TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Bold text is denoted by =equal signs=. Some quotations had blank space on a line (for a name). This is represented by _________ in this etext. The 3-star inverted asterism symbol occurred eight times in the ‘Personal Par’ chapter. This is denoted by * * *. Footnote anchors are denoted by [number], and the footnotes have been placed at the end of the book. This book uses some unusual characters. These will display on this device as ¯ (non-combining macron) ˘ (non-combining breve) ■ (black square) ☞ (right-pointing hand) The Table of Contents was created by the Transcriber, and is placed in the public domain. Some minor changes to the text are noted at the end of the book. HILAIRE BELLOC THE AFTERMATH _or_ GLEANINGS FROM A BUSY LIFE CALLED UPON THE OUTER COVER For Purposes of Sale CALIBAN’S GUIDE TO LETTERS By H. B. NEW YORK E. P. DUTTON & CO. ☞ _FURTHER AND YET MORE WEIGHTY OPINIONS OF THE PRESS._ “ ... We found it very tedious....”--_The Evening German._ (The devil “we” did! “We” was once a private in a line regiment, drummed out for receiving stolen goods). “ ... We cannot see what Dr. Caliban’s Guide is driving at.”--_The Daily American._ (It is driving at you). “ ... What? Again?...”--_The Edinburgh Review._ “ ... On y retrouve a chaque page l’orgueil et la sécheresse Anglaise....”--M. HYPPOLITE DURAND, writing in _Le Journal_ of Paris. “ ... O Angleterre! Ile merveilleuse! C’est donc toujours de toi que sortiront la Justice et la Vérité....”--M. CHARMANT REINACH, writing in the _Horreur_ of Geneva. “ ... Lasciate ogni speranza voi ch’entrate.”--Signor Y. ILABRIMO (of Palermo), writing in the _Tribuna_ of Rome. “πολλὰ τὰ δεινα κὀυδεν ἀνθρώπου δεινότερον πέλει.”--M. NEGRIDEPOPOULOS DE WORMS, writing in _The_ “τὸ δεινον” of Athens. “!!משאל.”--_The Banner of Israel._ “----!”--_The Times_ of London. _TO_ CATHERINE, MRS. CALIBAN, BUT FOR WHOSE FRUITFUL SUGGESTION, EVER-READY SYMPATHY, POWERS OF OBSERVATION, KINDLY CRITICISM, UNFLINCHING COURAGE, CATHOLIC LEARNING, AND NONE THE LESS CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLE, THIS BOOK MIGHT AS WELL NOT HAVE BEEN WRITTEN; IT IS DEDICATED BY HER OBEDIENT AND GRATEFUL SERVANT AND FRIEND IN AFFLICTION, THE AUTHOR.