The Society would with pleasure pay his funeral expenses and
contribute to the support of his wife and children. Such a man is,
without knowing it, a dire enemy of true progress, which can only be
planned and executed in an atmosphere from which heated moral
superiority is absent.
I offer these parenthetical remarks as a guarantee that I shall not
over-righteously sneer at the plain man for his share in the sequel to
the conversation with the traveller. For there was a sequel to the
conversation.
"As questions are being asked, where are you going to?" said the
traveller.
The plain man answered with assurance:
"Oh, I know exactly where I'm going to. I'm going to Timbuctoo."
"Indeed!" said the traveller. "And why are you going to Timbuctoo?"
Said the plain man: "I'm going because it's the proper place to go to.
Every self-respecting person goes to Timbuctoo."
"But why?"
Said the plain man:
"Well, it's supposed to be just about unique. You're contented there.
You get what you've always wanted. The climate's wonderful."
"Indeed!" said the traveller again. "Have you met anybody who's been
there?"
"Yes, I've met several. I've met a lot. And I've heard from people who
are there.
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