And this was only one example of his frequent abandonment of any programme, or practice, or arrangement which seemed to him only to have demonstrative effect, when any more enduring benefit could be otherwise secured.

In short, demonstration in his eyes was only valued at its military worth, and he never wished any one to become so occupied with appearance as to miss enduring victory.

The following description, by a writer in a big London daily, of one of The General’s tours might be fairly accepted as a sample of them all, and as giving some idea of the way in which they manifested his care for all that concerned men:—­

“‘An easy day’ was The General’s description of that on which we fared to mediaeval Godalming, through the beautiful Hindhead region to Petersfield, and thence in the evening to antiquity and Winchester.  He meant that he had only to address three great gatherings (the day’s course admitted of scarcely any of the customary wayside and hamlet musters), so his oratory would be merely a matter of five hours or thereabouts.  There were solid fact in The General’s airy designation; it was an easier day than most of those of the tour; but it had sundry distinctions of its own, apart from the great, welcoming Meetings.

“It was curious and pleasant to see gipsies salute The General from their wayside Bohemia on the road to Hindhead; it was delightful to see The General himself as he descended and spoke to the church school-children who hailed him by the wayside at Roke, in one of the most charming wayside spots on the journey.  They stood with their teachers under the trees in the sunshine, little pictures of bloom and happiness.  ’Now wouldn’t you like to be running round the country on a motor?’ he asked them straight away, and their answer come with hearty directness.  In a naive and tender little speech, that had a touch of airiness, he told them of the joy of motoring, turning anon to the many glad and beautiful things within the reach of little people who yet might not go a-motoring, and so in simple little touches appealing to the joy of life and soul that the child-sense could understand.

“‘Isn’t he like Father Christmas?’ a little girl was heard to whisper.  Here he charmed those in the morning of life; away at Petersfield in the afternoon the sight of him consoled some in life’s evening.  One poor old lady, who had lost the use of both limbs, was carried to her door and set in a bath-chair, and there she remained till The General had passed.  We noticed the light on her face, and how vehemently she waved her handkerchief.  An Army Officer chatted with her before we left the town in the evening.  ’I can now die happy,’ she said; ’I have seen The General.  And when the call comes I know that God will send down the hallelujah motor for me, and the loss of my old limbs won’t matter in the least.’

“I have mentioned ‘an easy