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The Egotist Becomes a Personage
Itwasdirtierthananybattle-fieldhehadseen,hardertocontemplatethananyactualhardshipmouldedofmireandsweatanddanger,itwasanatmospherewhereinbirthandmarriageanddeathwereloathsome,secretthings.
Herememberedonedayinthesubwaywhenadeliveryboyhadbroughtinagreatfuneralwreathoffreshflowers,howthesmellofithadsuddenlyclearedtheairandgiveneveryoneinthecaramomentaryglow.
"Idetestpoorpeople,"thoughtAmorysuddenly."Ihatethemforbeingpoor.Povertymayhavebeenbeautifulonce,butit’srottennow.It’stheugliestthingintheworld.It’sessentiallycleanertobecorruptandrichthanitistobeinnocentandpoor."Heseemedtoseeagainafigurewhosesignificancehadonceimpressedhim—awell-dressedyoungmangazingfromaclubwindowonFifthAvenueandsayingsomethingtohiscompanionwithalookofutterdisgust.Probably,thoughtAmory,whathesaidwas:"MyGod!Aren’tpeoplehorrible!"
NeverbeforeinhislifehadAmoryconsideredpoorpeople.Hethoughtcynicallyhowcompletelyhewaslackinginallhumansympathy.O.Henryhadfoundinthesepeopleromance,pathos,love,hate—Amorysawonlycoarseness,physicalfilth,andstupidity.Hemadenoself-accusations:neveranymoredidhereproachhimselfforfeelingsthatwerenaturalandsincere.Heacceptedallhisreactionsasapartofhim,unchangeable,unmoral.
