" Well, I discovered that I cotild be of real
use. I offered myself privately as a purely
moral judge to settle p\u*ely moral differences.
Before very long these unofficial courts of
honor (kept strictly secret) had spread over
the whole of society. People were tried be-
fore me not for the practical trifles for which
nobody cares, such as committing a murder,
of keeping a dog without a license. My
criminals were tried for the faults which
really make social life impossible. They
were tried before me for selfishness, or for
an impossible vanity, or for scandal-monger-
ing, or for stinginess to guests or depend-
ants. Of course these courts had no sort of
real coercive powers. The fulfihnent of their
punishments rested entirely on the honor of
the ladies and gentlemen involved, including
the honor of the culprits. But you would
be amazed to know how completely our or-
ders were always obeyed. Only lately I had

368.
