are like kings, in that their real figure,
character, and life can never be known nor justly appreciated, because
they are always seen from too near or too far. Factitious merit has a
way of asking questions and saying little; and understands the art of
putting others forward to save the necessity of posing before them;
then, with a happy knack of its own, it draws and attaches others by
the thread of the ruling passion of self-interest, keeping men of far
greater abilities to play like puppets, and despising those whom it has
brought down to its own level. The petty fixed idea naturally prevails;
it has the advantage of persistence over the plasticity of great
thoughts.

The observer who should seek to estimate and appraise the negative
values of these empty heads needs subtlety rather than superior wit for
the task; patience is a more necessary part of his judicial outfit
than great mental grasp, cunning and tact rather than any elevation or
greatness of ideas. Yet skilfully as such usurpers can cover and
defend their weak points, it is difficult to delude wife and mother
and children and the house-friend of the family; fortunately for them,
however, these persons almost always keep a secret which in a manner
touches the honor of all, and not unfrequently go so far as to help to
foist the imposture upon the public. And if, thanks to such domestic
conspiracy, many a noodle passes current for a man of ability, on the
other hand many another who has real ability is taken for a noodle to
redress the balance, and the total average of this kind of false coin in
circulation in the state is a pretty constant quantity.

Bethink yourself now of the part to be played by a clever woman quick to
think and feel, mated with a husband of this kind, and can you not see
a vision of lives full of sorrow and self-sacrifice? Nothing upon
earth can repay such hearts so full of love and tender tact. Put a
strong-willed woman in this wretched situation, and she will force a
way out of it for herself by a crime, like Catherine II., whom men
nevertheless style "the Great." But these women are not all seated upon
thrones, they are for the most part doomed to domestic unhappiness none
the less terrible because obscure.

Those who seek consolation in this present world for their woes often
effect nothing but a change of ills if they remain faithful to their
duties; or they commit a sin if they break the laws for their pleasure.
All these refle