y any effort of the will； have shunned this pitfall？
XV
Blackberries hanging thick upon the hedge bring to my memory something of long ago。 I had somehow escaped into the country； and on a long walk began to feel mid…day hunger。 The wayside brambles were fruiting； I picked and ate； and ate on； until I had e within sight of an inn where I might have made a meal。 But my hunger was satisfied； I had no need of anything more； and； as I thought of it； a strange feeling of surprise； a sort of bewilderment； came upon me。 What！ Could it be that I had eaten； and eaten sufficiently； WITHOUT PAYING？ It struck me as an extraordinary thing。 At that time； my ceaseless preoccupation was how to obtain money to keep myself alive。 Many a day I had suffered hunger because I durst not spend the few coins I possessed； the food I could buy was in any case unsatisfactory； unvaried。 But here Nature had given me a feast； which seemed delicious； and I had eaten all I wanted。 The wonder held me for a long time； and to this day I can recall it； understand it。
I think there could be no better illustration of what it means to be very poor in a great town。 And I am glad to have been through it。 To those days of misery I owe much of the contentment which I now enjoy； not by mere force of contrast； but because I have been better taught than most men the facts which condition our day to day existence。 To the ordinary educated person； freedom from anxiety as to how he shall merely be fed and clothed is a matter of course； questioned； he would admit it to be an agreeable state of things； but it is no more a source of conscious joy to him than physical health to the thoroughly sound man。 For me； were I to live another fifty years； this security would be a delightful surprise renewed with every renewal of day。 I know； as only one with my experience can； all that is involved in the possession of means to live。 The average educated man has never stood alone； utterly alone； just clad and nothing more than that； with the problem before him of wresting his next meal from a world that cares not whether he live or die。 There is no such school of political economy。 Go through that course of lectures； and you will never again bee confused as to the meaning of elementary terms in that sorry science。
I understand； far better than most men； what I owe to the labour of others。 This money which I 〃draw〃 at the four quarters of the year； in a sense falls to me from heaven； but I know very well that every drachm is sweated from human pores。 Not； thank goodness； with the declared tyranny of basest capitalism； I mean only that it is the product of human labour； perhaps wholesome； but none the less pulsory。 Look far enough； and it means muscular toil； that swinking of the ruder man which supports all the plex structure of our life。 When I think of him thus； the man of the people earns my gratitude。 That it is gratitude from afar； that I never was； and never shall be； capable of democratic fervour； is a characteristic of my mind which I long ago accepted as final。 I have known revolt against the privilege of wealth （can I not remember spots in London where I have stood； savage with misery； looking at the prosperous folk who passed？）； but I could never feel myself at one with the native poor among whom I dwelt。 And for the simplest reason； I came to know them too well。 He who cultivates his enthusiasm amid graces and forts may nourish an illusion with regard to the world below him all his life long； and I do not deny that he may be the better for it； for me； no illusion was possible。 I knew the poor； and I knew that their aims were not mine。 I knew that the kind of life （such a modest life！） which I should have accepted as little short of the ideal； would have been to them……if they could have been made to understand it……a weariness and a contempt。 To ally myself with them against the 〃upper world〃 would have been mere dishonesty； or sheer despair。 What they at heart desired； was to me barren； what I coveted； was to them for ever inprehensible。
That my own aim indicated an ideal which is the best for all to pursue； I am far from maintaining。 It may be so； or not； I have long known the idleness of advocating reform on a basis of personal predilection。 Enough to set my own thoughts in order； without seeking to devise a new economy for the world。 But it is much to see clearly from one's point of view； and therein the evil days I have treasured are of no little help to me。 If my knowledge be only subjective； why； it only concerns myself； I preach to no one。 Upon another man； of origin and education like to mine； a like experience of hardship might have a totally different effect； he might identify himself with the poor； burn to the end of his life with the noblest humanitarianism。 I should no further criticize him than to say that he saw with other eyes than mine。 A vision； perhaps； larger and more just。 But in one respect he resembles me。 If ever such a man arises； let him be questioned； it will be found that he once made a meal of blackberries……and mused upon it。
XVI
I stood to…day watching harvesters at work； and a foolish envy took hold upon me。 To be one of those brawny； brown…necked men； who can string their muscles from dawn to sundown； and go home without an ache to the sound slumber which will make them fresh again for to… morrow's toil！ I am a man in the middle years； with limbs shaped as those of another； and subject to no prostrating malady； yet I doubt whether I could endure the lightest part of this field labour even for half an hour。 Is that indeed to be a man？ Could I feel surprised if one of these stalwart fellows turned upon me a look of good…natured contempt？ Yet he would never dream that I envied him； he would think it as probable； no doubt； that I should pare myself unfavourably with one of the farm horses。
There es the old idle dream： balance of mind and body； perfect physical health bined with the fulness of intellectual vigour。 Why should I not be there in the harvest field； if so it pleased me； yet none the less live for thought？ Many a theorist holds the thing possible； and looks to its ing in a better time。 If so； two changes must needs e before it； there will no longer exist a profession of literature； and all but the whole of every library will be destroyed； leaving only the few books which are universally recognized as national treasures。 Thus； and thus only； can mental and physical equilibrium ever be brought about。
It is idle to talk to us of 〃the Greeks。〃 The people we mean when so naming them were a few little munities； living under very peculiar conditions； and endowed by Nature with most exceptional characteristics。 The sporadic civilization which we are too much in the habit of regarding as if it had been no less stable than brilliant； was a succession of the briefest splendours； gleaming here and there from the coasts of the Aegean to those of the western Mediterranean。 Our heritage of Greek literature and art is priceless； the example of Greek life possesses for us not the slightest value。 The Greeks had nothing alien to study……not even a foreign or a dead language。 They read hardly at all； preferring to listen。 They were a slave…holding people； m