One of the most stubborn beliefs constituting the prodigious romanticism of modern times, is, however, a fatal obstacle in the road leading to this simple discovery; and this belief is that the physical condition of a man can be independent of his attitude of mind, and _vice versâ_. Apart from the one exception to this modern dogma, which has recently been learnt from Russia, and which is to the effect that starvation foments revolt, the modern mind is more or less convinced that the physical condition of a population is not a very important factor in determining their political opinions. True enough, when we hear anyone make a false claim, or pronounce a harebrained statement, we may ask in jest, “Is he well?”; but not one of us latter-day Europeans, or any creature like us, is convinced that the question is relevant. Since we do not approach with suspicion any specimen of our literature, our poetry, our art, or our philosophy which hails from dyspeptics, cripples, dypsomaniacs, or drug-maniacs, how could we regard such a question as relevant? The absurd levity with which we deal with the physical side of our national life is only one proof of this. It required a great war to prove to our emotional and opportunist Prime Minister, Mr. Lloyd George, that the physical condition of the nation was indeed “appalling,” and it was only the work of the tribunals that brought home to him the extent of our national ill-health.[36] It may be presumed, therefore, that had not the Great War made the medical examination of our younger men necessary and imperative, our popular Premier would still be in ignorance concerning this all-important question. Apart from actual starvation, therefore, no physical condition is regarded by modern man as an important factor in the etiology of a people’s mental attitude. And yet we have in the acute social unrest of England alone, a curious phenomenon, sufficiently hard to explain merely on economic lines. For it is not confined to people who are underfed or who do not know where to-morrow’s loaf is coming from. It is not even rooted in them. We find it manifesting itself principally among well-paid and perfectly comfortable artisans and skilled workmen--nay, it actually originates and draws its greatest strength from these elements in the population. Here, then, is a problem which no amount of material improvement in living conditions would appear to hold out any promise of solving. And yet everyone believes--aye, even the restless proletarians themselves are prepared to swear--that the trouble is chiefly economic; while some of the capitalist class might suggest, in addition to economic causes, Bolshevist, German or Socialistic propaganda or gold.