T. B.



UPTON,
March 15, 1904.


DEAR HERBERT,--You say I am not ambitious enough; well, I wish I
could make up my mind clearly on the subject of ambition; it has
been brought before me rather acutely lately. A post here has just
fallen vacant--a post to which I should have desired to succeed. I
have no doubt that if I had frankly expressed my wishes on the
subject, if I had even told a leaky, gossipy colleague what I
desired, and begged him to keep it to himself, the thing would have
got out, and the probability is that the post would have been
offered to me. But I held my tongue, not, I confess, from any very
high motive, but merely from a natural dislike of being
importunate--it does not seem to me consistent with good manners.

Well, I made no sign; and another man was appointed. I have no
doubt that a man of the world would say frankly that I was a fool,
and, though I am rather inclined to agree with him, I don't think I
could have acted otherwise.

I am inclined to encourage ambition of every kind among the boys. I
think it is an appropriate virtue for their age and temperament. It
is not a Christian virtue; for it is certain that, if one person
succeeds in an ambitious prospect, there must be a dozen who are