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THE DEFENDANT

BY G. K. CHESTERTON

AUTHOR OF 'THE WILD KNIGHT' AND 'GREYBEARDS AT PLAY'

SECOND EDITION

LONDON. MDCCCCII

R. BRIMLEY JOHNSON

* * * * *

The 'Defence' !f "h#ch $h# %!&(e # c!()!e h+%e +))e+,e #n -The

S)e+e,-/ +n +,e he,e ,e),#n$e/ +f$e, ,e%##!n +n +()c+$#!n/ 12

)e,(##!n !f $he E#$!,. P!,$#!n !f 'The Defence !f P1c#$2'

+))e+,e #n -The D+#&2 Ne"-.

-Oc$!1e,-/ 3453.

* * * * *

CONTENTS

IN DEFENCE OF A NEW EDITION

INTRODUCTION

A DEFENCE OF PENNY DREADFULS

A DEFENCE OF RASH 6OWS

A DEFENCE OF SKELETONS

A DEFENCE OF PUBLICITY

A DEFENCE OF NONSENSE

A DEFENCE OF PLANETS

A DEFENCE OF CHINA SHEPHERDESSES

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A DEFENCE OF USEFUL INFORMATION

A DEFENCE OF HERALDRY

A DEFENCE OF UGLY THINGS

A DEFENCE OF FARCE

A DEFENCE OF HUMILITY

A DEFENCE OF SLANG

A DEFENCE OF BABY7WORSHIP

A DEFENCE OF DETECTI6E STORIES

A DEFENCE OF PATRIOTISM

* * * * *

-IN DEFENCE OF A NEW EDITION

The ,e#e !f + e,#e !f e+2 ! e)he(e,+& +n e%en )e,8! (+2

ee( +$ $he 0,$ 9&+nce $! ,e:#,e !(e e;ce< ),!1+1&2 $he 1e$

e;ce # $h+$ $he2 "#&& h+%e 1een c!()&e$e&2 f!,9!$$en/ +n $he,ef!,e(+2 1e ,e+ +9+#n "#$h en$#,e&2 ne" en+$#!n. I +( n!$ ,e/ h!"e%e,/

$h+$ $h# c&+#( # ! (!e$ + #$ !n/ f!, I f+nc2 $h+$ Sh+e)e+,e

+n B+&=+c/ #f (!%e $! ),+2e,/ (#9h$ n!$ + $! 1e ,e(e(1e,e/ 1$ $!

1e f!,9!$$en/ +n f!,9!$$en $h< f!, #f $he2 "e,e f!,9!$$en $he2 "!&

1e e%e,&+$#n9&2 ,e7#c!%e,e +n ,e7,e+. I$ # + (!n!$!n! (e(!,2

"h#ch ee) #n $he (+#n f,!( ee#n9 $h#n9 + )&en# + $he2 +,e.

The +nc#en$ "e,e n!$ ",!n9 "hen $he2 (+e Le$he $he 1!n+,2 !f +

1e$$e, &+n< )e,h+) $he !n&2 8+" #n $he#, 2$e( # $h+$ + (+n "h! h+

1+$he #n $he ,#%e, !f f!,9e$f&ne "!& 1e + e&2 + n!$ $! c(1

1+c )!n $he 1+n !f $he e+,$h +n f+nc2 h#(e&f #n E&2#(.

If/ $he,ef!,e/ I +( ce,$+#n $h+$ (!$ en#1&e )e!)&e h+%e f!,9!$$en

$he e;#$ence !f $h# 1!!77I ! n!$ )e+ #n (!e$2 !, #n ),#e77I

"#h !n&2 $! $+$e + #()&e +n !(e"h+$ 1e+$#f& f+c$. In !ne ,e)ec$

$he )+#n9 !f $he )e,#! ,#n9 "h#ch + 1!! c+n 1e c!n#e,e c,,en$

h+ +>#c$e (e "#$h !(e (e&+nch!&2/ f!, I h+ #n$ene $! ",#$e

+n!n2(!&2 #n !(e +#&2 )+)e, + $h!,!9h +n c,h#n9 e;)!,e !f $he

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"!, #n)#,e (!$&2 12 + ce,$+#n +,$#$#c #()+$#ence !f $he $!!

#n&9en$ $!ne !f $he c,#$#:e +n $he (+nne, #n "h#ch + %+$ n(1e, !f

(2 (!$ (!n$,! f+&&+c#e h+%e )+e nch+&&en9e. I "#&& n!$ ,e)e+$

$h+$ )!"e,f& +,$#c&e he,e/ f!, #$ c+nn!$ 1e nece+,2 $! ! +n2$h#n9

(!,e $h+n "+,n $he ,e+e, +9+#n$ $he )e,fec$&2 #nefen#1&e ne !f

+,9(en$ +!)$e +$ $he en !f ). ?@. I +( +&! c!nc#! $h+$ $he $#$&e!f $he 1!! #/ $,#c$&2 )e+#n9/ #n+cc,+$e. I$ # + &e9+& (e$+)h!,/

+n/ )e+#n9 &e9+&&2/ + efen+n$ # n!$ +n en$h#+$ f!, $he

ch+,+c$e, !f K#n9 J!hn !, $he !(e$#c %#,$e !f $he ),+#,#e7!9. He #

!ne "h! efen h#(e&f/ + $h#n9 "h#ch $he ),een$ ",#$e,/ h!"e%e,

)!#!ne h# (#n (+2 1e "#$h )+,+!;/ ce,$+#n&2 ne%e, ,e+(e !f

+$$e()$#n9.

C,#$#c#( )!n $he 1!! c!n#e,e + $e,+$,e/ #f #$ c+n 1e !

c!n#e,e/ I h!&/ !f c!,e/ ne%e, ,e+( !f #c#n9770,$&2/

1ec+e #$ # ,##c&! $! ! !< +n/ ec!n&2/ 1ec+e $he,e "+/ #n

(2 !)#n#!n/ (ch $#ce #n ch c,#$#c#(.

B$ $he,e # !ne (+$$e, !n "h#ch +n +$h!, # 9ene,+&&2 c!n#e,e +

h+%#n9 + ,#9h$ $! e;)&+#n h#(e&f/ #nce #$ h+ n!$h#n9 $! ! "#$h

c+)+c#$2 !, #n$e&ence/ +n $h+$ # $he :e$#!n !f h# (!,+&.

I +( ),! $! +2 $h+$ + f,#!/ nc!(),!(##n9/ +n %e,2 eec$#%e

+$$+c "+ (+e )!n "h+$ "+ +&&e9e $! 1e $he $$e, #((!,+$2 !f $h#

1!! 12 (2 e;ce&&en$ f,#en M,. C.F.G. M+$e,(+n/ #n $he 'S)e+e,.' The

$enenc2 !f $h+$ c,#$#c#( "+ $! $he eec$ $h+$ I "+ #c!,+9#n9

#(),!%e(en$ +n #9##n9 c+n+& 12 (2 !en#%e !)$#(#(. !$#n9$he )++9e #n "h#ch I +# $h+$ '#+(!n "e,e $! 1e f!n #n $he

$71#n/' he +# 'The,e # n! #c&$2 #n 0n#n9 9!! #n "h+$

h(+n#$2 ,eec$. The #c&$2 # $! 0n #$ #n "h+$ h(+n#$2 +cce)$.

The #+(!n # e+2 en!9h $! 0n #n $he $71#n. The #c&$2 # $!

0n #$ #n $he ,+"#n97,!!(.' I ($ +(#$/ f!, (2 )+,$/ "#$h!$ $he

h$e$ h+(e/ $h+$ I h+%e f!n + 9,e+$ (+n2 %e,2 e;ce&&en$ $h#n9 #n

,+"#n97,!!(. F!, e;+()&e/ I f!n M,. M+$e,(+n #n + ,+"#n97,!!(. B$

I (e,e&2 (en$#!n $h# ),e&2 e$h#c+& +$$+c #n !,e, $! $+$e/ #n + fe"

en$ence + )!#1&e/ (2 #e,ence f,!( $he $he!,2 !f !)$#(#( +n

),!9,e $he,e#n ennc#+$e. A$ 0,$ #9h$ #$ "!& ee( $h+$ $he)e#(#$ enc!,+9e #(),!%e(en$. B$ #n ,e+$2 #$ # + #n9&+, $,$h

$h+$ $he e,+ #n "h#ch )e#(#( h+ 1een c,#e f,!( $he h!e7$!) #

+&! $h+$ #n "h#ch +&(!$ +&& ,ef!,( h+ $+9n+$e +n f+&&en #n$!

ec+2. The ,e+!n !f $h# # n!$ #c&$ $! #c!%e,. N! (+n e%e, #/

+n n! (+n e%e, c+n/ c,e+$e !, e#,e $! (+e + 1+ $h#n9 9!! !, +n

9&2 $h#n9 1e+$#f&. The,e ($ 1e !(e 9e,( !f 9!! $! 1e &!%e/ !(e

f,+9(en$ !f 1e+$2 $! 1e +(#,e. The (!$he, "+he +n ec !$ $he

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#,$2 !, c+,e&e ch#&/ 1$ n! !ne c+n + he, $! "+h +n ec !$ +

9!1n "#$h + he+,$ e he&&. N! !ne c+n #&& $he f+$$e c+&f f!,

Me)h#$!)he&e. The c+e "h#ch # 1&!c#n9 +&& ),!9,e $!+2 # $he

1$&e ce)$#c#( "h#ch "h#)e, #n + (#&!n e+, $h+$ $h#n9 +,e n!$

9!! en!9h $! 1e "!,$h #(),!%#n9. If $he "!,& # 9!! "e +,e

,e%!&$#!n+,#e/ #f $he "!,& # e%#& "e ($ 1e c!ne,%+$#%e. Theee+2/ f$#&e + $he2 +,e c!n#e,e + e,#! $e,+$,e/ +,e 2e$

e$h#c+&&2 #nce,e/ #nce $he2 ee $! ,e(#n (en $h+$ $h#n9 ($ 1e

&!%e 0,$ +n #(),!%e +f$e,"+,.

G. K. C-.

* * * * *

THE DEFENDANT

INTRODUCTION

In ce,$+#n en&e )&+n/ )&+n e 9,e+$ 8+$ 9!ne #==2/ &!)e

$h+$ ee( $! c!n$,+#c$ $he #e+ $h+$ $he,e # e%en ch + $h#n9 + +

&e%e&/ +n (+e +&& ,e+=e $h+$ "e %e !n + )&+ne$ "#$h + &!)#n9

,!!f/ 2! "#&& c!(e f,!( $#(e $! $#(e )!n "h!&e %+&&e2 0&&e "#$h

&!!e ,!c +n 1!&e,/ ! 1#9 + $! 1e e (!n$+#n 1,!en &!!e.

The "h!&e (#9h$ 1e +n e;)e,#(en$+& c,e+$#!n h+$$e,e +n c+$ +"+2. I$

# !f$en #c&$ $! 1ee%e $h+$ ch c!(#c ,efe c+n h+%e c!(e

$!9e$he, e;ce)$ 12 h(+n (e+n. The (#&e$ +n (!$ c!cne2 #(+9#n+$#!n

c!nce#%e $he )&+ce $! 1e $he cene !f !(e "+, !f 9#+n$. T! (e #$ #+&"+2 +!c#+$e "#$h !ne #e+/ ,ec,,en$ +n +$ &+$ #n$#nc$#%e. The

cene "+ $he cene !f $he $!n#n9 !f !(e ),eh#$!,#c ),!)he$/ +

),!)he$ + (ch (!,e 9#9+n$#c $h+n +f$e,7),!)he$ + $he 1!&e, +,e

(!,e 9#9+n$#c $h+n $he )e11&e. He )!e !(e "!,77"!, $h+$ ee(e

h+(ef& +n $,e(en!77+n $he "!,&/ #n $e,,!,/ 1,#e h#( ne, +

"#&e,ne !f $!ne. The )&+ce # $he (!n(en$ !f +n +nc#en$ fe+,.

If "e f!&&!"e $he +(e (!! !f f+nc2/ #$ "!& he (!,e #c&$ $!

#(+9#ne "h+$ +"f& h#n$ !, "#& )#c$,e !f $he n#%e,e c+&&e f!,$h

$h+$ ),#(+& )e,ec$#!n/ "h+$ ec,e$ !f en+$#!n+& $h!9h$ e 1,#ene, $he 1,$+& $!ne. F!, #n !, $#(e $he 1&+)he(#e +,e $h,e+1+,e.

Pe#(#( # n!" )+$en$&2/ + #$ +&"+2 "+ een$#+&&2/ (!,e

c!((!n)&+ce $h+n )#e$2. P,!f+n#$2 # n!" (!,e $h+n +n +ec$+$#!n77#$ #

+ c!n%en$#!n. The c,e +9+#n$ G! # E;e,c#e I. #n $he ),#(e, !f

(#n!, )!e$,2. I$ "+ n!$/ +,e&2/ f!, ch 1+12#h !&e(n#$#e $h+$

!, #(+9#n+,2 ),!)he$ "+ $!ne #n $he (!,n#n9 !f $he "!,&. If "e

"e#9h $he (+$$e, #n $he f+&$&e c+&e !f #(+9#n+$#!n/ #f "e ee "h+$

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# $he ,e+& $,en !f h(+n#$2/ "e h+&& fee& #$ (!$ ),!1+1&e $h+$ he

"+ $!ne f!, +2#n9 $h+$ $he 9,+ "+ 9,een +n $h+$ $he 1#, +n9

#n ),#n9< f!, $he (##!n !f +&& $he ),!)he$ f,!( $he 1e9#nn#n9 h+

n!$ 1een ! (ch $he )!#n$#n9 !$ !f he+%en !, he&& + ),#(+,#&2 $he

)!#n$#n9 !$ !f $he e+,$h.

Re#!n h+ h+ $! ),!%#e $h+$ &!n9e$ +n $,+n9e$ $e&ec!)e77$he

$e&ec!)e $h,!9h "h#ch "e c!& ee $he $+, )!n "h#ch "e "e&$. F!,

$he (#n +n e2e !f $he +%e,+9e (+n $h# "!,& # + &!$ + Een +n

+ nen + A$&+n$#. The,e ,n + $,+n9e &+" $h,!9h $he &en9$h !f

h(+n h#$!,277$h+$ (en +,e c!n$#n+&&2 $en#n9 $! ne,%+&e $he#,

en%#,!n(en$/ $! ne,%+&e $he#, h+))#ne/ $! ne,%+&e $he(e&%e.

The 9,e+$ #n !f (+n#n/ $he #n $2)#0e 12 $he f+&& !f A+(/ # $he

$enenc2/ n!$ $!"+, ),#e/ 1$ $!"+, $h# "e#, +n h!,,#1&e

h(#$2.

Th# # $he 9,e+$ f+&&/ $he f+&& 12 "h#ch $he 0h f!,9e$ $he e+/ $he

!; f!,9e$ $he (e+!"/ $he c&e, f!,9e$ $he c#$2/ e%e,2 (+n f!,9e$ h#

en%#,!n(en$ +n/ #n $he f&&e$ +n (!$ $e,+& ene/ f!,9e$ h#(e&f.

Th# # $he ,e+& f+&& !f A+(/ +n #$ # + )#,#$+& f+&&. I$ # +

$,+n9e $h#n9 $h+$ (+n2 $,&2 )#,#$+& (en/ ch + Gene,+& G!,!n/

h+%e +c$+&&2 )en$ !(e h!, #n )ec&+$#n9 )!n $he ),ec#e &!c+$#!n

!f $he G+,en !f Een. M!$ ),!1+1&2 "e +,e #n Een $#&&. I$ # !n&2

!, e2e $h+$ h+%e ch+n9e.

The )e#(#$ # c!((!n&2 )!en !f + $he (+n #n ,e%!&$. He # n!$.

F#,$&2/ 1ec+e #$ ,e:#,e !(e chee,f&ne $! c!n$#ne #n ,e%!&$/+n ec!n&2/ 1ec+e )e#(#( +))e+& $! $he "e+e, #e !f e%e,21!2/

+n $he )e#(#$/ $he,ef!,e/ ,#%e + ,!+,#n9 + $,+e + $he )1c+n.

The )e,!n "h! # ,e+&&2 #n ,e%!&$ # $he !)$#(#$/ "h! 9ene,+&&2 %e

+n #e #n + e)e,+$e +n #c#+& e!,$ $! )e,+e +&& $he !$he,

)e!)&e h!" 9!! $he2 +,e. I$ h+ 1een ),!%e + hn,e $#(e !%e, $h+$

#f 2! ,e+&&2 "#h $! en,+9e )e!)&e +n (+e $he( +n9,2/ e%en n$!

e+$h/ $he ,#9h$ "+2 $! ! #$ # $! $e&& $he( $h+$ $he2 +,e +&& $he !n

!f G!. Je Ch,#$ "+ c,c#0e/ #$ (+2 1e ,e(e(1e,e/ n!$ 1ec+e !f

+n2$h#n9 he +# +1!$ G!/ 1$ !n + ch+,9e !f +2#n9 $h+$ + (+n c!&

#n $h,ee +2 )&& !"n +n ,e1#& $he Te()&e. E%e,2 !ne !f $he 9,e+$,e%!&$#!n#$/ f,!( I+#+h $! She&&e2/ h+%e 1een !)$#(#$. The2 h+%e

1een #n#9n+n$/ n!$ +1!$ $he 1+ne !f e;#$ence/ 1$ +1!$ $he

&!"ne !f (en #n ,e+=#n9 #$ 9!!ne. The ),!)he$ "h! # $!ne #

n!$ + 1,+"&e, !, + (+,)&!$. He # #()&2 + ,eec$e &!%e,. He e,

f,!( +n n,e:#$e +$$+ch(en$ $! $h#n9 #n 9ene,+&.

I$ 1ec!(e #nc,e+#n9&2 +))+,en$/ $he,ef!,e/ $h+$ $he "!,& # #n +

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)e,(+nen$ +n9e, !f 1e#n9 (#9e. Th+$ $h# # n! f+nc#f& !,

(2$#c+& #e+ (+2 1e $e$e 12 #()&e e;+()&e. The $"! +1!&$e&2 1+#c

"!, '9!!' +n '1+/' ec,#)$#%e !f $"! ),#(+& +n #ne;)c+1&e

en+$#!n/ +,e n!$/ +n ne%e, h+%e 1een/ e ),!)e,&2. Th#n9 $h+$ +,e

1+ +,e n!$ c+&&e 9!! 12 +n2 )e!)&e "h! e;)e,#ence $he(< 1$ $h#n9

$h+$ +,e 9!! +,e c+&&e 1+ 12 $he n#%e,+& %e,#c$ !f h(+n#$2.

Le$ (e e;)&+#n + $$&e Ce,$+#n $h#n9 +,e 1+ ! f+, + $he2 9!/ ch

+ )+#n/ +n n! !ne/ n!$ e%en + &n+$#c/ c+&& + $!!$h7+che 9!! #n

#$e&f< 1$ + n#fe "h#ch c$ c&(#&2 +n "#$h #c&$2 # c+&&e +

1+ n#fe/ "h#ch #$ ce,$+#n&2 # n!$. I$ # !n&2 n!$ ! 9!! + !$he,

n#%e $! "h#ch (en h+%e 9,!"n +cc$!(e. A n#fe # ne%e, 1+ e;ce)$

!n ch ,+,e !cc+#!n + $h+$ #n "h#ch #$ # ne+$&2 +n c#en$#0c+&&2

)&+n$e #n $he (#&e !f !ne' 1+c. The c!+,e$ +n 1&n$e$ n#fe

"h#ch e%e, 1,!e + )enc#& #n$! )#ece #n$e+ !f h+,)en#n9 #$ # + 9!!

$h#n9 #n ! f+, + #$ # + n#fe. I$ "!& h+%e +))e+,e + (#,+c&e #n

$he S$!ne A9e. Wh+$ "e c+&& + 1+ n#fe # + 9!! n#fe n!$ 9!! en!9h

f!, < "h+$ "e c+&& + 1+ h+$ # + 9!! h+$ n!$ 9!! en!9h f!, e. H!" f+, "e +,e !,e&%e

#n $h# +9e f,!( ch c!n%#c$#!n !f $he )!e$,2 !f !, !"n fe +n

(+nne, (+2 e+#&2 1e c!nce#%e 12 +n2!ne "h! ch!!e $! #(+9#ne +

)#c$,e !f A&f,e $he G,e+$ $!+$#n9 $he c+e ,ee #n $!,#$'

n#ce,1!ce,/ !, + )e,f!,(+nce !f 'H+(&e$' #n "h#ch $he P,#nce

+))e+,e #n + f,!c7c!+$/ "#$h + c,+)e 1+n ,!n h# h+$. B$ $h#

#n$#nc$ !f $he +9e $! &!! 1+c/ e L!$' "#fe/ c!& n!$ 9! !n f!,

e%e,. A ,e/ )!)&+, $e,+$,e !f $he ,!(+n$#c )!#1#$#e !f $he(!e,n c#$2 "+ 1!n $! +,#e. I$ h+ +,#en #n $he )!)&+, e$ec$#%e

$!,#e/ + ,!9h +n ,ef,eh#n9 + $he 1+&&+ !f R!1#n H!!.

The,e #/ h!"e%e,/ +n!$he, 9!! "!, $h+$ # !ne 12 e$ec$#%e $!,#e.

Wh#&e #$ # $he c!n$+n$ $enenc2 !f $he O& A+( $! ,e1e& +9+#n$ !

n#%e,+& +n +$!(+$#c + $h#n9 + c#%#=+$#!n/ $! ),e+ch e)+,$,e +n

,e1e&!n/ $he ,!(+nce !f )!ce +c$#%#$2 ee) #n !(e ene 1ef!,e $he

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(#n $he f+c$ $h+$ c#%#=+$#!n #$e&f # $he (!$ en+$#!n+& !f

e)+,$,e +n $he (!$ ,!(+n$#c !f ,e1e&!n. B2 e+n9 "#$h $he

n&ee)#n9 en$#ne& "h! 9+, $he !$)!$ !f !c#e$2/ #$ $en $!

,e(#n $h+$ "e %e #n +n +,(e c+()/ (+#n9 "+, "#$h + ch+!$#c

"!,&/ +n $h+$ $he c,#(#n+&/ $he ch#&,en !f ch+!/ +,e n!$h#n9 1$

$he $,+#$!, "#$h#n !, 9+$e. When $he e$ec$#%e #n + )!ce ,!(+nce$+n +&!ne/ +n !(e"h+$ f+$!&2 fe+,&e +(# $he n#%e +n 0$

!f + $h#e%e' #$chen/ #$ !e ce,$+#n&2 e,%e $! (+e ,e(e(1e, $h+$

#$ # $he +9en$ !f !c#+& $#ce "h! # $he !,#9#n+& +n )!e$#c 09,e/

"h#&e $he 1,9&+, +n f!!$)+ +,e (e,e&2 )&+c# !& c!(#c

c!ne,%+$#%e/ h+))2 #n $he #((e(!,#+& ,e)ec$+1#$2 !f +)e +n

"!&%e. The ,!(+nce !f $he )!ce f!,ce # $h $he "h!&e ,!(+nce !f

(+n. I$ # 1+e !n $he f+c$ $h+$ (!,+$2 # $he (!$ +, +n +,#n9

!f c!n)#,+c#e. I$ ,e(#n $h+$ $he "h!&e n!#e&e +n nn!$#ce+1&e

)!ce (+n+9e(en$ 12 "h#ch "e +,e ,&e +n ),!$ec$e # !n&2 +

ccef& n#9h$7e,,+n$,2.

* * * * *

A DEFENCE OF PATRIOTISM

The ec+2 !f )+$,#!$#( #n En9&+n ,#n9 $he &+$ 2e+, !, $"! # +

e,#! +n #$,e#n9 (+$$e,. On&2 #n c!ne:ence !f ch + ec+2

c!& $he c,,en$ &$ !f $e,,#$!,2 1e c!nf!ne "#$h $he +nc#en$ &!%e

!f c!n$,2. We (+2 #(+9#ne $h+$ #f $he,e "e,e n! ch $h#n9 + + )+#, !f&!%e, &ef$ #n $he "!,&/ +&& $he %!c+1&+,2 !f &!%e (#9h$ "#$h!$

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