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s of which their political activity is limited。 What strikes us here is that our modern life is diffused or spread out； not concentrated like the ancient civic life。 If the Athenian had been the member of an integral community； comprising all peninsular Greece and the mainland of Asia Minor； he could not have taken life so easily as he did。
Now our country is not only a very large one； but compared to its vast territorial extent it contains a very small population。 If we go on increasing at the present rate； so that a century hence we number four or five hundred millions； our country will be hardly more crowded than China is to…day。 Or if our whole population were now to be brought east of Niagara Falls； and confined on the south by the Potomac； we should still have as much elbow…room as they have in France。 Political economists can show the effects of this high ratio of land to inhabitants； in increasing wages； raising the interest of money； and stimulating production。 We are thus living amid circumstances which are goading the industrial activity characteristic of the last two centuries； and notably of the English race； into an almost feverish energy。 The vast extent of our unwrought territory is constantly draining fresh life from our older districts； to aid in the establishment of new frontier communities of a somewhat lower or less highly organized type。 And these younger communities； daily springing up； are constantly striving to take on the higher structure；to become as highly civilized and to enjoy as many of the prerogatives of civilization as the rest。 All this calls forth an enormous quantity of activity； and causes American life to assume the aspect of a life…and…death struggle for mastery over the material forces of that part of the earth's surface upon which it thrives。
It is thus that we are traversing what may properly be called the BARBAROUS epoch of our history；the epoch at which the predominant intellectual activity is employed in achievements which are mainly of a material character。 Military barbarism； or the inability of communities to live together without frequent warfare； has been nearly outgrown by the whole Western world。 Private wars； long since made everywhere illegal； have nearly ceased； and public wars； once continual； have become infrequent。 But industrial barbarism； by which I mean the inability of a community to direct a portion of its time to purposes of spiritual life； after providing for its physical maintenance；this kind of barbarism the modern world has by no means outgrown。 To…day； the great work of life is to live； while the amount of labour consumed in living has throughout the present century been rapidly increasing。 Nearly the whole of this American community toils from youth to old age in merely procuring the means for satisfying the transient wants of life。 Our time and energies； our spirit and buoyancy； are quite used up in what is called 〃getting on。〃
Another point of difference between the structure of American and of Athenian society must not be left out of the account。 The time has gone by in which the energies of a hundred thousand men and women could be employed in ministering to the individual perfection of twenty…five thousand。 Slavery； in the antique sense；an absolute command of brain as well as of muscle； a slave…system of skilled labour；we have never had。 In our day it is for each man to earn his own bread； so that the struggle for existence has become universal。 The work of one class does not furnish leisure for another class。 The exceptional circumstances which freed the Athenian from industrial barbarism； and enabled him to become the great teacher and model of culture for the human race； have disappeared forever。
Then the general standard of comfortable living； as already hinted； has been greatly raised； and is still rising。 What would have satisfied the ancient would seem to us like penury。 We have a domestic life of which the Greek knew nothing。 We live during a large part of the year in the house。 Our social life goes on under the roof。 Our houses are not mere places for eating and sleeping； like the houses of the ancients。 It therefore costs us a large amount of toil to get what is called shelter for our heads。 The sum which a young married man； in 〃good society；〃 has to pay for his house and the furniture contained in it； would have enabled an Athenian to live in princely leisure from youth to old age。 The sum which he has to pay out each year； to meet the complicated expense of living in such a house； would have more than sufficed to bring up an Athenian family。 If worthy Strepsiades could have got an Asmodean glimpse of Fifth Avenue； or even of some unpretending street in Cambridge； he might have gone back to his aristocratic wife a sadder but a more contented man。
Wealthor at least what would until lately have been called wealthhas become essential to comfort； while the opportunities for acquiring it have in recent times been immensely multiplied。 To get money is； therefore； the chief end of life in our time and country。 〃Success in life〃 has become synonymous with 〃becoming wealthy。〃 A man who is successful in what he undertakes is a man who makes his employment pay him in money。 Our normal type of character is that of the shrewd； circumspect business man； as in the Middle Ages it was that of the hardy warrior。 And as in those days when fighting was a constant necessity； and when the only honourable way for a gentleman of high rank to make money was by freebooting； fighting came to be regarded as an end desirable in itself； so in these days the mere effort to accumulate has become a source of enjoyment rather than a means to it。 The same truth is to be witnessed in aberrant types of character。 The infatuated speculator and the close…fisted millionaire are our substitutes for the mediaeval berserkir；the man who loved the pell…mell of a contest so well that he would make war on his neighbour； just to keep his hand in。 In like manner； while such crimes as murder and violent robbery have diminished in frequency during the past century； on the other hand such crimes as embezzlement； gambling in stocks； adulteration of goods； and using of false weights and measures； have probably increased。 If Dick Turpin were now to be brought back to life； he would find the New York Custom…House a more congenial and profitable working…place than the king's highway。
The result of this universal quest for money is that we are always in a hurry。 Our lives pass by in a whirl。 It is all labour and no fruition。 We work till we are weary； we carry our work home with us； it haunts our evenings； and disturbs our sleep as well as our digestion。 Our minds are so burdened with it that our conversation； when serious； can dwell upon little else。 If we step into a railway…car； or the smoking…room of a hotel； or any other place where a dozen or two of men are gathered together； we shall hear them talking of stocks； of investments； of commercial paper； as if there were really nothing in this universe worth thinking of； save only the interchange of dollars and commodities。 So constant and unremitted is our forced application； that our minds are dwarfed for everything except the pro