"Then," I said, "let us take the districts with the decreases first. Please show me them." "There are none," he answered. "They all show increases." "Large?" I asked. "Yes, large," he said; "from a population of about nine million to ten million in ten years is a good increase. The Burmese are prolific." "But," I remarked also, "I thought the Burman was disappearing? You said so on authority. How is that?" He laughed; he had taken his lesson. And again, another point. I had received an order from Government which I thought was mistaken, and I said so. He was a Government official too, and I could say to him what I could not say to others. "Then you won't carry it out?" he asked, surprised. "I am here to carry out orders," I answered, "and of course I shall carry it out." "But why then do you criticise it, if it must be carried out?" "Look here," I said, "before very long you will be sent to a subdivision of my district to govern it. I shall send you many orders, and shall expect you to carry them out." "Right or wrong?" "Right or--as you may think--wrong. You must do as I say. Without this, government is impossible. But I do not want you to think as I do. I want you to think for yourself. If an order appears to you issued from a misconception on my part, you must not refuse to obey; but I should expect you to tell me any facts that would lead me to better knowledge. Your business is not merely to carry out orders, but to furnish me with correct information how to better those orders. You are not merely to be part of the district hand, but of its brain too. I should want you to criticise every order in your mind, try to understand it, and if you disagree with it to examine your reasons for disagreement and see if they are good." "And let you know?" "Whenever you are certain that I am wrong, and the matter is important." "But would not criticism be cheek?" "Not if it is true and valuable. You would be doing me a valuable service. It is what I want. How do you suppose we are ever to get on if opinions are to be stereotyped? Thought must be free. But don't give me opinions or 'authority.' I don't care for either. Give me facts, and be sure of your facts." "I see," he said. "You can be quite kind about it, you know," I suggested. "Is that what you are to Government," he asked, "when you disagree with them?" "I try to be," I said. "I put myself as far as I can in their position, and give them what I would like to receive myself."