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he mud beneath his feet。
And now into sight comes a fair girl； with her dainty face growing more wrinkled at every step； and now a care…worn man； and now a hopeful lad。
A motley thronga motley throng！ Prince and beggar； sinner and saint； butcher and baker and candlestick maker； tinkers and tailors； and plowboys and sailorsall jostling along together。 Here the counsel in his wig and gown； and here the old Jew clothes…man under his dingy tiara； here the soldier in his scarlet； and here the undertaker's mute in streaming hat…band and worn cotton gloves； here the musty scholar fumbling his faded leaves； and here the scented actor dangling his showy seals。 Here the glib politician crying his legislative panaceas； and here the peripatetic Cheap…Jack holding aloft his quack cures for human ills。 Here the sleek capitalist and there the sinewy laborer； here the man of science and here the shoe…back； here the poet and here the water…rate collector； here the cabinet minister and there the ballet…dancer。 Here a red…nosed publican shouting the praises of his vats and there a temperance lecturer at 50 pounds a night； here a judge and there a swindler； here a priest and there a gambler。 Here a jeweled duchess； smiling and gracious； here a thin lodging…house keeper； irritable with cooking； and here a wabbling； strutting thing； tawdry in paint and finery。
Cheek by cheek they struggle onward。 Screaming； cursing； and praying； laughing； singing； and moaning； they rush past side by side。 Their speed never slackens； the race never ends。 There is no wayside rest for them； no halt by cooling fountains； no pause beneath green shades。 On； on； onon through the heat and the crowd and the duston； or they will be trampled down and loston； with throbbing brain and tottering limbson； till the heart grows sick； and the eyes grow blurred； and a gurgling groan tells those behind they may close up another space。
And yet； in spite of the killing pace and the stony track； who but the sluggard or the dolt can hold aloof from the course？ Wholike the belated traveler that stands watching fairy revels till he snatches and drains the goblin cup and springs into the whirling circlecan view the mad tumult and not be drawn into its midst？ Not I； for one。 I confess to the wayside arbor； the pipe of contentment； and the lotus…leaves being altogether unsuitable metaphors。 They sounded very nice and philosophical； but I'm afraid I am not the sort of person to sit in arbors smoking pipes when there is any fun going on outside。 I think I more resemble the Irishman who； seeing a crowd collecting； sent his little girl out to ask if there was going to be a row 〃'Cos； if so； father would like to be in it。〃
I love the fierce strife。 I like to watch it。 I like to hear of people getting on in itbattling their way bravely and fairlythat is； not slipping through by luck or trickery。 It stirs one's old Saxon fighting blood like the tales of 〃knights who fought 'gainst fearful odds〃 that thrilled us in our school…boy days。
And fighting the battle of life is fighting against fearful odds； too。 There are giants and dragons in this nineteenth century； and the golden casket that they guard is not so easy to win as it appears in the story…books。 There； Algernon takes one long； last look at the ancestral hall； dashes the tear…drop from his eye； and goes offto return in three years' time； rolling in riches。 The authors do not tell us 〃how it's done；〃 which is a pity； for it would surely prove exciting。
But then not one novelist in a thousand ever does tell us the real story of their hero。 They linger for a dozen pages over a tea…party； but sum up a life's history with 〃he had become one of our merchant princes；〃 or 〃he was now a great artist； with the world at his feet。〃 Why； there is more real life in one of Gilbert's patter…songs than in half the biographical novels ever written。 He relates to us all the various steps by which his office…boy rose to be the 〃ruler of the queen's navee；〃 and explains to us how the briefless barrister managed to become a great and good judge； 〃ready to try this breach of promise of marriage。〃 It is in the petty details； not in the great results； that the interest of existence lies。
What we really want is a novel showing us all the hidden under…current of an ambitious man's careerhis struggles； and failures； and hopes； his disappointments and victories。 It would be an immense success。 I am sure the wooing of Fortune would prove quite as interesting a tale as the wooing of any flesh…and…blood maiden； though； by the way； it would read extremely similar； for Fortune is； indeed； as the ancients painted her； very like a womannot quite so unreasonable and inconsistent； but nearly soand the pursuit is much the same in one case as in the other。 Ben Jonson's couplet
〃Court a mistress； she denies you； Let her alone； she will court you〃 puts them both in a nutshell。 A woman never thoroughly cares for her lover until he has ceased to care for her； and it is not until you have snapped your fingers in Fortune's face and turned on your heel that she begins to smile upon you。
But by that time you do not much care whether she smiles or frowns。 Why could she not have smiled when her smiles would have filled you with ecstasy？ Everything comes too late in this world。
Good people say that it is quite right and proper that it should be so； and that it proves ambition is wicked。
Bosh！ Good people are altogether wrong。 （They always are； in my opinion。 We never agree on any single point。） What would the world do without ambitious people； I should like to know？ Why； it would be as flabby as a Norfolk dumpling。 Ambitious people are the leaven which raises it into wholesome bread。 Without ambitious people the world would never get up。 They are busybodies who are about early in the morning； hammering； shouting； and rattling the fire…irons； and rendering it generally impossible for the rest of the house to remain in bed。
Wrong to be ambitious； forsooth！ The men wrong who； with bent back and sweating brow； cut the smooth road over which humanity marches forward from generation to generation！ Men wrong for using the talents that their Master has intrusted to themfor toiling while others play！
Of course they are seeking their reward。 Man is not given that godlike unselfishness that thinks only of others' good。 But in working for themselves they are working for us all。 We are so bound together that no man can labor for himself alone。 Each blow he strikes in his own behalf helps to mold the universe。 The stream in struggling onward turns the mill…wheel； the coral insect； fashioning its tiny cell； joins continents to one another； and the ambitious man； building a pedestal for himself； leaves a monument to posterity。 Alexander and Caesar fought for their own ends； but in doing so they put a belt of civilization half round the earth。 Stephenson； to win a fortune； invented the steam…engine； and Shakespeare wrote his plays in order to keep a comfortable home for Mrs。 Shakespeare and the little Shakespeares。
Contented； unambitious people are all very well in their way。 They form a neat； useful background f