mples of such men as James are much more
numerous than might be supposed. We seldom see them in such flabby
dependence upon the will of an individual as would make them
conspicuous; but they are about us every day, and in large numbers, in
their weak dependence upon public opinion,--their bondage to the desire
that other men should think well of them. The human parasites that are
daily feeding on social recognition are unconsciously in the process of
losing their individuality and their intelligence; and it would be a
sad surprise to them if they could see themselves clearly as they
really are.

Public opinion is a necessary and true protection to the world as it
is, because if it were not for public opinion, many men and women would
dare to be more wicked than they are. But that is no reason why
intelligent men should order their lives on certain lines just because
their neighbors do,--just because it is the custom. If the custom is a
good custom, it can be followed intelligently, and because we recognize
it as good, but it should not be followed only because our neighbors
follow it. Then, if our neighbors follow the custom for the same
intelligent reason, it will bring us and them into free and happy
sympathy.

Neither should a man hesitate to do right, positively and fearlessly,
in the face of the public assertion that he is doing wrong. He should,
of course, look himself over many times to be sure that he is doing
right, according to his own best light, and he should be willing to
change his course of action just as fearlessly if he finds he has made
a mistake; but, having once decided, he will respect public opinion
much more truly by acting quietly against it with an open mind, than he
would if he refused to do right, because he was afraid of what others
would think of him. To defy carelessly the opinion of others is false
independence, and has in it the elements of fear, however fearless it
may seem; but to respectfully ignore it for the sake of what is true,
and good, and useful, is sure to enlarge the public heart and to help,
it eventually to a clearer charity. Individual dependence and
individual independence are absolutely necessary to a well-adjusted
balance. It is just as necessary to the individual men of a community
as to the individual organs of the body.

It is not uncommon for a person to say:--

"I must give up So-and-so; I must not see so much of him,--I am getting
so dependent upon him."

If