(Undoubtedly the high rate shown by the last-named city is greatly due to the foul condition of the Neva.)

To appreciate thoroughly the position which Buenos Aires now holds, and the strides which have been made in regard to the sanitation of the City, we have but to look at the past.  Between the years 1889 and 1898 the death-rate per thousand was as high as 22.9 per 1,000; from 1899 to 1908 it was only 16.6, and now the record stands at 15.2 per 1,000.

The authorities are justly proud of what has been done, and will not diminish their efforts so long as there is work to do and problems to solve.

I should like to state once more the fact that the United Kingdom depends upon Argentina for nearly one-fourth of her food supply purchased abroad.  I want to impress upon your mind the seriousness of the position, for this proportion of one-fourth will be largely increased in the near future, for reasons already stated.

The question has often been asked, “Is it safe to buy land in Argentina?” But the drift of this query too often is merely self-interest; in other words, it really means “Can I successfully speculate in land?” Clearly the matter is solely a personal one, no other consideration is thought of, so one is tempted to give an evasive answer.  Should the questioner, however, be a young fellow, with God’s gift of health and plenty of truth and grit in him, who wants not only to acquire the land, but to work it, then, indeed, there is but one answer, and that is in the affirmative—­let him go, and let him ever remember that he is an Englishman and that England is judged by the conduct of her sons:  but do not let him make the great mistake a newcomer so often falls into, which is, that because he is an Englishman all other nationalities must be inferior, and that by some sort of divine right he has been created lord of all.  Let him realise that those whom he meets in Argentina are as noble and pure as those he left at home.  Argentina offers to-day a splendid opening for the best of England’s sons, but she does not want the loafer nor the ne’er-do-well.  Can it be wondered at that England’s prestige is seriously injured when so many of the “wasters,” and worse, are sent from the country?  It is but natural that from these, who go to foreign countries, England is judged.  To my mind we should send abroad men who are bound to succeed, men who never forget that from their behaviour the Mother Country will be appraised.  Argentina will embrace and reward them, but she will spurn and despise the dissolute and drunken.