Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/287

Rh “ ‘That's not so easy to do—not so easy! And I am now in that state of mind that I could throw myself into the trench yonder!’

“ ‘All this comes because you of the working class—for I can see that you are one of them—are without religion.’

“ ‘That is true, very true, madam. One does not think about such things. I have been shooting all day at a mark, to console myself.’

“ ‘And that has not, certainly done you much good?’

“ ‘Not the least! But this is what it is; one must divert, cheer one's self up;—that is what we call civilization. One must always have a pleasure before one as an object.’

“ ‘But yet, you cannot always have pleasure as an object of life?’

“ ‘Oh, yes, madam; it is really so; one must always think of the enjoyment; one styles it civilization. But after all, it has little enough to do with it; the girls put on fine clothes, and have a craving after pleasure; the men go to the clubs and amuse themselves, whilst their wives stay at home with the children, sometimes in trouble and want. But so it is—one thinks above every thing else about amusing one's self, and does not think upon much else.’

“ ‘You are a journeyman?’

“ ‘Yes, but I am well off; my earnings are good.’

“ ‘You seem to me to be well off, and also to have good abilities; and I plainly perceive that you know how you ought to employ them. I wish with all my heart that you would act according to such knowledge,