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第47章

worldly ways and byways(世俗之路)-第47章

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incentive   to   most   of   the   industry   and   perseverance   in   life。   Aside   from 

science;  which is sometimes   followed   for   itself   alone;  and   virtue;   which 

we are told looks for no other reward; the hope which inspires a great deal 

of the persistent efforts we see; is generally that of raising one's self and 

those one loves by one's efforts into a sphere higher than where cruel fate 

had placed them; that they; too; may take their place in the sunshine and 

enjoy the good things of life。 This ambition is often purely disinterested; a 

life of hardest toil is cheerfully borne; with the hope (for sole consolation) 

that   dear   ones   will   profit   later   by   all   the   work;   and   live   in   a   circle   the 

patient toiler never dreams of entering。 Surely he is a stern moralist who 

would deny this satisfaction to the breadwinner of a family。 

     There are doubtless many higher motives in life; more elevated goals 

toward     which     struggling    humanity      should    strive。  If  you    examine     the 

average mind; however; you will be pretty sure to find that success is the 

touchstone   by   which   we   judge   our   fellows   and   what;   in   our   hearts;   we 

admire the most。 That is not to be wondered at; either; for we have done all 

we   can   to   implant   it   there。   From   a   child's   first   opening   thought;   it   is 

impressed upon him that the great object of existence is to succeed。 Did a 

parent ever tell a child to try and stand last in his class? And yet humility 

is a virtue we admire in the abstract。 Are any of us willing to step aside 

and see our inferiors pass us in the race? That is too much to ask of poor 

humanity。 Were other and higher standards to be accepted; the structure of 

civilization as it exists to…day would crumble away and the great machine 

run down。 

     In returning to my correspondent and her perfectly legitimate desire to 

know the road to success; we must realize that to a large part of the world 

social success   is   the only  kind   they  understand。 The great   inventors   and 

benefactors of mankind live too far away on a plane by themselves to be 

the object of jealousy to any but a very small circle; on the other hand; in 



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these   days   of   equality;   especially   in   this   country   where   caste   has   never 

existed; the social world seems to hold out alluring and tangible gifts to 

him   who   can   enter   its   enchanted   portals。   Even   politics;   to   judge   by   the 

actions     of   some    of   our   legislators;    of   late;  would     seem   to    be   only   a 

stepping…stone to its door! 

     〃But   my   question;〃   I   hear   my   fair   interlocutor   saying。   〃You   are   not 

answering it!〃 

     All in good time; my dear。 I am just about to do so。 Did you ever hear 

of   Darwin   and   his   theory   of   〃selection?〃   It   would   be   a   slight   to   your 

intelligence not to take it for granted that you had。 Well; my observations 

in   the   world   lead   me   to   believe   that   we   follow   there   unconsciously;   the 

same rules that guide the wild beasts in the forest。 Certain individuals are 

endowed by nature with temperaments which make them take naturally to 

a   social   life   and   shine   there。   In   it   they   find   their   natural   element。   They 

develop       freely   just   where     others    shrivel    up    and    disappear。     There     is 

continually going on unseen a 〃natural selection;〃 the discarding of unfit 

material;   the   assimilation   of   new   and   congenial   elements   from   outside; 

with the logical result of a survival of the fittest。 Aside from this; you will 

find   in   〃the   world;〃   as   anywhere   else;   that   the   person   who   succeeds   is 

generally   he   who   has   been   willing   to   give   the   most   of   his   strength   and 

mind to that one object; and has not allowed the flowers on the hillside to 

distract him from his path; remembering also that genius is often but the 

〃capacity for taking infinite pains。〃 

     There are people so constituted that they cheerfully give the efforts of 

a lifetime to the attainment of a brilliant social position。 No fatigue is too 

great; and no snubs too bitter to be willingly undergone in pursuit of the 

cherished   object。   You   will   never   find   such   an   individual;   for   instance; 

wandering in the flowery byways that lead to art or letters; for that would 

waste   his   time。   If   his   family   are   too   hard   to   raise;   he   will   abandon   the 

attempt   and   rise   without them;   for   he   cannot   help   himself。  He   is   but   an 

atom   working   as   blindly   upward   as   the   plant   that   pushes   its   mysterious 

way towards the sun。 Brains are not necessary。 Good looks are but a trump 

the   more   in   the   〃hand。〃   Manners   may   help;   but   are   not   essential。   The 

object can be and is attained daily without all three。 Wealth is but the oil 



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that makes the machinery run more smoothly。 The all…important factor is 

the desire to succeed; so strong that it makes any price seem cheap; and 

that can pay  itself by a  step gained; for  mortification and weariness   and 

heart…burnings。 

     There; my dear; is the secret of success! I stop because I feel myself 

becoming   bitter;   and   that   is   a   frame   of   mind   to   be   carefully   avoided; 

because   it   interferes   with   the   digestion   and   upsets   one's   gentle   calm!   I 

have tried to answer your question。 The answer resolves itself into these 

two things; that it is necessary to be born with qualities which you may not 

possess; and calls for sacrifices you would doubtless be unwilling to make。 

It remains with you to decide if the little game is worth the candle。 The 

delightful common sense I feel quite sure you possess reassures me as to 

your answer。 

     Take gayly such good things as may float your way; and profit by them 

while they  last。 Wander off into   all   the  cross…roads that tempt   you。  Stop 

often to lend a helping hand to a less fortunate traveller。 Rest in the heat of 

the day; as your spirit prompts you。 Sit down before the sunset and revel in 

its   beauty    and    you   will   find   your    voyage     through     life  much    more 

satisfactory  to   look   back   to   and   full   of   far  sweeter   memories   than   if   by 

sacrificing     any    of   these   pleasures     you   had    attained    the   greatest   of 

〃positions。〃 



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           CHAPTER 35 … Living on your 

                                     Friends 



       THACKERAY   devoted   a   chapter   in   〃Vanity   Fair〃   to   the   problem 

〃How to Live Well on Nothing a Year。〃 It was neither a very new nor a 

very   ingenious   expedient   that   〃Becky〃   resorted   to   when   she   discounted 

her husband's position and connection to fleece the tradespeople and cheat 

an   old   family  servant   out   of   a   year's   rent。 The   author   might   more   justly 

have used his clever phrase in describing 〃Major Pendennis's〃   agreeable 

existence。 We have made great progress in this; as in almost every other 

mode of living; in the latter half of the Victorian era; intelligent individuals 

of either sex; who know the ropes; can now as easily lead the existence of 

a   multi…   millionaire   (with   as   much   satisfaction   to   themselves   and   their 

friends) as though the bank account; with all its attendant worries; stood in 


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