THE STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE 243 



of those who belong to the higher social grades. 

 Moreover, the utility of the various professions in the 

 scheme of modern society elevates those who are 

 pre-eminent in skill and ability, both in respect of 

 social honour and the acquisition of wealth, above 

 the rank and file of the professions to which they 

 belong. Thus in the arena of a profession, where 

 even the lowest post is a social prize, there exist 

 posts that are beyond others brilliant and splendid 

 prizes. Professional posts are only for the specially 

 educated and trained. Nevertheless, the attractions 

 which they possess for young men keep up the supply 

 to a point rather beyond the demand. But there is 

 this principle constantly operative which militates 

 against a temporary great overstocking becoming a 

 permanent one, namely, that when the supply in any 

 profession becomes much in excess of the demand, 

 the knowledge that such is the case acts as a deterrent 

 and prevents many young men from embracing that 

 profession. This principle alone prevents the over- 

 stocking in any profession when at its greatest height 

 from being tenfold greater. From the nature of the 

 case the race is to the swift and the battle to the 

 strong, and if there enter into a profession one who 

 can neither run nor fight in its arena, such an one ere 

 long discovers his ineptitude for it, and finds outside 

 of the profession some post that enables him to live. 



There is always in London a great demand for 

 office clerks and a much greater available supply. 

 The boy who for the first time takes his place on an 



