Mr. Curtis had a broad, loving
nature and sympathies, and if the people had discovered them, they would
have liked him. But the reserve which comes with culture makes one
largely conceal one's true feelings. Super-refinement puts a man out of
sympathy with much that is basic in humanity, and it needs a great love,
or a great sacrifice of feeling, to condone it. It is hard work for what
Watts calls a tough, and such a man, to understand and admire one
another."
"But don't you think," said Mrs. D'Alloi, "that the people of our class
are better and finer?"
"The expression 'noblesse oblige' shows that," said madame.
"My experience has led me to think otherwise," said Peter. "Of course
there is a difference of standards, of ideals, and of education, in
people, and therefore there are differences in conduct. But for their
knowledge of what is right and wrong, I do not think the so-called
better classes, which should, in truth, be called the prosperous
classes, live up to their own standards of right any more than do the
poor.
Pages:
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565