GOSPEL OF RELAXATION. 277 



propose to transgress. However, the fault I have to 

 comment upon is one which most will scarcely regard 

 as a fault. It seems to me that in one respect Amer- 

 icans have diverged too widely from savages. I do 

 not mean to say that they are in general unduly civil- 

 ized. Throughout large parts of the population, even 

 in long settled regions, there is no excess of those vir- 

 tues needed for the maintenance of social harmony. 

 Especially out in the West, man's dealings do not yet 

 betray too much of the c sweetness and light ' which 

 we are told distinguish the cultured man from the 

 barbarian. Nevertheless there is a sense in which my 

 assertion is true. You know that the primitive man 

 lacks power of application. Spurred by hunger, by 

 danger, by revenge, he can exert himself energetically 

 for a time ; but his energy is spasmodic. Monotonous 

 daily toil is impossible to him. It is otherwise with 

 the more developed man. The stern discipline of so- 

 cial life has gradually increased the aptitude for per- 

 sistent industry ; until, among us, and still more 

 among you, work has become with many a passion. 

 This contrast of nature has another aspect. The 

 savage thinks only of present satisfactions, and leaves 

 future satisfactions uncared for. Contrariwise, the 

 American, eagerly pursuing a future good, almost 

 ignores what good the passing day offers him ; and, 

 when the future good is gained, he neglects that 

 while striving for some still remoter good. 



"What I have seen and heard during my stay 

 among you has forced on me the belief that this slow 

 change from habitual inertness to persistent activity 

 has reached an extreme from which there must begin 



