When the sons of two-thirds of our rich men are forgotten, or remembered only as idlers or nobodies, or worse, your son will stand among the men who leave their mark upon the generations." "If he escapes the dangers that lie too thickly in the way of all young men," returned Mrs.Whitford, speaking almost involuntarily of what was in her heart, and in a voice that betrayed more concern than she had meant to express.
The doctor gave a little shrug, but replied: "His earnest purpose in life will be his protection, Mrs.Whitford.
Work, ambition, devotion to a science or profession have in them an aegis of safety.

The weak and the idle are most in danger." "It is wrong, I have sometimes thought," said Mrs.Whitford speaking both to the physician and the clergyman, "for society to set so many temptations before its young men--the seed, as some one has forcibly said, of the nation's future harvest." "Society doesn't care much for anything but its own gratification," replied Dr.Hillhouse, "and says as plainly as actions can do it 'After me the deluge.'" "Rather hard on society," remarked Mr.Elliott.
"Now take, for instance, its drinking customs, its toleration and participation in the freest public and private dispensation of intoxicating liquors to all classes, weak or strong, young or old.

Is there not danger in this--great danger?
I think I understand you, Mrs.
Whitford." "Yes, doctor, you understand me;" and dropping her voice to a lower tone, Mrs.Whitford added: "There are wives and mothers and sisters not a few here to-night whose hearts, though they may wear smiles on their faces, are ill at ease, and some of them will go home from these festivities sadder than when they came." "Right about that," said the doctor to himself as he turned away, a friend of Mrs.Whitford's having come up at the moment and interrupted the conversation--"right about that; and you, I greatly fear, will be one of the number." "Our friend isn't just herself to-night," remarked Mr.Elliott as he and Dr.Hillhouse moved across the room.

"A little dyspeptic, maybe, and so inclined to look on the dark side of things.

She has little cause, I should think, to be anxious for her own son or husband.