244

CAMPIGLIO.

lie liad rambled into? lie did not know tliere wereany; if be bad seen the Lares snow-fields flush at sun-rise or swim in sunset haze? if he had stood on anycrest or ‘ tower of observance ’ high enough to overlookthe Trentino to where the peaks of Primiero and Cadoreraise their ramparts against a golden sky ?—he could■only reply with a stare of dull incredulity.

But, once hardened to the contemplation of suchmisery in one’s fellow-creatures, the state of the pensionwas not without its advantages. The gregarious Britishtourist was happily conspicuous by his absence; Ger-mans were rare, and the few who passed did not careto linger where they were not allowed to smoke withtheir guides in a public room during other people’s meals.

Consequently there were none of those absurdbut most disagreeable differences over windows whicharise whenever the haters of fresh air gather in anynumber. Eor even with the greatest respect for a nationand the strongest desire to fraternise with its members,it is hardly possible to get on well with people whosefavourite atmosphere is to you as insupportable as Marsmight be to the inhabitants of this earth. Extendedtravel must surely in time enable the North Germanmind to realise the existence, at least in others, of ahorror of stuffiness. I am sure that when this fact isonce grasped many worthy men will be saved frombehaviour which if it did not arise from want ofimagination would be intolerable bearishness.

But if we speak freely of the shortcomings of otherswe must not forget our own excesses. The appropriation,no matter for what purpose, of the public room of aninn by a section of the guests is a thoroughly selfishand unwarrantable proceeding. What should we think