It would seem that up to this moment the feud that existed between the
ducal establishment and the knight bachelors entourage was of a private
character. That Brockley pursued an even and a passionless way
unconscious of the titanic storm that was brewing in its midst.
Outwardly there was no sign of the struggle. The milkmen came at dawn,
the grocer called for orders, and the laundrymen brought home other
people's collars, and shirts that looked like other people's shirts, but
which proved on close examination to be the shirts that were sent, but
slightly deckled about the edges. Brockley may have been mildly
interested in the announcement that a new paper was to make its
appearance, at least so much of Brockley as read the announcement.
Not to make any mystery of Brockley's attitude, I must say that Brockley
really wasn't particularly interested in Itself. For one thing, It only
slept at Brockley and spent week-ends there. The greater part of Its
life was spent in the City and upon the admirable rolling stock of the
South Eastern Railway. Except when It went down to the Broadway to
change the library books, It seldom saw Itself.
In a word It had no _esprit de corps_, no local patriotism. It was
neither proud of Itself, nor ashamed of Itself. Its politics were very
high indeed: Imperialism was freely discussed at the local debating
societies; there was a golf club and a constitutional club, and (very
properly in Deptford) a Liberal club.
It had a church parade on the Hilly Fields, which ranked high as a
fashionable function, for Sunday found a strolling procession of top
hats, and dainty creations. And there were immaculate young men in
creased trousers and purple socks; and hatless young men belonging to
the no-hat brigade who strolled about in trios blissfully unconscious of
the notice they attracted. Yes.
A careful, and I hope an impartial observer, I noted no extraordinary
disposition on the part of Brockley either to participate in, or comment
upon the Duke's quarrel until after the _Aristocrat_ had made its first
appearance.
A summary of the contents of that remarkable new-comer to the ranks of
journalism might be instructive. I produce haphazard from the table of
contents on page 4.