"Ambition is a good thing," said the Observer, deftly flicking the ash
from his cigar. "It provides one with a certain amount of incentive
which may prove useful in developing latent resources, but it ought to
be carried about in a glass case and labeled, 'Handle with care.'

"Cæsar had an ambition, but he overworked it with disastrous effect.
Napoleon got good results from his for a while, but it finally gave
out on him, and William Jennings Bryan, the latest prominent victim
of ambition is in such a bad way that he has to ride on tourist
cars, like 'common people.' This may be due to a beautiful spirit of
consistency on his part, as editor of the 'Commoner,' but it is not in
line with his ambition. All of which goes to show that ambition is no
more subject to a guarantee than a patent-leather shoe--it looks very
fine when you first get it, but it cracks.

"Then there is the ideal, which is even more perishable, but can
fortunately be replaced when it breaks--for it does not wear out.
Like a Prince Rupert drop, it is just as good as new until something
steps on its tail, and then there is nothing left but a noise and a
disturbed atmospheric condition.

"After a fellow's ideal, explodes he generally idles away his time
pitying himself and saying sarcastic things about the entire human
race, until he achieves a local reputation as a cynic. When in this
state of mind there is no use in telling him that he is not the only
original possessor of a bona fide broken ideal. He'll show you a
little superficial scratch and say in husky tones, 'see this great
wound it has made in my constitution, it will never heal. Happiness