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toward which struggling humanity should strive。 If you examine the
average mind； however； you will be pretty sure to find that success is the
touchstone by which we judge our fellows and what； in our hearts； we
admire the most。 That is not to be wondered at； either； for we have done all
we can to implant it there。 From a child's first opening thought； it is
impressed upon him that the great object of existence is to succeed。 Did a
parent ever tell a child to try and stand last in his class？ And yet humility
is a virtue we admire in the abstract。 Are any of us willing to step aside
and see our inferiors pass us in the race？ That is too much to ask of poor
humanity。 Were other and higher standards to be accepted； the structure of
civilization as it exists to…day would crumble away and the great machine
run down。
In returning to my correspondent and her perfectly legitimate desire to
know the road to success； we must realize that to a large part of the world
social success is the only kind they understand。 The great inventors and
benefactors of mankind live too far away on a plane by themselves to be
the object of jealousy to any but a very small circle； on the other hand； in
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these days of equality； especially in this country where caste has never
existed； the social world seems to hold out alluring and tangible gifts to
him who can enter its enchanted portals。 Even politics； to judge by the
actions of some of our legislators； of late； would seem to be only a
stepping…stone to its door！
〃But my question；〃 I hear my fair interlocutor saying。 〃You are not
answering it！〃
All in good time； my dear。 I am just about to do so。 Did you ever hear
of Darwin and his theory of 〃selection？〃 It would be a slight to your
intelligence not to take it for granted that you had。 Well； my observations
in the world lead me to believe that we follow there unconsciously； the
same rules that guide the wild beasts in the forest。 Certain individuals are
endowed by nature with temperaments which make them take naturally to
a social life and shine there。 In it they find their natural element。 They
develop freely just where others shrivel up and disappear。 There is
continually going on unseen a 〃natural selection；〃 the discarding of unfit
material； the assimilation of new and congenial elements from outside；
with the logical result of a survival of the fittest。 Aside from this； you will
find in 〃the world；〃 as anywhere else； that the person who succeeds is
generally he who has been willing to give the most of his strength and
mind to that one object； and has not allowed the flowers on the hillside to
distract him from his path； remembering also that genius is often but the
〃capacity for taking infinite pains。〃
There are people so constituted that they cheerfully give the efforts of
a lifetime to the attainment of a brilliant social position。 No fatigue is too
great； and no snubs too bitter to be willingly undergone in pursuit of the
cherished object。 You will never find such an individual； for instance；
wandering in the flowery byways that lead to art or letters； for that would
waste his time。 If his family are too hard to raise； he will abandon the
attempt and rise without them； for he cannot help himself。 He is but an
atom working as blindly upward as the plant that pushes its mysterious
way towards the sun。 Brains are not necessary。 Good looks are but a trump
the more in the 〃hand。〃 Manners may help； but are not essential。 The
object can be and is attained daily without all three。 Wealth is but the oil
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that makes the machinery run more smoothly。 The all…important factor is
the desire to succeed； so strong that it makes any price seem cheap； and
that can pay itself by a step gained； for mortification and weariness and
heart…burnings。
There； my dear； is the secret of success！ I stop because I feel myself
becoming bitter； and that is a frame of mind to be carefully avoided；
because it interferes with the digestion and upsets one's gentle calm！ I
have tried to answer your question。 The answer resolves itself into these
two things； that it is necessary to be born with qualities which you may not
possess； and calls for sacrifices you would doubtless be unwilling to make。
It remains with you to decide if the little game is worth the candle。 The
delightful common sense I feel quite sure you possess reassures me as to
your answer。
Take gayly such good things as may float your way； and profit by them
while they last。 Wander off into all the cross…roads that tempt you。 Stop
often to lend a helping hand to a less fortunate traveller。 Rest in the heat of
the day； as your spirit prompts you。 Sit down before the sunset and revel in
its beauty and you will find your voyage through life much more
satisfactory to look back to and full of far sweeter memories than if by
sacrificing any of these pleasures you had attained the greatest of
〃positions。〃
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CHAPTER 35 … Living on your
Friends
THACKERAY devoted a chapter in 〃Vanity Fair〃 to the problem
〃How to Live Well on Nothing a Year。〃 It was neither a very new nor a
very ingenious expedient that 〃Becky〃 resorted to when she discounted
her husband's position and connection to fleece the tradespeople and cheat
an old family servant out of a year's rent。 The author might more justly
have used his clever phrase in describing 〃Major Pendennis's〃 agreeable
existence。 We have made great progress in this； as in almost every other
mode of living； in the latter half of the Victorian era； intelligent individuals
of either sex； who know the ropes； can now as easily lead the existence of
a multi… millionaire （with as much satisfaction to themselves and their
friends） as though the bank account； with all its attendant worries； stood in
their own names。 This subject is so vast； its ramifications so far…reaching
and complicated； that one hesitates before launching into an analysis of it。
It will be better simply to give a few interesting examples； and a general
rule or two； for the enlightenment and guidance of ingenious souls。
Human nature changes little； all that our educational and social
training has accomplished is a smoothing of the surface。 One of the most
striking proofs of this is； that here in our primitive country； as soon as
accumulation of capital allowed certain families to live in great luxury；
they returned to the ways of older aristocracies； and； with other wants； felt
the necessity of a court about them； ladies and gentlemen in waiting； pages
and jesters。 Nature abhors a vacuum； so a class of people immediately felt
an irresistible impulse to rush in and fill the void。 Our aristocrats were not
even obliged to send abroad to fill these vacancies； as they were for their
footmen and butlers； the native article was quite ready and willing and；
considering the little practice it could have had； proved wonderfully
adapted to the work。
When the mania for building immense country houses and yachts （the
owning of opera boxes goes a little further back） first attacked this country；
the builders imagined that； once completed； it would be the easiest； as well
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as the most delightful task to fill them with the pick of their friends； that
they could get all the talented and agreeable people they wanted by simply
making a sign。 To their astonishment； they discovered that what appeared
so simple was a difficult； as well as a thankless labor。 I remember asking a
lady who had