,a ,,*ri/mas ,,s]mon    by    ,,rob]t   
,,l\is ,,/ev5son    ,new ,york    #aijj 
,a ,,*ri/mas ,,s]mon      ,by ! "t ?is  
pap] appe>s1 ,i %all h be5 talk+ =      
twelve  mon?s2#a & x is ?\ght ,i %\ld   
take my leave 9 a =mal &  seasonable    
mann]4 ,val$ictory eloqu5ce is r>e1 &   
dea?-b$ say+s  h n (t5 hit ! m>k ( !    
occasion4 ,*>les ,second1 wit &         
sceptic1 a man ^: life _h be5 "o long   
lesson 9 human incr$ulity1  an easy-go+ 
comrade1 a manoeuvr+ k+--rememb]$ &     
embodi$ all  8 wit & scepticism along ) 
m ?an 8 usual good hum\r 9 !  fam\s ,i  
am afraid1 g5tlem51 ,i am an            
unconscionable "t a-dy+4    ,footnote   
#a3 i4e4 ,9 ! pages ( ,scribn]'s        
,magaz9e 7#ahhh74          ,i      ,an  
unconscionable "t a-dy+--!re is !       
picture 7,i am afraid1  g5tlem517 ( y\r 
life & ( m9e4 ,! s&s run out1 & ! h\rs  
are numb]$ & imput$1 & ! days g by2 & :5
 ! la/ (  ^! f9ds u1 we h be5 a long "t 
dy+1 & :at else8 ,! v  l5g? is some?+1  
if we rea* t h\r ( sep>ation undi%on\r$2

  & to h liv$ at all is d\btless 79 !   
soldi]ly expression7 to  h s]v$4 ,!re is
 a tale 9 ,tacitus ( h[ ! vet]ans mut9i$
 9  ! ,g]man wild]ness2 ( h[ !y mobb$   
,g]manicus1 clam\r+ to g  home2 & ( h[1 
seiz+ _! g5]al's h&1 ^! old1 w>-worn    
exiles pass$ 8 f+] along _! too?less    
gums4 ,sunt lacrymae  r]um3 ?is 0 ! mo/ 
eloqu5t ( ! songs ( ,simeon4 ,& :5 a    
man has liv$ to a fair age1 he be>s 8   
m>ks ( s]vice4 ,he may h  nev] be5      
rem>k$ ^u ! brea* at ! head ( ! army2 at
 lea/ he  %all h lo/ 8 tee? on ! camp   
bread4    ,! idealism ( s]i\s p 9 ?is   
age ( ours is ( a noble  "*4 ,x nev]    
seems to !m t !y h s]v$ en\gh2 !y  h a  
f9e impati5ce ( _! virtues4 ,x 7 p]haps 
m mode/ to  be s+ly ?ankful t we are no 
worse4 ,x is n only our enemies1  ^?    
desp]ate *>act]s--x is we ourselves :o  
"k n :at we  d2--!nce spr+s ! glimm]+   
hope t p]haps we d bett] ?an  we ?9k3 t 
to scramble ?r\gh ?is r&om bus9ess ) h&s
  reasonably clean1 to h play$ ! "p ( a 
man or woman ) "s  reasonable fulness1  

to h (t5 resi/$ ! diabolic1 & at ! end  
to be /ill resi/+ x1 is = ! poor human  
soldi] to h done  "r well4 ,to ask to   
see "s fruit ( our endeav\r is b a      
transc5d5tal way ( s]v+ = rew>d2 & :at  
we take to be  contempt ( self is only  
gre$ ( hire4    ,& aga9 if we require s 
mu* ( ourselves1 %all we n require mu*  
( o!rs8 ,if we d n g5ially judge our own
 defici5cies1 is x n  to be fe>$ we %all
 be ev5 /]n to ! trespasses ( o!rs8 ,&  
he  :o 7look+ back ^u 8 own life7 c see 
no m ?an t he has  be5 unconscionably   
long a-dy+1 w he n be tempt$ to ?9k 8   
neighb\r unconscionably long ( gett+    
hang$8 ,x is probable t  ne>ly all :o   
?9k ( conduct at all1 ?9k ( x too mu*2 x
 is  c]ta9 we all ?9k too mu* ( s94 ,we 
are n damn$ = do+ wrong1  b = n do+ "r2 
,*ri/ w\ld nev] he> ( negative morality2
  ?\ %alt 0 ev] 8 ^w1 ) :i* he sup]s$$  
?\ %alt  n4 ,to make our idea ( morality
 c5tre on =bidd5 acts is to defile  !   
imag9ation & to introduce into our      
judgm5ts ( our fell[-m5 a  secret elem5t

 ( gu/o4 ,if a ?+ is wrong = u1 we %\ld 
n dwell  ^u ! ?\ght ( x2 or we %all soon
 dwell ^u x ) inv]t$  pleasure4 ,if we  
_c drive x f our m9ds--"o ?+ ( two3 ei!r
  our cre$ is 9 ! wrong & we mu/ m      
indulg5tly remodel x2 or  else1 if our  
morality be 9 ! "r1 we are crim9al      
lunatics &  %\ld place our p]sons 9     
re/ra9t4 ,a m>k ( su* un:olesomely      
divid$ m9ds is ! passion = int]f]5ce )  
o!rs3 ! ,fox  )\t ! ,tail 0 ( ?is bre$1 
b _h 7if 8 biograph] is to be  tru/$7 a 
c]ta9 antique civility n[ out ( date4 ,a
 man may h a  flaw1 a weakness1 t unfits
 him = ! duties ( life1 t spoils  8     
temp]1 t ?reat5s 8 integrity1 or t      
betrays him into  cruelty4 ,x has to be 
conqu]$2 b x mu/ nev] be suff]$ to      
engross 8 ?\ghts4 ,! true duties lie all
 ^u ! f>!r side1  & mu/ be att5d$ to ) a
 :ole m9d s soon z ?is prelim9>y  cle>+ 
( ! decks has be5 effect$4 ,9 ord] t he 
may be k9d  & hone/1 x may be ne$ful he 
%\ld become a total ab/a9]2 let  him    
become s !n1 & ! next day let him =get !

 circum/ance4  ,try+ to be k9d & hone/ w
 require all 8 ?\ghts2 a mortifi$       
appetite is nev] a wise companion2 9 s  
f> z he has _h to mortify  an appetite1 
he w /ill be ! worse man2 & ( su* an "o 
a great  deal ( *e]fulness w be requir$ 
9 judg+ life1 & a great deal  ( humility
 9 judg+ o!rs4    ,x may be argu$ aga9 t
 dissatisfaction ) our life's endeav\r  
spr+s 9 "s degree f dulness4 ,we require
 high] tasks1 because  we d n recognise 
! height ( ^? we h4 ,try+ to be k9d &   
hone/ seems an affair too simple & too  
inconsequ5tial = g5tlem5  ( our h]oic   
m\ld2 we _h r set ourselves to some?+   
bold1  ardu\s1 & conclusive2 we _h r    
f\nd a s*ism or suppress a  h]esy1 cut  
(f a h& or mortify an appetite4 ,b !    
task be=e u1  :i* is to co-endure ) our 
exi/5ce1 is r "o ( microscopic  f95ess1 
& ! h]oism requir$ is t ( pati5ce4 ,!re 
is no  cutt+ ( ! ,gordian knots ( life2 
ea* mu/ be smil+ly unravell$4    ,to be 
hone/1 to be k9d--to e>n a little & to  
sp5d a little less1  to make ^u ! :ole a

 family happi] = 8 pres5ce1 to r5\nce   
:5 t %all be necess>y & n be embitt]$1  
to keep a few  fri5ds b ^! )\t          
capitulation--above all1 on ! same grim 
condition1 to keep fri5ds ) himself--"h 
is a task = all t a  man has ( =titude &
 delicacy4 ,he has an ambiti\s s\l :o   
w\ld  ask m2 he has a hopeful _s :o %\ld
 look 9 su* an ent]prise  to be         
successful4 ,!re is inde$ "o elem5t 9   
human de/9y t n  bl9dness itself c      
controv]t3 :atev] else we are int5d$ to 
d1 we  are n int5d$ to succe$2 failure  
is ! fate allott$4 ,x is s 9  e art &   
/udy2 x is s above all 9 ! cont95t art (
 liv+  well4 ,"h is a pleasant ?\ght = !
 ye>'s end or = ! end (  life3 ,only    
self-deception w be satisfi$1 & !re ne$ 
be no  despair = ! despair]4            
,,ii      ,b ,*ri/mas is n only !       
mile-m>k ( ano!r ye>1 mov+ u to  ?\ghts 
( self-exam9ation3 x is a season1 f all 
its associations1  :e!r dome/ic or      
religi\s1 sugge/+ ?\ghts ( joy4 ,a man  
dissatisfi$ ) 8 endeav\rs is a man      

tempt$ to sadness4 ,& 9 !  mid/ ( !     
w9t]1 :5 8 life runs l[e/ & he is rem9d$
 ( !  empty *airs ( 8 belov$1 x is well 
he %\ld be condemn$ to ?is  fa%ion ( !  
smil+ face4 ,noble disappo9tm5t1 noble  
self-d5ial are  n to be admir$1 n ev5 to
 be p>don$1 if !y br+ bitt]ness4  ,x is 
"o ?+ to ent] ! k+dom ( heav5 maim2     
ano!r to maim  y\rself & /ay )\t4 ,& !  
k+dom ( heav5 is ( !  *ildlike1 ( ^? :o 
are easy to please1 :o love & :o give   
pleasure4 ,mighty m5 ( _! h&s1 ! smit]s 
& ! build]s &  ! judges1 h liv$ long &  
done /]nly & yet pres]v$ ?is  lovely "*2
 & among our c>pet int]e/s & twop5ny    
conc]ns1  ! %ame 7 indelible if we %\ld 
lose x4 ,g5tl5ess &  *e]fulness1 ^! come
 be=e all morality2 !y are ! p]fect     
duties4 ,& x is ! tr\ble ) moral m5 t !y
 h nei!r "o  nor o!r4 ,x 0 ! moral man1 
! ,ph>isee1 :om ,*ri/ c\ld n  away )4   
,if y\r morals make y dre>y1 dep5d ^u x 
!y are  wrong4 ,i d n say give !m up1 = 
!y may be all y h2 b  conceal !m l a    
vice1 le/ !y %\ld spoil ! lives ( bett] 

& simpl] p4    ,a /range temptation     
att5ds ^u man3 to keep 8 eye on         
pleasures1  ev5 :5 he w n %>e 9 !m2 to  
aim all 8 morals aga9/  !m4 ,?is v ye> a
 lady 7s+ul> iconocla/67 proclaim$ a    
crusade  aga9/ dolls2 & ! racy s]mon    
aga9/ lu/ is a feature ( ! age4  ,i     
v5ture to call su* morali/s ins9c]e4 ,at
 any excess or p]v]sion  ( a natural    
appetite1 _! lyre s\nds ( itself )      
reli%+  d5unciations2 b = all displays (
 ! truly diabolic--envy1 malice1  ! mean
 lie1 ! mean sil5ce1 ! calumni\s tru?1 !
 backbit]1 !  petty tyrant1 ! peevi%    
poison] ( family life--_! /&>d is  q    
diff]5t4 ,^! are wrong1 !y w admit1 yet 
someh[ n s  wrong2 !re is no zeal 9 _!  
assault on !m1 no secret elem5t (  gu/o 
w>ms up ! s]mon2 x is = ?+s n wrong 9   
!mselves t  !y res]ve ! *oice/ ( _!     
indignation4 ,a man may naturally       
disclaim all moral k9%ip ) ! ,rev]5d    
,mr4 ,zola or ! hobgobl9  old lady ( !  
dolls2 = ^! are gross & nak$ in/ances4  
,&  yet 9 ea* ( u "s simil> elem5t      

resides4 ,! sight ( a pleasure  9 :i* we
 _c or else w n %>e moves u to a        
p>ticul>  impati5ce4 ,x may be because  
we are envi\s1 or because we are  sad1  
or because we dislike noise & romp+--be+
 s ref9$1 or  because--be+ s            
philosophic--we h an ov]weigh+ s5se (   
life's  gravity3 at lea/1 z we g on 9   
ye>s1 we are all tempt$ to fr[n  ^u our 
neighb\r's pleasures4 ,p are n[adays s  
fond (  resi/+ temptations2 "h is "o to 
be resi/$4 ,!y are fond (  self-d5ial2  
"h is a prop5sity t _c be too           
p]emptorily  d5i$4 ,!re is an idea      
abroad among moral p t !y %\ld  make _! 
neighb\rs good4 ,"o p]son ,i h to make  
good3 myself4 ,b  my duty to my neighb\r
 is mu* m ne>ly express$ by say+ t  ,i h
 to make him happy--if ,i may4          
,,iii      ,happ9ess & goodness1 accord+
 to cant+ morali/s1 /& 9 !  relation (  
effect & cause4 ,!re 0 nev] any?+ less  
prov$ or  less probable3 our happ9ess is
 nev] 9 our own h&s2 we inh]it our      
con/itution2 we /& buffet among fri5ds &

 enemies2 we may be s  built z to feel a
 sne] or an asp]sion ) unusual ke5ness1 
& s  circum/anc$ z to be unusually      
expos$ to !m2 we may h n]ves  v s5sitive
 to pa91 & be afflict$ ) a disease v    
pa9ful4  ,virtue w n help u1 & x is n   
meant to help u4 ,x is n ev5  its own   
rew>d1 except = ! self-c5tr$ &--,i _h   
almo/ said--!  unamiable4 ,no man c     
pacify 8 consci5ce2 if quiet be :at he  
want1  he %all d bett] to let t organ   
p]i% f disuse4 ,& to avoid  ! p5alties (
 ! law1 & ! m9or capitis dim9utio (     
social  o/racism1 is an affair (        
wisdom--( cunn+1 if y w--& n (  virtue4 
,9 8 own life1 !n1 a man is n to expect 
happ9ess1 only to pr(it  by x gladly :5 
x %all arise2 he is on duty "h2 he kn[s 
n h[  or :y1 & does n ne$ to "k2 he kn[s
 n = :at hire1 & mu/  n ask4 ,someh[ or 
o!r1 ?\gh he does n "k :at goodness is1 
he  mu/ try to be good2 someh[ or o!r1  
?\gh he _c tell :at w  d x1 he mu/ try  
to give happ9ess to o!rs4 ,& no d\bt !re
 comes  9 "h a frequ5t cla% ( duties4   

,h[ f> is he to make 8 neighb\r  happy8 
,h[ f> mu/ he respect t smil+ face1 s   
easy to cl\d1 s  h>d to bright5 aga98 ,&
 h[ f>1 on ! o!r side1 is he b\nd to  be
 8 bro!r's keep] & ! prophet ( 8 own    
morality8 ,h[ f>  mu/ he res5t evil8    
,! difficulty is t we h little guidance2
 ,*ri/'s say+s on !  po9t be+ h>d to    
reconcile ) ea* o!r1 & 7! mo/ ( !m7  h>d
 to accept4 ,b ! tru? ( 8 tea*+ w\ld    
seem to be ?is3 9  our own p]son &      
=tune1 we %\ld be ready to accept & to  
p>don  all2 x is our *eek we are to     
turn1 r coat t we are to give  away to !
 man :o has tak5 our cloak4 ,b :5       
ano!r's face is  buffet$1 p]haps a      
little ( ! lion w become u be/4 ,t we   
are  to suff] o!rs to be injur$1 & /&   
by1 is n conceivable &  surely n        
desirable4 ,rev5ge1 says ,bacon1 is a   
k9d ( wild ju/ice2  its judgm5ts at lea/
 are deliv]$ by an insane judge2 & 9 our
  own qu>rel we c see no?+ truly & d    
no?+ wisely4 ,b 9 !  qu>rel ( our       
neighb\r1 let u be m bold4 ,"o p]son's  

happ9ess  is z sacr$ z ano!r's2 :5 we _c
 def5d bo?1 let u def5d  "o ) a /\t     
he>t4 ,x is only 9 s f> z we are do+    
?is1 t  we h any "r to int]f]e3 ! def5ce
 ( ,b is our only gr\nd (  action aga9/ 
,a4 ,a has z good a "r to g to ! devil1 
z we to g  to glory2 & nei!r kn[s :at he
 does4    ,! tru? is t all ^!           
int]v5tions & d5unciations & militant   
mong]+s ( moral half-tru?s1 ?\gh !y be  
sometimes ne$ful1  ?\gh !y are (t5      
enjoyable1 d yet belong to an inf]ior   
grade (  duties4 ,ill-temp] & envy &    
rev5ge f9d "h an ars5al ( pi\s          
disguises2 ?is is ! playgr\nd ( inv]t$  
lu/s4 ,) a little m  pati5ce & a little 
less temp]1 a g5tl] & wis] me?od might  
be  f\nd 9 almo/ e case2 & ! knot t we  
cut by "s f9e  heady qu>rel-sc5e 9      
private life1 or1 9 public affairs1 by  
"s  d5unciatory act aga9/ :at we are    
pleas$ to call our neighb\r's  vices1   
might yet h be5 unwov5 by ! h& (        
sympa?y4          ,,iv      ,to look    
back ^u ! pa/ ye>1 & see h[ little we h 

/riv5  & to :at small purpose3 & h[ (t5 
we h be5 c[>dly &  hung back1 or        
tem]>i\s & ru%$ unwisely 92 & h[ e day  
& all day long we h transgress$ ! law ( 
k9dness2--x may  seem a p>adox1 b 9 !   
bitt]ness ( ^! discov]ies1 a c]ta9      
consolation resides4 ,life is n design$ 
to m9i/] to a man's vanity4  ,he goes ^u
 8 long bus9ess mo/ ( ! "t ) a hang+    
head1 &  all ! "t l a bl9d *ild4 ,full (
 rew>ds & pleasures z x  is--s t to see 
! day break or ! moon rise1 or to meet a
 fri5d1  or to he> ! d9n]-call :5 he is 
hungry1 fills him ) surpris+  joys--?is 
_w is yet = him no abid+ city4          
,fri5d%ips fall  ?r\gh1 heal? fails1    
we>9ess assails him2 ye> aft] ye>1 he   
mu/  ?umb ! h>dly v>y+ record ( 8 own   
weakness & folly4 ,x is a  fri5dly      
process ( deta*m5t4 ,:5 ! "t comes t he 
%\ld g1  !re ne$ be few illusions left  
ab\t himself4 ,"h lies "o :o meant      
well1 tri$ a little1 fail$ mu*3--surely 
t may be 8 epitaph1 (  :i* he ne$ n be  
a%am$4 ,nor w he compla9 at ! summons   

:i*  calls a defeat$ soldi] f ! field3  
defeat$1 ay1 if he 7 ,paul  or ,m>cus   
,aurelius6--b if !re is /ill "o in* (   
fight 9 8 old  _s1 undi%on\r$4 ,! fai?  
:i* su/a9$ him 9 8 life-long  bl9dness &
 life-long disappo9tm5t w sc>ce ev5 be  
requir$ 9  ?is la/ =mality ( lay+ d[n 8 
arms4 ,give him a m>* ) 8  old bones2   
!re1 out ( ! glori\s sun-col\r$ e>?1 out
 ( ! day  & ! du/ & ! ec/asy--!re goes  
ano!r ,fai?ful ,failure6    ,f a rec5t  
book ( v]se1 :]e !re is m ?an "o su*    
beautiful  & manly poem1 ,i take ?is    
memorial piece3 x says bett] ?an ,i c1  
:at ,i love to ?9k2 let x be our p>t+   
^w4        ,a late l>k twitt]s f ! quiet
 skies2      ,& f ! we/1      ,:]e !    
sun1 8 day's "w end$1      ,l+]s z 9    
cont5t1      ,!re falls on ! old1 gray  
city      ,an influ5ce lum9\s & s]5e1   
,a %9+ peace4        ,! smoke asc5ds    
,9 a rosy-&-gold5 haze4 ,! spires       
,%9e1 & are *ang$4 ,9 ! valley          
,%ad[s rise4 ,! l>k s+s on4 ,! sun1     
,clos+ 8 b5$iction1      ,s9ks1 & !     

d>k5+ air      ,?rills ) a s5se ( !     
triumph+ night--      ,night1 ) h] tra9 
( />s      ,& h] great gift ( sleep4    
,s be my pass+6      ,my task accompli%$
 & ! long day done1      ,my wages tak51
 & 9 my he>t      ,"s late l>k s++1     
,let me be ga!r$ to ! quiet we/1      ,!
 sund[n spl5did & s]5e1      ,dea?4#b   
#ahhh4    ,footnote #b3 ,f ,a ,book (   
,v]ses by ,william ,erne/ ,h5ley4 ,d4   
,nutt1  #ahhh4