Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-14

and now to every schoolboy of the world
gem-ike mind, keen. clear. hard and
sooth. held in the setting Of an iron body
Gentle. unmoved. self-assured, Sir Isaac
Newton was calm as morn itself as he sat
IN readiness to give England the benefit of
his wisdom.
Beyond sat John Locke, abstruse philoso-
pher. a man thinner and darker than his
confrere with large. full orb, with the
brow Of the student and the man Of Thought.
In dignity he shared with the learned gem
tleman sitting near him.
All those at the board looked with some
intentness at the figure of the young man
from the north, who came as the guest of
Montague. With small formality the latter
rose and advanced to meet Law with an
eager grasp of the hand He made him
known to the others present promptly, but
with half apology.
Gentlemen" said he. "I have made bold
to ask the presence with us of a young
man who has much concerned himself with
In hand. Sir Isaac Newton. this is Mr..
Law OF Edinboro. Mr.. Law, the fame of
John Locke need not lay before you. and
OF my Lord Somers you need no advice.
Mr.. Law. shall pray you to be seated.
II shall but serve as your mouthpiece to
the court, gentlemen" resumed Montague,
seating himself and turning at once to the
business OF the day; We are all agreed as
to the urgency Of the case. The king needs
behind him in these times a contented peo-
pie. You have already seen the imminence
OF popular discomfort which may shake
the throne Of England. none too safe in
these days Of change. That we must reor-
ganize the coinage Is understood and
agreed. The question Is how best to do this
without further -unsettling the times. Ny
Lord Keeper, / must beg you for your sug-
gestions."
Sir" said Somers shifting and coughing
cit Is as you say. The question Is of great
moment. I should suggest a decree that
the old coin shall pass by weight alone and
not by its face value Call in all the coin
and have 1t weighed. the government to
make future payment to the owner of the
coin OF the difference between its nominal
and its real value. The coin itself should be
restored forthwith to It's owner. Hence
the trade and the credit OF the realm would
not suffer. The money of the country would
be Withdrawn from the use Of the country
cess Of counting. This, it occurs to me-
would surely be a practical method. and
could work harm to none" My Lord Som
ers sat back, pufhng out his chest COM
placentry.
"Sir Isaac" said Montague, "and Mr..
Locke. we must beg You to find such fault
as you may with this plan which my Lord
Keeper hath suggested
Sir Isaac made no Immediate reply. John
Locke stirred gently In his chair There
seemeth much to commend In this plan of
my lord keeper" said he. leaning slightly
forward, "but in bordering my lord keep
er's suggestion for the bringing In OF this
older coin, must ask you II this plan can
escape that selfish impulse of the human
mind which seelketh for personal gainf For
look you. short as would be the time pro-
posed. 1t taketh but still shorter time to
mutilate coin: and II doth seem to me
that. under the plan OF my lord keeper. we
should see the old currency Of ENGLAND
nnutilated In q night. Sir, I should opine
n the contrary Of this plan. and would base