This standard was formed a good many years ago when the conditions of efficiency were not so exacting as they are to-day.

At that time it was a sufficiently high standard and made, on the whole, for successful achievement.

It demanded of the "favorite" that he be honest, patriotic, well-educated, gentlemanly, courageous, and a "good sort," but it wholly failed to demand high special training, intense application, unremitting energy, or any exclusive devotion to one's peculiar work.

If an Englishman comes up to the regular standard, he can usually obtain his share of the good things of English life; but if he goes beyond, he falls under the social disqualification of being abnormal and peculiar.

The standard, consequently, is not now an efficient standard; and it is frequently applied with some laxity to the members of the privileged classes.