about the ordinary little matters of their own lives in a care-free way. The book cure for our personal and collective troubles is hereby seriously recommended. And it is especially recommended to any one wanting to enjoy a holiday. You can't enjoy a holiday if you are worrying about your business in life. So write a book about it and get even with the world. Then you can enjoy a holiday even while going on with your work. CONTENTS I. THE AFFABLE STRANGER 3 II. THE ELUSIVE INSULT 13 III. BACK TO THE PRIMITIVE 23 IV. GRASPING THE NETTLE 34 V. REGISTERING REFORM 44 VI. THE ACCUSED 54 VII. A BURDEN OF FARMERS 64 VIII. A WORLD DRAMA 75 IX. A WORLD FOR SALE 85 X. ORGANIZED FOR PROFIT 98 XI. A MAJORITY WILL BE SAVED 105 XII. PRINCE KROPOTKIN'S COW 117 XIII. OLD HOME WEEK 126 XIV. THE WARD LEADER 138 XV. THE NEW MASTER WORD 145 XVI. LOYALTY 153 XVII. THE SHIVERING TEXAN 161 XVIII. MANY INVENTIONS 171 XIX. AN EXPERIMENT IN MODESTY 179 XX. MY PRIVATE MAHATMA 186 XXI. THE SOUL OF CANADA 195 XXII. A LAND OF UPPER BERTHS 204 XXIII. EPILOGUE 213 THE AFFABLE STRANGER CHAPTER I THE AFFABLE STRANGER