Evidently he did not mean to be a mere figurehead, but to carry on the old tradition of Wilsthorpe's; and that was considered to be a good thing in itself and an augury for future prosperity.

He also thinks that I can just get over my asymmetriphobia too so maybe it's just my resentment of him about it that makes me question his judgment on other things.

a daft idea

But there is still a very wide difference between the willing and persistent, and the accidental and unwilling, holding of slaves, in respect to the influence which slave-holding exerts to undemocratize the master.