198 The Life Worth Living 



which tradition and custom exact. In more 

 ways than in money we constantly pay for the 

 privilege of living in crowds. To say nothing 

 of the nervous wear and tear, the whole drift 

 is by association tending towards deterioration. 

 So long as we continue to live in crowds there 

 must be an infinite amount of contact with 

 human nature which is petty, mean, despicable. 

 We cannot escape from it. While in Rome we 

 must do as the Romans. I confess that if my 

 fellow-man is typified in the crowd I see around 

 me, especially in large cities, I detest my fellow- 

 man. It may be the height of selfishness for 

 the egoist to say : "These people have nothing 

 good to teach me; I can gain nothing from 

 them ; let them keep to themselves and allow 

 me to strive for something higher, untram- 

 melled by their association or their advice." 

 But such a course may be wise in order to 

 make the most of what little capital we have 

 fallen heir to in the shape of health, intelli- 

 gence, and appreciation of things which are 

 priceless in every sense, such as the sunlight 

 and the color of the clouds. To get rid of 

 unpleasant and seemingly unprofitable associa- 



