Out of the Past — page 48: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Out of the Past. 45 “T am not sure what it is I work for. Supremacy over other men, I think. It would be the same in any field for which I had a talent. I think I should like to land in politics, but this will do for the present. It is full of ad- venture. The only quarrel I have with it is that even moderate success seems to displace one from ordinary life in the imagination of most people. What is the use of that?” “Then you don’t like hero-worship ?” “Not of this sort. It is not the genuine hero-rever- ence which is the due of great men. It makes one feel small.” “What would you like?” “To be let alone like other men.” Benedict smiled. “That may come some day, my son. Then you will wonder what’s wrong with the world. But this struggle for supremacy puzzles me. I thought that art itself was your mainspring.” “No. If it were I would be my own audience and live by teaching. Whenever I hear a violinist of note, I mark all his perfections, intending to outdo them or, rather, to outdo him. I have a duel on my hands with every man above me.” “Egotist!” cried Benedict. “T know it. But that is the way I was fashioned.” The GOMmicdoo Sri