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The following essays were written partly at home and partly abroad.  They therefore betray the influence of some of the mass movements of the day.  Anyone with even a little leisure from his own personal affairs must realize that we are living in one of the most stirring times in human history.  Everywhere the old order is changing.  Everywhere there are confused currents both of thought and feeling.

That the old order is passing is obvious enough.  That a new order is arising, and that it is on the whole beneficent, is not merely a pious hope.  It is more than this:  it is a matter of observation to any one with a moderate degree of “Serendipity.”

IN THE HANDS OF A RECEIVER

It sometimes happens that a business man who is in reality solvent becomes temporarily embarrassed.  His assets are greater than his liabilities, but they are not quick enough to meet the situation.  The liabilities have become mutinous and bear down upon him in a threatening mob.  If he had time to deal with them one by one, all would be well; but he cannot on the instant mobilize his forces.

Under such circumstances the law allows him to surrender, not to the mob, but to a friendly power which shall protect the interests of all concerned.  He goes into the hands of a receiver, who will straighten out his affairs for him.  I can imagine the relief which would come to one who could thus get rid, for a while, of his harassing responsibilities, and let some one else do the worrying.

In these days some of the best people I know are in this predicament in regard to their moral and social affairs.  These friends of mine have this peculiarity, that they are anxious to do their duty.  Now, in all generations, there have been persons who did their duty, according to their lights.  But in these days it happens that a new set of lights has been turned on suddenly, and we all see more duties than we had bargained for.  In the glare we see an army of creditors, each with an overdue bill in hand.  Each demands immediate payment, and shakes his head when we suggest that he call again next week.  We realize that our moral cash in hand is not sufficient for the crisis.  If all our obligations must be met at once, there will be a panic in which most of our securities will be sacrificed.

We are accustomed to grumble over the increase in the cost of living.  But the enhancement of price in the necessities of physical life is nothing compared to the increase in the cost of the higher life.

There are those now living who can remember when almost any one could have the satisfaction of being considered a good citizen and neighbor.  All one had to do was to attend to one’s own affairs and keep within the law.  He would then be respected by all, and would deserve the most eulogistic epitaph when he came to die.  By working for private profit he could have the satisfaction of knowing that all sorts of public benefits came as by-products of his activity.