to bringing water, and then could not make them stop! The spell
invokes "moderate rain and showers"; and as an additional precaution
there is a counter-spell against "excessive rains and floods": the
weather-faucet being thus under exact control.

I turn the pages of this "Book of Common Prayer", and note the
remnants of magic which it contains. There are not many of the
emergencies of life with which the priest is not authorized to deal;
not many natural phenomena for which he may not claim the credit. And
in case anything should have been overlooked, there is a blanket order
upon Providence: "Graciously hear us, that those evils which the craft
or subtilty of the devil or man worketh against us, be brought to
nought!" I am reminded of the idea which haunted my childhood, reading
fairy-stories about the hero who was allowed three wishes that would
come true. I could never understand why the hero did not settle the
matter once for all--by wishing that everything he wished might come
true!

Most of these incantations are harmless, and some are amiable; but now
and then you come upon one which is sinister in its implications. The
volume before me happens to be of the Church of England, which is even
more forthright in its confronting of the Great Magic. Many years ago
I remember talking with an English army officer, asking how he could
feel sure of his soldiers in case of labor strikes; did it never occur
to him that the men had relatives among the workers, and might some
time refuse to shoot them? His answer was that he was aware of it, the
military had worked out its technique with care. He would never think
of ordering his men to fire upon a mob in cold blood; he would first
start the spell of discipline to work, he would march them round the
block, and get them in the swing, get their blood moving to military