[Shhhh! I'm Listening to Reason!]

George M. Middius wrote:
paul packer said:

As you know, Lowell lived during a period when intellectuals relied even
more heavily than today on complex thoughts cast in even more complex
sentences.

"Perhaps the best forcing-house of robust individuality would be where
public opinion is inclined to be most overbearing, as he must be of
heroic temper who should walk along Piccadilly at the height of the
season in a soft hat."

You're not kidding, George.

Agreed.„¢ LOt"S.„¢

I have no idea what that excerpt meant. Do you?

A possible read of it:

Rather than 'fitting in,' a test of one's individuality is to run
counter to the strong opinions of the masses. The 'soft hat' thing
appears to me to refer to a situation where a tophat would be called
for and expected by public opinion.

Lincoln had to face some strong public opposition to his anti-slavery
views, but he stuck with them.

My read in today's parlance might be, "toopid could show how much of a
rugged individualist he is and also display his herioc temper by
wearing his shoes, and his "Get Jesus Now, Ask Me How!" t-shirt, into
the mosque at Mecca."