"Come, Bott, draw it mild," said Calder Jones, whose loyalty was shocked by the utter Manchesterialism of his political friend.
"Not if I know it," said Mr. Bott, with something of grandeur in his tone and countenance. "I never drew it mild yet, and I shan't begin now. All our political offences against civilization have come from men drawing it mild, as you call it. Why is it that Englishmen can't read and write as Americans do? Why can't they vote as they do even in Imperial France? Why are they serfs, less free than those whose chains were broken the other day in Russia? Why is the Spaniard more happy, and the Italian more contented? Because men in power have been drawing it mild!" And Mr. Bott made an action with his hand as though he were drawing up beer from a patent tap.

"Come, Bott, tone it down," said Calder Jones, whose loyalty was shocked.
"I shan't," said Mr. Bott grandly. "All our political offences against civilization have come from that. Why can't Englishmen read and write as Americans do? Why can't they vote as they do even in Imperial France? Why are they less free than serfs in Russia? Because men in power have been toning it down!"
