I have already divulged one family secret, so I will reveal
another. Some few years ago my three eldest brothers were dining
together. Each of them professed deep concern at the palpable
signs of physical decay which he detected in his brethren, whilst
congratulating himself on remaining untouched by advancing years.
The dispute became acrimonious to a degree; the grossest
personalities were freely bandied about. At length it was decided
to put the matter to a practical test, and it was agreed (I tell
this in the strictest confidence) that the three brothers should
run a hundred yards race in the street then and there.
Accordingly, a nephew of mine paced one hundred yards in Montagu
Street, Portman Square, and stood immovable as winning-post. The
Chairman of the British South African Chartered Company, the
Chairman of the Great Eastern Railway Company, and the Secretary
of State for India took up their positions in the street and
started. The Chairman of the Great Eastern romped home. We are all
of us creatures of our environment, and we may become
unconsciously coloured by that environment; as the Great Eastern
Railway has always adopted a go-ahead policy, it is possible that
some particle of the momentum which would naturally result from
this may have been subconsciously absorbed by the Chairman, thus
giving him an unfair advantage over his brothers.
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