There was nothing in him.

Just about that time the word Thrift was to the fore.

You know the power of words.
We pass through periods dominated by this or that word--it may be development, or it may be competition, or education, or purity or efficiency or even sanctity.

It is the word of the time.

Well just then it was the word Thrift which was out in the streets walking arm in arm with righteousness, the inseparable companion and backer up of all such national catch-words, looking everybody in the eye as it were.