第2章

Somuchforthefallacyoflogicalform。Nowletusconsiderthepresentconditionofthelawasasubjectforstudy,andtheidealtowardwhichittends。WestillarefarfromthepointofviewwhichI

desiretoseereached。Noonehasreacheditorcanreachitasyet。

Weareonlyatthebeginningofaphilosophicalreaction,andofareconsiderationoftheworthofdoctrineswhichforthemostpartstillaretakenforgrantedwithoutanydeliberate,conscious,andsystematicquestioningoftheirgrounds。Thedevelopmentofourlawhasgoneonfornearlyathousandyears,likethedevelopmentofaplant,eachgenerationtakingtheinevitablenextstep,mind,likematter,simplyobeyingalawofspontaneousgrowth。Itisperfectlynaturalandrightthatitshouldhavebeenso。Imitationisanecessityofhumannature,ashasbeenillustratedbyaremarkableFrenchwriter,M。Tard,inanadmirablebook,LesLoisdel’Imitation。Mostofthethingswedo,wedofornobetterreasonthanthatourfathershavedonethemorthatourneighborsdothem,andthesameistrueofalargerpartthanwesuspectofwhatwethink。Thereasonisagoodone,becauseourshortlifegivesusnotimeforabetter,butitisnotthebest。Itdoesnotfollow,becauseweallarecompelledtotakeonfaithatsecondhandmostoftherulesonwhichwebaseouractionandourthought,thateachofusmaynottrytosetsomecornerofhisworldintheorderofreason,orthatallofuscollectivelyshouldnotaspiretocarryreasonasfarasitwillgothroughoutthewholedomain。Inregardtothelaw,itistrue,nodoubt,thatanevolutionistwillhesitatetoaffirmuniversalvalidityforhissocialideals,orfortheprincipleswhichhethinksshouldbeembodiedinlegislation。Heiscontentifhecanprovethembestforhereandnow。Hemaybereadytoadmitthatheknowsnothingaboutanabsolutebestinthecosmos,andeventhatheknowsnexttonothingaboutapermanentbestformen。Stillitistruethatabodyoflawismorerationalandmorecivilizedwheneveryruleitcontainsisreferredarticulatelyanddefinitelytoanendwhichitsubserves,andwhenthegroundsfordesiringthatendarestatedorarereadytobestatedinwords。

Atpresent,inverymanycases,ifwewanttoknowwhyaruleoflawhastakenitsparticularshape,andmoreorlessifwewanttoknowwhyitexistsatall,wegototradition。WefollowitintotheYearBooks,andperhapsbeyondthemtothecustomsoftheSalianFranks,andsomewhereinthepast,intheGermanforests,intheneedsofNormankings,intheassumptionsofadominantclass,intheabsenceofgeneralizedideas,wefindoutthepracticalmotiveforwhatnowbestisjustifiedbythemerefactofitsacceptanceandthatmenareaccustomedtoit。Therationalstudyoflawisstilltoalargeextentthestudyofhistory。Historymustbeapartofthestudy,becausewithoutitwecannotknowtheprecisescopeofruleswhichitisourbusinesstoknow。

Itisapartoftherationalstudy,becauseitisthefirststeptowardanenlightenedscepticism,thatis,towardsadeliberatereconsiderationoftheworthofthoserules。Whenyougetthedragonoutofhiscaveontotheplainandinthedaylight,youcancounthisteethandclaws,andseejustwhatishisstrength。Buttogethimoutisonlythefirststep。Thenextiseithertokillhim,ortotamehimandmakehimausefulanimal。Fortherationalstudyofthelawtheblacklettermanmaybethemanofthepresent,butthemanofthefutureisthemanofstatisticsandthemasterofeconomics。ItisrevoltingtohavenobetterreasonforaruleoflawthanthatsoitwaslaiddowninthetimeofHenryIV。Itisstillmorerevoltingifthegroundsuponwhichitwaslaiddownhavevanishedlongsince,andtherulesimplypersistsfromblindimitationofthepast。Iamthinkingofthetechnicalruleastotrespassabinitio,asitiscalled,whichIattemptedtoexplaininarecentMassachusettscase。

Letmetakeanillustration,whichcanbestatedinafewwords,toshowhowthesocialendwhichisaimedatbyaruleoflawisobscuredandonlypartiallyattainedinconsequenceofthefactthattheruleowesitsformtoagradualhistoricaldevelopment,insteadofbeingreshapedasawhole,withconsciousarticulatereferencetotheendinview。Wethinkitdesirabletopreventoneman’spropertybeingmisappropriatedbyanother,andsowemakelarcenyacrime。Theevilisthesamewhetherthemisappropriationismadebyamanintowhosehandstheownerhasputtheproperty,orbyonewhowrongfullytakesitaway。Butprimitivelawinitsweaknessdidnotgetmuchbeyondanefforttopreventviolence,andverynaturallymadeawrongfultaking,atrespass,partofitsdefinitionofthecrime。Inmodemtimesthejudgesenlargedthedefinitionalittlebyholdingthat,ifthewrong—doergetspossessionbyatrickordevice,thecrimeiscommitted。Thisreallywasgivinguptherequirementoftrespass,anditwouldhavebeenmorelogical,aswellastruertothepresentobjectofthelaw,toabandontherequirementaltogether。That,however,wouldhaveseemedtoobold,andwaslefttostatute。Statuteswerepassedmakingembezzlementacrime。Buttheforceoftraditioncausedthecrimeofembezzlementtoberegardedassofardistinctfromlarcenythattothisday,insomejurisdictionsatleast,aslipcorneriskeptopenforthievestocontend,ifindictedforlarceny,thattheyshouldhavebeenindictedforembezzlement,andifindictedforembezzlement,thattheyshouldhavebeenindictedforlarceny,andtoescapeonthatground。

Farmorefundamentalquestionsstillawaitabetteranswerthanthatwedoasourfathershavedone。Whathavewebetterthanablindguesstoshowthatthecriminallawinitspresentformdoesmoregoodthanharm?

Idonotstoptorefertotheeffectwhichithashadindegradingprisonersandinplungingthemfurtherintocrime,ortothequestionwhetherfineandimprisonmentdonotfallmoreheavilyonacriminal’swifeandchildrenthanonhimself。Ihaveinmindmorefar—reachingquestions。Doespunishmentdeter?Dowedealwithcriminalsonproperprinciples?AmodernschoolofContinentalcriminalistsplumesitselfontheformula,firstsuggested,itissaid,byGall,thatwemustconsiderthecriminalratherthanthecrime。Theformuladoesnotcarryusveryfar,buttheinquirieswhichhavebeenstartedlooktowardananswerofmyquestionsbasedonscienceforthefirsttime。Ifthetypicalcriminalisadegenerate,boundtoswindleortomurderbyasdeepseatedanorganicnecessityasthatwhichmakestherattlesnakebite,itisidletotalkofdeterringhimbytheclassicalmethodofimprisonment。Hemustbegotridof;hecannotbeimproved,orfrightenedoutofhisstructuralreaction。If,ontheotherhand,crime,likenormalhumanconduct,ismainlyamatterofimitation,punishmentfairlymaybeexpectedtohelptokeepitoutoffashion。

Thestudyofcriminalshasbeenthoughtbysomewellknownmenofsciencetosustaintheformerhypothesis。Thestatisticsoftherelativeincreaseofcrimeincrowdedplaceslikelargecities,whereexamplehasthegreatestchancetowork,andinlesspopulatedparts,wherethecontagionspreadsmoreslowly,havebeenusedwithgreatforceinfavorofthelatterview。Butthereisweightyauthorityforthebeliefthat,howeverthismaybe,\"notthenatureofthecrime,butthedangerousnessofthecriminal,constitutestheonlyreasonablelegalcriteriontoguidetheinevitablesocialreactionagainstthecriminal。\"

Theimpedimentstorationalgeneralization,whichIillustratedfromthelawoflarceny,areshownintheotherbranchesofthelaw,aswellasinthatofcrime。Takethelawoftortorcivilliabilityfordamagesapartfromcontractandthelike。Isthereanygeneraltheoryofsuchliability,orarethecasesinwhichitexistssimplytobeenumerated,andtobeexplainedeachonitsspecialground,asiseasytobelievefromthefactthattherightofactionforcertainwellknownclassesofwrongsliketrespassorslanderhasitsspecialhistoryforeachclass?

Ithinkthatthelawregardstheinflictionoftemporaldamagebyaresponsiblepersonasactionable,ifunderthecircumstancesknowntohimthedangerofhisactismanifestaccordingtocommonexperience,oraccordingtohisownexperienceifitismorethancommon,exceptincaseswhereuponspecialgroundsofpolicythelawrefusestoprotecttheplaintifforgrantsaprivilegetothedefendant。Ithinkthatcommonlymalice,intent,andnegligencemeanonlythatthedangerwasmanifesttoagreaterorlessdegree,underthecircumstancesknowntotheactor,althoughinsomecasesofprivilegemalicemaymeananactualmalevolentmotive,andsuchamotivemaytakeawayapermissionknowinglytoinflictharm,whichotherwisewouldbegrantedonthisorthatgroundofdominantpublicgood。ButwhenIstatedmyviewtoaveryeminentEnglishjudgetheotherday,hesaid,\"Youarediscussingwhatthelawoughttobe;asthelawis,youmustshowaright。Amanisnotliablefornegligenceunlessheissubjecttoaduty。\"Ifourdifferencewasmorethanadifferenceinwords,orwithregardtotheproportionbetweentheexceptionsandtherule,then,inhisopinion,liabilityforanactcannotbereferredtothemanifesttendencyoftheacttocausetemporaldamageingeneralasasufficientexplanation,butmustbereferredtothespecialnatureofthedamage,ormustbederivedfromsomespecialcircumstancesoutsideofthetendencyoftheact,forwhichnogeneralizedexplanationexists。Ithinkthatsuchaviewiswrong,butitisfamiliar,andIdaresaygenerallyisacceptedinEngland。

Everywherethebasisofprincipleistradition,tosuchanextentthatweevenareindangerofmakingtheroleofhistorymoreimportantthanitis。TheotherdayProfessorAmeswrotealearnedarticletoshow,amongotherthings,thatthecommonlawdidnotrecognizethedefenceoffraudinactionsuponspecialties,andthemoralmightseemtobethatthepersonalcharacterofthatdefenceisduetoitsequitableorigin。

Butif,asIsaid,allcontractsareformal,thedifferenceisnotmerelyhistorical,buttheoretic,betweendefectsofformwhichpreventacontractfrombeingmade,andmistakenmotiveswhichmanifestlycouldnotbeconsideredinanysystemthatweshouldcallrationalexceptagainstonewhowasprivytothosemotives。Itisnotconfinedtospecialties,butisofuniversalapplication。IoughttoaddthatIdonotsupposethatMr。AmeswoulddisagreewithwhatIsuggest。

However,ifweconsiderthelawofcontract,wefinditfullofhistory。

Thedistinctionsbetweendebt,covenant,andassumpsitaremerelyhistorical。Theclassificationofcertainobligationstopaymoney,imposedbythelawirrespectiveofanybargainasquasicontracts,ismerelyhistorical。Thedoctrineofconsiderationismerelyhistorical。

Theeffectgiventoasealistobeexplainedbyhistoryalone。

Considerationisamereform。Isitausefulform?Ifso,whyshoulditnotberequiredinallcontracts?Asealisamereform,andisvanishinginthescrollandinenactmentsthataconsiderationmustbegiven,sealornoseal。Whyshouldanymerelyhistoricaldistinctionbeallowedtoaffecttherightsandobligationsofbusinessmen?

SinceIwrotethisdiscourseIhavecomeonaverygoodexampleofthewayinwhichtraditionnotonlyoverridesrationalpolicy,butoverridesitafterfirsthavingbeenmisunderstoodandhavingbeengivenanewandbroaderscopethanithadwhenithadameaning。ItisthesettledlawofEnglandthatamaterialalterationofawrittencontractbyapartyavoidsitasagainsthim。Thedoctrineiscontrarytothegeneraltendencyofthelaw。Wedonottellajurythatifamaneverhasliedinoneparticularheistobepresumedtolieinall。Evenifamanhastriedtodefraud,itseemsnosufficientreasonforpreventinghimfromprovingthetruth。Objectionsoflikenatureingeneralgototheweight,nottotheadmissibility,ofevidence。Moreover,thisruleisirrespectiveoffraud,andisnotconfinedtoevidence。Itisnotmerelythatyoucannotusethewriting,butthatthecontractisatanend。Whatdoesthismean?Theexistenceofawrittencontractdependsonthefactthattheoffererandoffereehaveinterchangedtheirwrittenexpressions,notonthecontinuedexistenceofthoseexpressions。Butinthecaseofabond,theprimitivenotionwasdifferent。Thecontractwasinseparablefromtheparchment。Ifastrangerdestroyedit,ortoreofftheseal,oralteredit,theobligeecountnotrecover,howeverfreefromfault,becausethedefendant’scontract,thatis,theactualtangiblebondwhichhehadsealed,couldnotbeproducedintheforminwhichitboundhim。AboutahundredyearsagoLordKenyonundertooktousehisreasononthetradition,ashesometimesdidtothedetrimentofthelaw,and,notunderstandingit,saidhecouldseenoreasonwhywhatwastrueofabondshouldnotbetrueofothercontracts。Hisdecisionhappenedtoberight,asitconcernedapromissorynote,whereagainthecommonlawregardedthecontractasinseparablefromthepaperonwhichitwaswritten,butthereasoningwasgeneral,andsoonwasextendedtootherwrittencontracts,andvariousabsurdandunrealgroundsofpolicywereinventedtoaccountfortheenlargedrule。

Itrustthatnoonewillunderstandmetobespeakingwithdisrespectofthelaw,becauseIcriticiseitsofreely。Iveneratethelaw,andespeciallyoursystemoflaw,asoneofthevastestproductsofthehumanmind。NooneknowsbetterthanIdothecountlessnumberofgreatintellectsthathavespentthemselvesinmakingsomeadditionorimprovement,thegreatestofwhichistriflingwhencomparedwiththemightywhole。Ithasthefinaltitletorespectthatitexists,thatitisnotaHegeliandream,butapartofthelivesofmen。Butonemaycriticiseevenwhatonereveres。Lawisthebusinesstowhichmylifeisdevoted,andIshouldshowlessthandevotionifIdidnotdowhatinmeliestoimproveit,and,whenIperceivewhatseemstometheidealofitsfuture,ifIhesitatedtopointitoutandtopresstowarditwithallmyheart。

PerhapsIhavesaidenoughtoshowthepartwhichthestudyofhistorynecessarilyplaysintheintelligentstudyofthelawasitistoday。

IntheteachingofthisschoolandatCambridgeitisinnodangerofbeingundervalued。Mr。BigelowhereandMr。AmesandMr。Thayertherehavemadeimportantcontributionswhichwillnotbeforgotten,andinEnglandtherecenthistoryofearlyEnglishlawbySirFrederickPollockandMr。Maitlandhaslentthesubjectanalmostdeceptivecharm。Wemustbewareofthepitfallofantiquarianism,andmustrememberthatforourpurposesouronlyinterestinthepastisforthelightitthrowsuponthepresent。Ilookforwardtoatimewhenthepartplayedbyhistoryintheexplanationofdogmashallbeverysmall,andinsteadofingeniousresearchweshallspendourenergyonastudyoftheendssoughttobeattainedandthereasonsfordesiringthem。Asasteptowardthatidealitseemstomethateverylawyeroughttoseekanunderstandingofeconomics。Thepresentdivorcebetweentheschoolsofpoliticaleconomyandlawseemstomeanevidenceofhowmuchprogressinphilosophicalstudystillremainstobemade。Inthepresentstateofpoliticaleconomy,indeed,wecomeagainuponhistoryonalargerscale,buttherewearecalledontoconsiderandweightheendsoflegislation,themeansofattainingthem,andthecost。Welearnthatforeverythingwehavewegiveupsomethingelse,andwearetaughttosettheadvantagewegainagainsttheotheradvantagewelose,andtoknowwhatwearedoingwhenweelect。

Thereisanotherstudywhichsometimesisundervaluedbythepracticalminded,forwhichIwishtosayagoodword,althoughIthinkagooddealofprettypoorstuffgoesunderthatname。Imeanthestudyofwhatiscalledjurisprudence。Jurisprudence,asIlookatit,issimplylawinitsmostgeneralizedpart。Everyefforttoreduceacasetoaruleisaneffortofjurisprudence,althoughthenameasusedinEnglishisconfinedtothebroadestrulesandmostfundamentalconceptions。Onemarkofagreatlawyeristhatheseestheapplicationofthebroadestrules。ThereisastoryofaVermontjusticeofthepeacebeforewhomasuitwasbroughtbyonefarmeragainstanotherforbreakingachurn。

Thejusticetooktimetoconsider,andthensaidthathehaslookedthroughthestatutesandcouldfindnothingaboutchurns,andgavejudgmentforthedefendant。Thesamestateofmindisshowninallourcommondigestsandtextbooks。ApplicationsofrudimentaryrulesofcontractortortaretuckedawayundertheheadofRailroadsorTelegraphsorgotoswelltreatisesonhistoricalsubdivisions,suchasShippingorEquity,oraregatheredunderanarbitrarytitlewhichisthoughtlikelytoappealtothepracticalmind,suchasMercantileLaw。

Ifamangoesintolawitpaystobeamasterofit,andtobeamasterofitmeanstolookstraightthroughallthedramaticincidentsandtodiscernthetruebasisforprophecy。Therefore,itiswelltohaveanaccuratenotionofwhatyoumeanbylaw,byaright,byaduty,bymalice,intent,andnegligence,byownership,bypossession,andsoforth。Ihaveinmymindcasesinwhichthehighestcourtsseemtometohaveflounderedbecausetheyhadnoclearideasonsomeofthesethemes。Ihaveillustratedtheirimportancealready。Ifafurtherillustrationiswished,itmaybefoundbyreadingtheAppendixtoSirJamesStephen’sCriminalLawonthesubjectofpossession,andthenturningtoPollockandWright’senlightenedbook。SirJamesStephenisnottheonlywriterwhoseattemptstoanalyzelegalideashavebeenconfusedbystrivingforauselessquintessenceofallsystems,insteadofanaccurateanatomyofone。ThetroublewithAustinwasthathedidnotknowenoughEnglishlaw。ButstillitisapracticaladvantagetomasterAustin,andhispredecessors,HobbesandBentham,andhisworthysuccessors,HollandandPollock。SirFrederickPollock’srecentlittlebookistouchedwiththefelicitywhichmarksallhisworks,andiswhollyfreefromthepervertinginfluenceofRomanmodels。

Theadviceoftheelderstoyoungmenisveryapttobeasunrealasalistofthehundredbestbooks。AtleastinmydayIhadmyshareofsuchcounsels,andhighamongtheunrealitiesIplacetherecommendationtostudytheRomanlaw。IassumethatsuchadvicemeansmorethancollectingafewLatinmaximswithwhichtoornamentthediscourse——thepurposeforwhichLordCokerecommendedBracton。Ifthatisallthatiswanted,thetitleDeRegulisJurisAntiquicanbereadinanhour。I

assumethat,ifitiswelltostudytheRomanLaw,itiswelltostudyitasaworkingsystem。Thatmeansmasteringasetoftechnicalitiesmoredifficultandlessunderstoodthanourown,andstudyinganothercourseofhistorybywhichevenmorethanourowntheRomanlawmustexplained。Ifanyonedoubtsme,lethimreadKeller’sDerRomischeCivilProcessunddieActionen,atreatiseonthepraetor’sedict,Muirhead’smostinterestingHistoricalIntroductiontothePrivateLawofRome,and,togivehimthebestchance,Sohn’sadmirableInstitutes。

No。Thewaytogainaliberalviewofyoursubjectisnottoreadsomethingelse,buttogettothebottomofthesubjectitself。Themeansofdoingthatare,inthefirstplace,tofollowtheexistingbodyofdogmaintoitshighestgeneralizationsbythehelpofjurisprudence;

next,todiscoverfromhistoryhowithascometobewhatitis;andfinally,sofarasyoucan,toconsidertheendswhichtheseveralrulesseektoaccomplish,thereasonswhythoseendsaredesired,whatisgivenuptogainthem,andwhethertheyareworththeprice。

Wehavetoolittletheoryinthelawratherthantoomuch,especiallyonthisfinalbranchofstudy。WhenIwasspeakingofhistory,Imentionedlarcenyasanexampletoshowhowthelawsufferedfromnothavingembodiedinaclearformarulewhichwillaccomplishitsmanifestpurpose。Inthatcasethetroublewasduetothesurvivalofformscomingfromatimewhenamorelimitedpurposewasentertained。Letmenowgiveanexampletoshowthepracticalimportance,forthedecisionofactualcases,ofunderstandingthereasonsofthelaw,bytakinganexamplefromruleswhich,sofarasIknow,neverhavebeenexplainedortheorizedaboutinanyadequateway。Irefertostatutesoflimitationandthelawofprescription。Theendofsuchrulesisobvious,butwhatisthejustificationfordeprivingamanofhisrights,apureevilasfarasitgoes,inconsequenceofthelapseoftime?Sometimesthelossofevidenceisreferredto,butthatisasecondarymatter。Sometimesthedesirabilityofpeace,butwhyispeacemoredesirableaftertwentyyearsthanbefore?Itisincreasinglylikelytocomewithouttheaidoflegislation。Sometimesitissaidthat,ifamanneglectstoenforcehisrights,hecannotcomplainif,afterawhile,thelawfollowshisexample。Nowifthisisallthatcanbesaidaboutit,youprobablywilldecideacaseIamgoingtoput,fortheplaintiff;ifyoutaketheviewwhichIshallsuggest,youpossiblywilldecideitforthedefendant。Amanissuedfortrespassuponland,andjustifiesunderarightofway。Heprovesthathehasusedthewayopenlyandadverselyfortwentyyears,butitturnsoutthattheplaintiffhadgrantedalicensetoapersonwhomhereasonablysupposedtobethedefendant’sagent,althoughnotsoinfact,andthereforehadassumedthattheuseofthewaywaspermissive,inwhichcasenorightwouldbegained。Hasthedefendantgainedarightornot?Ifhisgainingitstandsonthefaultandneglectofthelandownerintheordinarysense,asseemscommonlytobesupposed,therehasbeennosuchneglect,andtherightofwayhasnotbeenacquired。ButifIwerethedefendant’scounsel,I

shouldsuggestthatthefoundationoftheacquisitionofrightsbylapseoftimeistobelookedforinthepositionofthepersonwhogainsthem,notinthatoftheloser。SirHenryMainehasmadeitfashionabletoconnectthearchaicnotionofpropertywithprescription。Buttheconnectionisfurtherbackthanthefirstrecordedhistory。Itisinthenatureofman’smind。Athingwhichyouhaveenjoyedandusedasyourownforalongtime,whetherpropertyoranopinion,takesrootinyourbeingandcannotbetornawaywithoutyourresentingtheactandtryingtodefendyourself,howeveryoucamebyit。Thelawcanasknobetterjustificationthanthedeepestinstinctsofman。Itisonlybywayofreplytothesuggestionthatyouaredisappointingtheformerowner,thatyourefertohisneglecthavingallowedthegradualdissociationbetweenhimselfandwhatheclaims,andthegradualassociationofitwithanother。Ifheknowsthatanotherisdoingactswhichontheirfaceshowthatheisonthewaytowardestablishingsuchanassociation,Ishouldarguethatinjusticetothatotherhewasboundathisperiltofindoutwhethertheotherwasactingunderhispermission,toseethathewaswarned,and,ifnecessary,stopped。

Ihavebeenspeakingaboutthestudyofthelaw,andIhavesaidnexttonothingaboutwhatcommonlyistalkedaboutinthatconnection——text—

booksandthecasesystem,andallthemachinerywithwhichastudentcomesmostimmediatelyincontact。NorshallIsayanythingaboutthem。

Theoryismysubject,notpracticaldetails。Themodesofteachinghavebeenimprovedsincemytime,nodoubt,butabilityandindustrywillmastertherawmaterialwithanymode。Theoryisthemostimportantpartofthedogmaofthelaw,asthearchitectisthemostimportantmanwhotakespartinthebuildingofahouse。Themostimportantimprovementsofthelasttwenty—fiveyearsareimprovementsintheory。

Itisnottobefearedasunpractical,for,tothecompetent,itsimplymeansgoingtothebottomofthesubject。Fortheincompetent,itsometimesistrue,ashasbeensaid,thataninterestingeneralideasmeansanabsenceofparticularknowledge。Irememberinarmydaysreadingofayouthwho,beingexaminedforthelowestgradeandbeingaskedaquestionaboutsquadrondrill,answeredthatheneverhadconsideredtheevolutionsoflessthantenthousandmen。Buttheweakandfoolishmustbelefttotheirfolly。Thedangeristhattheableandpracticalmindedshouldlookwithindifferenceordistrustuponideastheconnectionofwhichwiththeirbusinessisremote。Iheardastory,theotherday,ofamanwhohadavalettowhomhepaidhighwages,subjecttodeductionforfaults。Oneofhisdeductionswas,\"Forlackofimagination,fivedollars。\"Thelackisnotconfinedtovalets。

Theobjectofambition,power,generallypresentsitselfnowadaysintheformofmoneyalone。Moneyisthemostimmediateform,andisaproperobjectofdesire。\"Thefortune,\"saidRachel,\"isthemeasureofintelligence。\"Thatisagoodtexttowakenpeopleoutofafool’sparadise。But,asHegelsays,\"Itisintheendnottheappetite,buttheopinion,whichhastobesatisfied。\"Toanimaginationofanyscopethemostfar—reachingformofpowerisnotmoney,itisthecommandofideas。Ifyouwantgreatexamples,readMr。LeslieStephen’sHistoryofEnglishThoughtintheEighteenthCentury,andseehowahundredyearsafterhisdeaththeabstractspeculationsofDescarteshadbecomeapracticalforcecontrollingtheconductofmen。ReadtheworksofthegreatGermanjurists,andseehowmuchmoretheworldisgovernedtodaybyKantthanbyBonaparte。WecannotallbeDescartesorKant,butweallwanthappiness。Andhappiness,Iamsurefromhavingknownmanysuccessfulmen,cannotbewonsimplybybeingcounselforgreatcorporationsandhavinganincomeoffiftythousanddollars。Anintellectgreatenoughtowintheprizeneedsotherfoodbesidessuccess。Theremoterandmoregeneralaspectsofthelawarethosewhichgiveituniversalinterest。Itisthroughthemthatyounotonlybecomeagreatmasterinyourcalling,butconnectyoursubjectwiththeuniverseandcatchanechooftheinfinite,aglimpseofitsunfathomableprocess,ahintoftheuniversallaw。