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en the fancy took me to learn to ride； the good soul himself found me out a riding…school； went thither with me； and anticipated my wishes by putting a horse at my disposal whenever I had a holiday。 In spite of all this cautious strategy； which I managed to defeat as soon as I had any temptation to do so； the kind old man was a second father to me。
〃 'My friend；' he said； as soon as he surmised that I should break away altogether from my leading strings； unless he relaxed them； 'young folk are apt to commit follies which draw down the wrath of their elders upon their heads； and you may happen to want money at some time or other； if so； come to me。 Your father helped me nobly once upon a time； and I shall always have a few crowns to spare for you； but never tell any lies； and do not be ashamed to own to your faults。 I myself was young once； we shall always get on well together； like two good comrades。'
〃My father found lodgings for me with some quiet； middle…class people in the Latin Quarter； and my room was furnished nicely enough； but this first taste of independence； my father's kindness； and the self… denial which he seemed to be exercising for me； brought me but little happiness。 Perhaps the value of liberty cannot be known until it has been experienced； and the memories of the freedom of my childhood had been almost effaced by the irksome and dreary life at school； from which my spirits had scarcely recovered。 In addition to this； my father had urged new tasks upon me； so that altogether Paris was an enigma。 You must acquire some knowledge of its pleasures before you can amuse yourself in Paris。
〃My real position； therefore； was quite unchanged； save that my new lycee was a much larger building； and was called the Ecole de Medecine。 Nevertheless； I studied away bravely at first； I attended lectures diligently； I worked desperately hard and without relaxation； so strongly was my imagination affected by the abundant treasures of knowledge to be gained in the capital。 But very soon I heedlessly made acquaintances； danger lurks hidden beneath the rash confiding friendships that have so strong a charm for youth； and gradually I was drawn into the dissipated life of the capital。 I became an enthusiastic lover of the theatre； and with my craze for actors and the play； the work of my demoralization began。 The stage； in a great metropolis； exerts a very deadly influence over the young； they never quit the theatre save in a state of emotional excitement almost always beyond their power to control； society and the law seem to me to be accessories to the irregularities brought about in this way。 Our legislation has shut its eyes； so to speak； to the passions that torment a young man between twenty and five…and…twenty years of age。 In Paris he is assailed by temptations of every kind。 Religion may preach and Law may demand that he should walk uprightly； but all his surroundings and the tone of those about him are so many incitements to evil。 Do not the best of men and the most devout women there look upon continence as ridiculous？ The great city； in fact； seems to have set herself to give encouragement to vice and to this alone； for a young man finds that the entrance to every honorable career in which he might look for success is barred by hindrances even more numerous than the snares that are continually set for him； so that through his weaknesses he may be robbed of his money。
〃For a long while I went every evening to some theatre； and little by little I fell into idle ways。 I grew more and more slack over my work； even my most pressing tasks were apt to be put off till the morrow； and before very long there was an end of my search after knowledge for its own sake； I did nothing more than the work which was absolutely required to enable me to get through the examinations that must be passed before I could become a doctor。 I attended the public lectures； but I no longer paid any attention to the professors； who； in my opinion； were a set of dotards。 I had already broken my idolsI became a Parisian。
〃To be brief； I led the aimless drifting life of a young； provincial thrown into the heart of a great city； still retaining some good and true feeling； still clinging more or less to the observance of certain rules of conduct； still fighting in vain against the debasing influence of evil examples； though I offered but a feeble； half… hearted resistance； for the enemy had accomplices within me。 Yes； sir； my face is not misleading； past storms have plainly left their traces there。 Yet； since I had drunk so deeply of the pure fountain of religion in my early youth； I was haunted in the depths of my soul；
through all my wanderings； by an ideal of moral perfection which could not fail one day to bring me back to God by the paths of weariness and remorse。 Is not he who feels the pleasures of earth most keenly； sure to be attracted； soon or late； by the fruits of heaven？
〃At first I went through the experience； more or less vivid； that always comes with youththe countless moments of exultation； the unnumbered transports of despair。 Sometimes I took my vehement energy of feeling for a resolute will； and over…estimated my powers； sometimes； at the mere sight of some trifling obstacle with which I was about to come into collision； I was far more cast down than I ought to have been。 Then I would devise vast plans； would dream of glory； and betake myself to work； but a pleasure party would divert me from the noble projects based on so infirm a purpose。 Vague recollections of these great abortive schemes of mine left a deceptive glow in my soul and fostered my belief in myself； without giving me the energy to produce。 In my indolent self…sufficiency I was in a very fair way to become a fool； for what is a fool but a man who fails to justify the excellent opinion which he has formed of himself？ My energy was directed towards no definite aims； I wished for the flowers of life without the toil of cultivating them。 I had no idea of the obstacles； so I imagined that everything was easy； luck； I thought； accounted for success in science and in business； and genius was charlatanism。 I took it for granted that I should be a great man； because there was the power of becoming one within me； so I discounted all my future glory； without giving a thought to the patience required for the conception of a great work； nor of the execution； in the course of which all the difficulties of the task appear。
〃The sources of my amusements were soon exhausted。 The charm of the theatre does not last for very long； and； for a poor student； Paris shortly became an empty wilderness。 They were dull and uninteresting people that I met with in the circle of the family with whom I lived； but these； and an old man who had now lost touch with the world； were all the society that I had。
〃So； like every young man who takes a dislike to the career marked out for him； I rambled about the streets for whole days together； I strolled along the quays； through the museums and public gardens； making no attempt to arrive at a clear understanding of my position； and without a single definite idea in my head。 The burden of unemployed energies is more felt at that age than at any other； there is such an abundance of vitality running to waste； so much activity without result。 I had no idea of the power that a resolute will puts into the hands of a man in his youth； for when he has ideas and puts his whole heart and soul into the work of carrying them out； his strength is yet further increased by the undaunted courage of youthful convictions。
〃Childhood in its simplicity knows nothing of the perils of life； youth sees both its vastness and its difficulties； and at the prospect the courage of youth sometimes flags。 We are still serving our apprenticeship to life； we are new to the business； a kind of faint… heartedness overpowers us； and leaves us in an almost dazed condition of mind。 We feel that we are helpless aliens in a strange country。 At all ages we shrink back involuntarily from the unknown。 And a young man is very much like the soldier who will walk up to the cannon's mouth； and is put to flight by a ghost。 He hesitates among the maxims of the world。 The rules of attack a