were both tall； thin； with pronounced features； and possessed a nervous temperament and somewhat similar powers of observation。 We both suffered a terrible loss that saddened our lives； though happily for him the blow fell in his later days。 Both of us have been animated by the same hopes。
Such are some of the resemblances； and I dare say others could be found； for instance； if Young wrote of rural France； I have written of rural Denmark。 Only I am thankful to say I have been spared his domestic separations； as I hope I shall be spared his blindness and the religious mania； or something approaching it； that darkened his last years。
To return； in the end I determined to cling to my inspiration and to follow old Arthur Young’s example； if in any way I could manage to do so。
My chance came in connection with this South African agreement。 In answer to Pearson’s suggestion that it should be cancelled； I requested my agents； Messrs。 A。 P。 Watt & Sons； to inform him that I was prepared to agree； on the condition that； in place of it； he would substitute another — namely； that the articles should deal with rural England。 Otherwise I would proceed to South Africa； as I had made all my plans to do。 Pearson considered and； in the end； assented。 I do not know that he was particularly anxious to exploit rural England in the columns of the Daily Express； but at any rate it was a fresh cry； whereas that of South Africa had bee very stale indeed。
Before speaking of this matter； however； which only matured in the beginnings of 1901； I will return for a moment to my travels which menced at Florence。 I had arranged verbally with Moberly Bell of The Times to visit Cyprus and the Holy Land； and to write for that journal some articles upon the affairs of the Near