The Common Man on Trial

First: the master of a ship, stronger and taller than any member of the crew, but somewhat hard of hearing, short-sighted, and inexperienced, hesitating as to whether he shall let the true pilot seize the helm or rather one of the mutinous sailors who quarrel among themselves about the steering. Another image: a strong, mighty beast, and busily engaged around it, its guards, studying the tempers and tastes of their savage charge, and trying to coax and humor it into docility.