“I SEE THE GOVERNOR COMMENDS WAR AS A MEANS OF KEEPING ALIVE ‘THE GREAT FIGHTING VIRTUES,’ AND, OF COURSE, WAR is A GOOD THING WHILE IT LASTS. BUT, AFTER ALL, CHARLES, DO YOU FEEL THAT WAR IS TRULY PROFITABLE? AS FOR ME, UNATHLETIC AS I AM, AND NEAR-SIGHTED, I COULD HARDLY DO EXCELLENT WORK IN WAR. I MIGHT BRAIN A CHILD OR TWO, AND MAYBE SHOOT SOME WOMEN, BUT I OWN I DON’T FIND THE IDEA WHOLLY ENGAGING, AND IN THE SPRING MONTHS I CAN HARDEN MY HEART MORE AGREEABLY BY RIDING A BICYCLE IN THE AFTERNOON DOWN FIFTH AVENUE. IT’S A GOOD HAZARD ALL THE WAY, AND THERE’S THIS ADVANTAGE ABOUT IT, THAT YOU DON’T CATCH FEVERS, AND, IF YOU’RE NOT KILLED, YOU HAVE YOUR HEALTH.”
