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— “What might be and what is。” I agree with every word you say about the land 。 。 。 。
I do not wonder that you feel discouraged and blue at times。 As you say； it seems a hard and thankless task to have to try to hammer into your generation what is vital for them to learn and what they refuse to learn。 I half smiled when I read what you wrote； because I so often have the same feeling myself。 As President I tried； and I now continue to try； to teach lessons that I feel ought to be learned by my fellow…countrymen； and I often wonder how much I am acplishing by it。 There are so many important lessons that ought to be learned； and the art of preaching so that it will at least do no harm is such a very difficult art to acquire and to practise！ I often bee quite horrified at the multitude of profoundly dull and uninteresting little books and pamphlets and articles and tracts； all with a worthy purpose； which are sent to me by other men interested in trying to teach something which they believe ought to be taught； I wonder whether I seem the kind of dull pointless bore to the people I am trying to help as so many of these worthy people seem to me！ I think your business and mine is to go ahead； never to stop trying to help along the lines we have marked out； and yet to keep our sense of humor and sense of proportion and equability of nature。 We must not preach all the time； or we will stop doing any good； for we must always remember not to fall into the snare of preaching for the sake of relieving our own souls instead of for the purpose of acplishing something as regards somebody else’s soul。 We must not permit ourselves to bee soured by our experiences； for being gloomy does not in the least help a man to reach others； and merely makes him less attractive to himself and to all around him。 Life is a campaign； and at best we are merely under…officers or subalterns in it。 We are bound to do our duty as efficiently and as fearlessly as we know how； but it is a good thing to remember that we must not be too much cast down even if things look wrong； because melancholy only tends to make us less and not more efficient； and buoyancy and good…humor and the ability to enjoy life all help instead of hindering a reformer。
Well！ I have written you an unconscionably long letter。 Good…bye and good luck！
Faithfully yours；
Theodore Roosevelt。
H。 Rider Haggard； Esq。；
Ditchingham House；
Norfolk。
I answered as follows：
Ditchingham House； Norfolk：
September 5； 1911。
My dear Mr。 Roosevelt； — Many thanks for your interesting letter of August 22nd。 I think that the cause of the “trouble among the peoples who speak English” is twofold； the love of pleasure and the love of wealth； both of which affections can； for the majority； be most easily gratified in cities。 Doubtless the Golden Calf is the most popular of all gods ancient or modern； and he does not build his shrines amongst woods and fields。 Moreover his worship bees ever more facile； since during the last century a new code of morality has matured in these matters。
Rogues； of course； there always were； but in the days of our grandfathers not so many； I think； of the “indifferent honest。”
I have a few shares in certain mercial undertakings。 A week or so ago I observed that the price of these shares was falling rapidly。 When they had； so to speak； bumped against the bottom； in each case the shareholders were notified of certain troubles and miscalculations that had occurred。 The next day the papers pointed out that the “insiders” had been unloading their shares at the high price before warning the shareholders of what had happened； and remarked that this furnished another proof of the helplessness of the investor in the hands of the said insiders； who are； I suppose； the directors and their friends。
Now I frequently have to send people to prison who through poverty or actual want have stolen something； but no one will send these “insiders” to prison； although they are worse than ordinary thieves because they betray the confidence of those who trusted them and whose interests they are paid to promote。 On the contrary； their rapidly acquired wealth will be admired； they will be spoken of with respect as successful men； and probably in the end receive or purchase titles。
Now in the conditions of a simple pastoral life dishonesty； even if innate； could scarcely bring such rich rewards。
Apply the argument to the various classes of mankind and I think we have one of the causes of the popularity of the town。
Another is； of course； that there women can show themselves off； their jewels and dresses； if rich； or if poor； can have the advantages of cheap amusements。 In most people the love of Nature scarcely exists； it seems to be the privilege of the highly educated。 But niy…eight out of a hundred love a gas…lamp。
Speaking generally； this seems to be the state of affairs among all the more progressive of the white peoples。 I hear that even the Boers of whom you speak are in a good many instances beginning to be affected by this kind of tidal movement towards the town。 How will it end？ That is the interesting point。 My opinion is that in the absence of some unforeseen and unexpected turn of this tide it will involve the practical destruction of the white peoples； and that within a measurable time； say； two or three centuries。 Except in the case of those of a lower stratum whose progeny soon die out or bee degenerate； the town women do not have many children； in fact there seems to be a rebellion against this burden amongst most married women。 Also the increase of luxury and the cost of living all tend towards the same end。 Only on the land are children wele； that is if this land is owned by their parents； who find their labour valuable。 Look at France。 Were it not for the support of England； Germany would soon have her in its bag。 But the same causes that are reducing France to a state of political death are； I am told； beginning to work at the heart of her enemies； the Germans。 Look at Australia。 If there were no British fleet how long would it be before it received a considerable number of immigrants of the Mongol type？ And so on。
But all these arguments are monplace to you。 The question is； Whither do they lead； supposing them to be accurate？
I think； to two alternative conclusions。 The first alternative is that the Almighty has had enough of the white races and is bringing about their ruin through their own failings as in past days He brought about the ruin of Rome； purposing once more to fill their places from the East。 The second alternative is that He is pointing out to them that their only possible rejuvenation； their only salvation lies in the closer settlement of the land which they neglect。
Denmark has learned something of this lesson； and that is why to me its example seems so important。 Personally also I believe it to be the first of truths； and that is why I try to preach it in and out of season。 But the sporting owner and the tenant farmers of the country； both of which classes find things very well as they are； do not share my views； and say so with vigour。 The future will show which of us is in the right。
。 。 。 I quite agree with all that you say at the end of your letter； indeed I think that these are fine words。 All that one can do is to peg away and not be discouraged。 Then at least one has done one’s humble best in the little hour that is granted； leaving the ultimate issues in the hands of Fate and the future。 If no one will listen； if the opposing interests are too strong； at least one has cried aloud in the wilderness and done one’s best。
With very kind regards；
Believe me；
Ever sincerely yours；
H。 Rider Haggard。
About a year later I wrote a note to Mr。 Roosevelt； saying that of course American politics were no affair of mine； and that I would not venture to say anything about them。 Still； as I believed that his heart was in the right place； I wished him success in his arduous struggle。
To this note I received the following reply； which strikes me as of extraordinary interest。 The opening of it； of which the note is “misunderstood；” is somewhat pathetic； the writer’s conviction as to the approaching “general smash…up of our civilisation” unless certain conditions can be put a stop to is of much weight ing from such a man； and the conclusion throws a light upon his character which would astonish many even in this country。
Office of Theodore Roosevelt；
The Outlook； 287 Fourth Avenue；
New York： June 28； 1912。
Dear Mr。 Haggard； — I have but a moment in which to answer your wele letter； as I am driven almost to death。 There are but a limited number of my own countrymen； among those of the highest education； who understand as you do just what I am striving for。 I suppose that as we grow older we naturally lose the natural feeling of young men to take an interest in politics just for the sake of strife — the same kind of interest one takes in big game hunting or football； the kind of interest quite patible with doing excellent work but which cannot inspire the highest kind of work。 As we get older； if we think seriously at all； and if we escape falling into a permanent Palmerstonian jauntiness of attitude； we cannot avoid being deeply and indeed painfully i