THE SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE. II 



necessities of modern life upon the professional and 

 mercantile classes, is, as we know, exceedingly 

 distasteful to many young" men. Hence it is that the 

 more daring and ambitious spirits often resolve to 

 break away from its restraints ; and set forth, in constantly 

 increasing numbers, to seek their fortunes in foreign 

 lands, hoping there to find better openings for rising 

 talent and industry, than in the overstocked markets 

 at home. 



The same restless impulse pervades no less strongly 

 the rising generation of young men of independent 

 means and fortune. The vain pomps and vanities of 

 city life suit neither the tastes nor aspirations of many 

 of these fiery spirits. It will be time enough to return 

 to these things, so they think, when the heyday of 

 youth is over, and after they have seen something of 

 the great world of nature, which is spread out beyond 

 the seas for those that choose to seek it. Nor is it 

 unreasonable that these youths should aspire to see 

 something of its wonders, beauties, and romance, 

 about which they have heard so much, provided their 

 circumstances admit of it, before they settle down into 

 quiet, stay-at-home, respectable old fogies. 



Those of them who are men of sporting tastes find 

 the exercise of their favourite pastime every day becoming 

 more restricted and expensive at home where, as we 

 know, a small fortune may easily be spent upon deer 

 forests, fisheries, or tracts of mixed shooting. Here, 

 too, the net result is very often nothing but disappoint- 

 ment and vexation of spirit: for a man may pay for 

 what are represented to be first rate sporting quarters, 

 only to find that he does not get what he has paid 

 for. He therefore comes to the conclusion that if he 



