William Morris As A Socialist

Mr. .Toseph Pennell, wríting in tho London Daily Chroniole, records the following incident: I remember seeing Williaui Morris oue Sunday afternoon walking up Farliameut street. A meeting was being held in the square. I ïiow forget entirely what it was about, but the people holding it had made up their rninds to ruarch to Westminster abbey, with a vague idea probably that when they got there they might do something. Sudüenly an enornious crowd began to pour out of the square downParliament street - a black, solid, muddy mass, for it was a wet, wintry day. On they carne, with a sort of irresistible forcé, which really frightened one looking on as a spectator. And right in iront - amoug the red flags, siuging with all his might "The Marseillaise" - wasWilliam Morris. He had the face of a crusader, and he marched with that big stick of his as the crusaders must have marched. One turned round and went with the crowd, which, wheu it got to the abbey, seenied half incliued to smash the windows, but thoso at the head of it were switclied off and passed into Poets' corner, there to sit down and be preached to, whilo the others, who conld not get in, were addressed by Canon ftawlinson outside. But what was so curious was to flnd this artist - like auother Courbet - leading a crowd who really did not know what they wantod to do. However, had this crowd determined to destroy, to tear down even a stono of the abbey or to break a window, I think, insteadof William Morris leading them a step farther, that they wonld only have taken that step over his body. I am not so sure what would have happened had tho crowd marohed agaiust St. Paul's, for Morris hated the one sort of work as ïnuch as he loved the other. - St. James Gazette.