Narrow-minded mediocrity, envious of my success in
my profession, calls me a Swindler. What of that? The same low tone of
mind assails men in other professions in a similar manner--calls great
writers scribblers--great generals, butchers--and so on. It entirely
depends on the point of view. Adopting your point, I announce myself
intelligibly as a Swindler. Now return the obligation, and adopt
mine. Hear what I have to say for myself, in the exercise of my
profession.--Shall I continue to put it frankly?"
"Yes," said Magdalen; "and I'll tell you frankly afterward what I think
of it."
The captain cleared his throat; mentally assembled his entire army of
words--horse, foot, artillery, and reserves; put himself at the head;
and dashed into action, to carry the moral intrenchments of Society by a
general charge.
"Now observe," he began. "Here am I, a needy object. Very good. Without
complicating the question by asking how I come to be in that condition,
I will merely inquire whether it is, or is not, the duty of a Christian
community to help the needy. If you say No, you simply shock me; and
there is an end of it; if you say Yes, then I beg to ask, Why am I to
blame for making a Christian community do its duty? You may say, Is a
careful man who has saved money bound to spend it again on a careless
stranger who has saved none? Why of course he is! And on what ground,
pray? Good heavens! on the ground that he has _got_ the money, to be
sure.
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