lenty," said Mr. Petulengro; "all the religious people, more especially
the Evangelicals--those that go about distributing tracts--are very angry
about the fight between Gentleman Cooper and White-headed Bob, which they
say ought not to have been permitted to take place; and then they are
trying all they can to prevent the fight between the lion and the dogs,
{256} which they say is a disgrace to a Christian country. Now, I can't
say that I have any quarrel with the religious party and the
Evangelicals; they are always civil to me and mine, and frequently give
us tracts, as they call them, which neither I nor mine can read; but I
cannot say that I approve of any movements, religious or not, which have
in aim to put down all life and manly sport in this here country."

"Anything else?" said I.

"People are becoming vastly sharp," said Mr. Petulengro; "and I am told
that all the old-fashioned, good-tempered constables are going to be set
aside, and a paid body of men to be established, {257} who are not to
permit a tramper or vagabond on the roads of England;--and talking of
roads puts me in mind of a strange story I heard two nights ago, whilst
drinking some beer at a public-house, in company with my cousin
Sylvester. I had asked Tawno to go, but his wife would not let him. Just
opposite me, smoking their pipes, were a couple of men, something like
engineers, and they were talking of a wonderful invention which was to
make a wonderful alteration in England; inasmuch as it would set aside
all the old roads, which in a little time would be ploughed up, and sowed
with corn, and cause all England to be laid down with iron roads, on
which people would go thundering along in vehicles, pushed forward by
fire and smoke. Now, brother, when I heard this, I did not feel very
comfortable; for I thought to myself, what a queer place such a road
would be to pitch one's tent upon, and how impossible it would be for
one's cattle to find a bite of grass upon it; and I thought likewise of
the danger to which one's family would be exposed of being run over and
severely scorched by these same flying, fiery vehicles; so I made bold to
say that I hoped such an invention would never be countenanced, because
it was likely to do a great deal of harm. Whereupon, one of the men,
giving me a glance, said, without taking the pipe out of his mouth, that
for his part he sincerely hoped that it would take effect; and if it did
no other good than s