Conformity to Rnvlronmcnt 



The content of the books may form an in- 

 significant part of the environment of the page 

 or other attendant in the library. Another man 

 may have but few books and Httle time for 

 these, and yet he may hve in them. One man 

 is lifted, thrilled, and strengthened by music, 

 paintings, the beauty of smiling valleys, of 

 cloud and sunsets, or the grandeur of the moun- 

 tains; another is but little affected by any or all 

 of these. They may form the surroundings of 

 both; only he who can feel their beauty makes 

 them a part of his environment. 



Two men read a page of poetry or of science. 

 One is inspired by that " splendor of truth '' 

 which was Plato's definition of beauty; the other 

 is scarcely moved at all. The passage is really 

 as foreign to him as if written in an unknown 

 tongue. It is no part of his environment. No 

 man can be a hero to his valet, if heroism is 

 foreign to the valet's environment. 



Hence from the same surroundings men may 

 go " down to Gehenna or up to the throne," 

 each going from his own environment to his own 

 place. And from totally different surroundings 

 similar characters may dev^elop. Environment 

 is evidently that part of our surroundings with 



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