It will not do for the world to reply that it does, in words, encourage these fine qualities of youth.  It does not, except in formal and meaningless utterances—­preachments that have not the vitality of individuality in them.  Words are very little, almost less than nothing; but attitude and action are everything.  The young man would not feel that he had to be “slick,” or crafty, or cunning, if the world’s attitude did not invite him to such a conclusion.  It is the nature of young men the world over, and particularly of young Americans, to be open in life, direct in method, lofty in purpose, and fearless in action.

A very successful lawyer once told me the following—­it illustrates my point:  “I remember,” said he, “that when I was a law student one of the most brilliant young men I ever met—­one of the most brilliant young or old men I ever met—­one day received a client of the firm with a luxury of attention and a sumptuousness of courtesy that deeply aroused my ignorant and rural admiration.

“When the consultation had been finished and the rich client had left the office, this young lawyer, who had bowed him out with a deft compliment which made the client feel that he was the point about which the universe was revolving, turned and said, as he went to his desk, ’There goes the shallowest fool and most stupid rascal in the state.’

“When asked how he could say such a thing after having treated the client with such distinction, he turned with a wink of his eye, and said:  ’That is the way to work them.  You don’t know the world yet.  Wait till you get on in the world; it will teach you how to handle them.’

“That young man had become thoroughly saturated with the opinion that Ferrers, in “Ernest Maltravers,” is the type to be imitated—­a character of crafty cunning, playing on the weaknesses of men.  He had gotten his opinion from the apparent success of the tricks and sharp practises of the law.  He had not seen the broader horizon above which only those who are as good as they are capable ever rise.

“It was a fatal method for him.  He finally failed.  It was a fatal method for at least two young students upon whom his ideals and influences fell with determining power.”

Of course; and it is a fatal view of life for any young man to get.  The young man who comes out from the ennobling influence of the American mother will not take this view if the world does not compel him to do so.  The world, then, should not applaud any feat of smartness or cunning on the part of the young man.  It should not wink its eye and pat him on the shoulder and say, “That was very ‘smooth,’ very ‘smooth’ indeed; I congratulate you.”

The young man confronts the world with mingled courage and timidity.  It is so vast.  It seems so unconquerable.  And yet he has been taught to believe that if he meets it with a high fearlessness he will conquer.  That is what his mother taught him.  Out of this thought and his nervous timidity combined comes what appears to the world to be a senseless courage, a foolish daring.  He is very much afraid; he wants to make the world think he is not afraid; he has been told to put up a bold front—­and men think him rash and adventurous.  He is not—­he is only trying to keep you from seeing how scared he is.