This
man wants to lead a decent life, and he can't because there's no way
for him to earn a living."
"I understand all that Samuel."
"But, doctor, what's the use of trying to reform men if they're
chained in that way?"
There was a pause.
"I'm afraid it's hopeless to explain to you," said the clergyman. "But
you'll have to make up your mind to it, Samuel--there are a great many
men in the world who want jobs, and it seems to be unfortunately true
that there are fewer jobs than men."
"Yes," said the other, "but that's what Professor Stewart taught men.
And you said it was wicked of him."
"Um--" said the doctor, taken aback.
"Don't you see?" went on Samuel eagerly. "It puts you right back with
Herbert Spencer! If there are more men than there are jobs, then the
men have to fight for them. And so you have the struggle for
existence, and the survival of the greedy and the selfish. If Finnegan
wouldn't be a barkeeper, then he and his family would starve, and
somebody else would survive who was willing to be that bad."
The boy waited. "Don't you see that, Dr. Vince? "he persisted.
"Yes, I see that," said the doctor.
"And you told me that the only way to escape from that was to live for
others--to serve them and help them. And isn't that what I'm trying to
do?"
"Yes, my boy, that is so. But what can we do?"
"Why, doctor, aren't you the head of the church? And the people come
to you to be taught.
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