There still exists amongst the Romans a sort of debased, imperial pride, a belief that a Roman is _per se_ superior to all other Italians.

For manual work, or labour under others, they have an equal contempt and dislike.

All the semi-independent trades, like those of cab- drivers, street-vendors, petty shopkeepers, &c.

are eagerly sought after and monopolized by Romans.

The extent to which small trades are carried on by persons utterly without capital and inevitably embarrassed with debt, is one of the chief evils in the social system which prevails here.
If the Romans also, like the unjust steward, are too proud to dig, unlike that worthy, to beg they are _not_ ashamed.