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through the Zoological Society's Gardens in company with his nephew；
recently returned from Mexico。 The latter was interested in comparing
and contrasting allied types of animals occurring in the North American
and Old World fauna。
〃One of the most remarkable things in the wanderings of species；〃 he
observed； 〃is the sudden impulse to trek and migrate that breaks out now
and again； for no apparent reason； in communities of hitherto stay…at…
home animals。〃
〃In human affairs the same phenomenon is occasionally noticeable；〃
said Sir Lulworth； 〃perhaps the most striking instance of it occurred in
this country while you were away in the wilds of Mexico。 I mean the
wander fever which suddenly displayed itself in the managing and
editorial staffs of certain London newspapers。 It began with the
stampede of the entire staff of one of our most brilliant and enterprising
weeklies to the banks of the Seine and the heights of Montmartre。 The
migration was a brief one； but it heralded an era of restlessness in the
Press world which lent quite a new meaning to the phrase 'newspaper
circulation。' Other editorial staffs were not slow to imitate the example
that had been set them。 Paris soon dropped out of fashion as being too
near home； Nurnberg； Seville； and Salonica became more favoured as
planting… out grounds for the personnel of not only weekly but daily
papers as well。 The localities were perhaps not always well chosen； the
fact of a leading organ of Evangelical thought being edited for two
successive fortnights from Trouville and Monte Carlo was generally
admitted to have been a mistake。 And even when enterprising and
adventurous editors took themselves and their staffs further afield there
were some unavoidable clashings。 For instance； the SCRUTATOR；
SPORTING BLUFF； and THE DAMSELS' OWN PAPER all pitched on
Khartoum for the same week。 It was； perhaps； a desire to out…distance
all possible competition that influenced the management of the DAILY
INTELLIGENCER； one of the most solid and respected organs of
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Liberal opinion； in its decision to transfer its offices for three or four
weeks from Fleet Street to Eastern Turkestan； allowing； of course； a
necessary margin of time for the journey there and back。 This was； in
many respects； the most remarkable of all the Press stampedes that were
experienced at this time。 There was no make…believe about the
undertaking； proprietor； manager； editor； sub…editors； leader…writers；
principal reporters； and so forth； all took part in what was popularly
alluded to as the DRANG NACH OSTEN； an intelligent and efficient
office…boy was all that was left in the deserted hive of editorial industry。〃
〃That was doing things rather thoroughly； wasn't it？〃 said the
nephew。
〃Well； you see；〃 said Sir Lulworth； 〃the migration idea was falling
somewhat into disrepute from the half… hearted manner in which it was
occasionally carried out。 You were not impressed by the information
that such and such a paper was being edited and brought out at Lisbon
or Innsbruck if you chanced to see the principal leader… writer or the art
editor lunching as usual at their accustomed restaurants。 The DAILY
INTELLIGENCER was determined to give no loophole for cavil at the
genuineness of its pilgrimage； and it must be admitted that to a certain
extent the arrangements made for transmitting copy and carrying on the
usual features of the paper during the long outward journey worked
smoothly and well。 The series of articles which commenced at Baku
on 'What Cobdenism might do for the camel industry' ranks among the
best of the recent contributions to Free Trade literature； while the views
on foreign policy enunciated 'from a roof in Yarkand' showed at least as
much grasp of the international situation as those that had germinated
within half a mile of Downing Street。 Quite in keeping； too； with the
older and better traditions of British journalism was the manner of the
home…coming； no bombast； no personal advertisement； no flamboyant
interviews。 Even a complimentary luncheon at the Voyagers' Club was
courteously declined。 Indeed； it began to be felt that the self…
effacement of the returned pressmen was being carried to a pedantic
length。 Foreman compositors； advertisement clerks； and other
members of the non… editorial staff； who had； of course； taken no part in
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the great trek； found it as impossible to get into direct communication
with the editor and his satellites now that they had returned as when they
had been excusably inaccessible in Central Asia。 The sulky；
overworked office…boy； who was the one connecting link between the
editorial brain and the business departments of the paper； sardonically
explained the new aloofness as the 'Yarkand manner。' Most of the
reporters and sub…editors seemed to have been dismissed in autocratic
fashion since their return and new ones engaged by letter； to these the
editor and his immediate associates remained an unseen presence；
issuing its instructions solely through the medium of curt typewritten
notes。 Something mystic and Tibetan and forbidden had replaced the
human bustle and democratic simplicity of pre…migration days； and the
same experience was encountered by those who made social overtures
to the returned wanderers。 The most brilliant hostess of Twentieth
Century London flung the pearl of her hospitality into the unresponsive
trough of the editorial letter…box； it seemed as if nothing short of a
Royal command would drag the hermit…souled REVENANTS from their
self…imposed seclusion。 People began to talk unkindly of the effect of
high altitudes and Eastern atmosphere on minds and temperaments
unused to such luxuries。 The Yarkand manner was not popular。〃
〃And the contents of the paper；〃 said the nephew； 〃did they show the
influence of the new style？〃
〃Ah！〃 said Sir Lulworth； 〃that was the exciting thing。 In home
affairs； social questions； and the ordinary events of the day not much
change was noticeable。 A certain Oriental carelessness seemed to
have crept into the editorial department； and perhaps a note of lassitude
not unnatural in the work of men who had returned from what had been
a fairly arduous journey。 The aforetime standard of excellence was
scarcely maintained； but at any rate the general lines of policy and
outlook were not departed from。 It was in the realm of foreign affairs
that a startling change took place。 Blunt； forcible； outspoken articles
appeared； couched in language which nearly turned the autumn
manoeuvres of six important Powers into mobilisations。 Whatever else
the DAILY INTELLIGENCER had learned in the East； it had not
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acquired the art of diplomatic ambiguity。 The man in the street enjoyed
the articles and bought the