CONCLUSION. 353 



led him quickly to the ease of fortune which 

 at all times he ardently desired. It is foolish, 

 and worse than foolish, to pretend that any 

 man even the best of men, even the most 

 philosophic of men desires poverty, which 

 is dependence ; therefore one does not blame 

 this man for desiring fortune. The way, 

 however, by which he succeeded was a far 

 higher and a nobler way, though he understood 

 not that at first. 



You have seen, also, not only that his early 

 life was that of an obscure reporter for a little 

 country paper, but that his first ambition was 

 altogether for the making of money rather 

 than for the production of good work. The 

 love of good work, as such, grew gradually in 

 him. At first it is not apparent at all. At 

 first we have nothing but a commonplace lad, 

 poor, and therefore eager to make money, and 

 fondly thinking that it can be made by writing 

 worthless and commonplace stories. Nothing 

 in his early life has been concealed. You 

 have read his very words, where they could 

 be recovered. They are in no way remarkable 

 words; they are generally, in fact, common- 



23 



