hesays，“fortheyhearmesayiteveryday。''
Buthesaysiteverydaybecauseitmeanssomuchtohim。Itstands，inhismind，asaconstantwarningagainstangerorimpatienceorover-haste——faultstowhichhisimpetuoustemperamentisprone，thoughfewhaveeverseenhimeitherangryorimpatientorhasty，sowelldoesheexerciseself-control。Thosewhohavelongknownhimwellhavesaidtomethattheyhaveneverheardhimcensureanyone；thathisforbearanceandkindnessarewonderful。
Heisasensitivemanbeneathhiscomposure；
hehassuffered，andkeenly，whenhehasbeenunjustlyattacked；hefeelspainofthatsortforalongtime，too，foreventhepassingofyearsdoesnotentirelydeadenit。
“WhenIhavebeenhurt，orwhenIhavetalkedwithannoyingcranks，IhavetriedtoletPatiencehaveherperfectwork，forthoseverypeople，ifyouhavepatiencewiththem，mayafterwardbeofhelp。''
AndhewentontotalkalittleofhisearlyyearsinPhiladelphia，andhesaid，withsadness，thatithadpainedhimtomeetwithopposition，andthatithadevencomefromministersofhisowndenomination，forhehadbeensomisunder-
stoodandmisjudged；but，headded，themomentarysombernesslifting，evenhisbitterenemieshadbeenwonoverwithpatience。
Icouldunderstandagooddealofwhathemeant，foroneoftheBaptistministersofPhiladelphiahadsaidtome，withsomeshame，thatatfirstitusedactuallytobethecasethatwhenDr。Conwellwouldenteroneoftheregularministers'
meetings，allwouldholdaloof，notasingleonesteppingforwardtomeetorgreethim。
“Anditwasallthroughourjealousyofhissuccess，''saidtheminister，vehemently。“Hecametothiscityastranger，andhewoninstantpopularity，andwecouldn'tstandit，andsowepounceduponthingsthathedidthatwerealtogetherunimportant。Therestofusweresojealousofhiswinningthrongsthatwecouldn'tseethegoodinhim。AndithurtDr。Conwellsomuchthatfortenyearshedidnotcometoourconferences。Butallthiswaschangedlongago。
Nownoministerissowelcomedasheis，andI
don'tbelievethatthereeverhasbeenasingletimesincehestartedcomingagainthathehasn'tbeenaskedtosaysomethingtous。Wegotoverourjealousylongagoandwealllovehim。''
Norisitonlythattheclergymenofhisowndenominationadmirehim，fornotlongago，suchhavingbeenDr。Conwell'striumphinthecityofhisadoption，therectorofthemostpowerfulandaristocraticchurchinPhiladelphiavoluntarilypaidloftytributetohisaimsandability，hisworkandhispersonalworth。“HeisaninspirationtohisbrothersintheministryofJesusChrist，''sothisEpiscopalianrectorwrote。“Heisafriendtoallthatisgood，afoetoallthatisevil，astrengthtotheweak，acomfortertothesorrowing，amanofGod。Thesewordscomefromtheheartofonewholoves，honors，andreverenceshimforhischaracterandhisdeeds。''
Dr。Conwelldidsomebeautifulandunusualthingsinhischurch，institutedsomebeautifulandunusualcustoms，andonecanseehownarrowandhastycriticismschargedhim，longago，withsensationalism——chargeslongsinceforgottenexceptthroughthehurtstillfeltbyDr。Conwellhimself。
“Theyusedtochargemewithmakingacircusofthechurch——asifitwerepossibleformetomakeacircusofthechurch!''Andhistonewasoneofgrievedamazementafteralltheseyears。
Buthewasoriginalandhewaspopular，andthereforethereweremisunderstandingandjealousy。
HisEasterservices，forexample，yearsago，becamewidelytalkedofandeagerlyanticipatedbecauseeachsermonwouldbewroughtaroundsomefinesymbol；andhewouldholdinhishand，inthepulpit，thebluerobin'segg，orthewhitedove，orthestemoflilies，orwhateverhehadchosenastheparticularsymbolfortheparticularsermon，andthatsymbolwouldgivehimthecentralthoughtforhisdiscourse，accentedasitwouldbebytheactualsymbolitselfinviewofthecongregation。Thecrosslightedbyelec-
tricity，toshinedownoverthebaptismalpool，thelittlestreamofwatercascadinggentlydownthestepsofthepoolduringthebaptismalrite，therosesfloatinginthepoolandhisgiftofoneofthemtoeachofthebaptizedasheorsheleftthewater——
allsuchthingsdidseem，longago，sounconventional。
Yethisownpeoplerecognizedthebeautyandpoetryofthem，andthousandsofBiblesinPhiladelphiahaveabaptismalrosefromDr。
Conwellpressedwithinthepages。
Hisconstantindividualityofmind，hisconstantfreshness，alertness，brilliancy，warmth，sympathy，endearhimtohiscongregation，andwhenhereturnsfromanabsencetheybubbleandeffervesceoverhimasifheweresomebrilliantnewpreacherjustcometothem。Heisalwaysnewtothem。
Wereitnotthathepossessessomeremarkablequalityofcharmhewouldlongagohavebecome，sotospeak，anoldstory，butinsteadofthatheistothemanalwaysnewstory，analwaysentertaininganddelightfulstory，afteralltheseyears。
Itisnotonlythattheystillthrongtohearhimeitherpreachorlecture，thoughthatitselfwouldbenoticeable，butitisthedelightfulanddelightedspiritwithwhichtheydoit。JusttheothereveningIheardhimlectureinhisownchurch，justafterhisreturnfromanabsence，andeveryfacebeamedhappilyupathimtowelcomehimback，andeveryonelistenedasintentlytohiseverywordasifhehadneverbeenheardtherebefore；andwhenthelecturewasoverahugebouquetofflowerswashandeduptohim，andsomeoneembarrassedlysaidafewwordsaboutitsbeingbecausehewashomeagain。Itwasallasifhehadjustreturnedfromanabsenceofmonths——andhehadbeenawayjustfiveandahalfdays!
VI
MILLIONSOFHEARERS
THATConwellisnotprimarilyaminister——
thatheisaministerbecauseheisasincereChristian，butthatheisfirstofallanAbouBenAdhem，amanwholoveshisfellow-men，becomesmoreandmoreapparentasthescopeofhislife-
workisrecognized。Onealmostcomestothinkthathispastorateofagreatchurchisevenaminormatterbesidethecombinedimportanceofhiseducationalwork，hislecturework，hishospitalwork，hisworkingeneralasahelpertothosewhoneedhelp。
Formyownpart，Ishouldsaythatheislikesomeoftheold-timeprophets，thestrongoneswhofoundagreatdealtoattendtoinadditiontomattersofreligion。Thepower，theruggedness，thephysicalandmentalstrength，thepositivegrandeuroftheman——allthesearelikethegeneralconceptionsofthebigOldTestamentprophets。
Thesuggestionisgivenonlybecauseithasoftenrecurred，andthereforewiththefeelingthatthereissomethingmorethanfancifulinthecom-
parison；andyet，afterall，thecomparisonfailsinoneimportantparticular，fornoneoftheprophetsseemstohavehadasenseofhumor!
ItisperhapsbetterandmoreaccuratetodescribehimasthelastoftheoldschoolofAmericanphilosophers，thelastofthosesturdy-bodied，high-
thinking，achievingmenwho，intheolddays，didtheirbesttosetAmericanhumanityintherightpath——suchmenasEmerson，Alcott，Gough，WendellPhillips，Garrison，BayardTaylor，Beecher；menwhomConwellknewandadmiredinthelongago，andallofwhomhavelongsincepassedaway。
AndConwell，inhisgoingupanddownthecountry，inspiringhisthousandsandthousands，isthesurvivorofthatold-timegroupwhousedtotravelabout，dispensingwitandwisdomandphilosophyandcouragetothecrowdedbenchesofcountrylyceums，andthechairsofschool-housesandtownhalls，orthelargerandmorepretentiousgathering-placesofthecities。
Conwellhimselfisamusedtorememberthathewantedtotalkinpublicfromhisboyhood，andthatveryearlyhebegantoyieldtotheinbornimpulse。Helaughsasheremembersthevarietyofcountryfairsandschoolcommencementsandanniversariesandevensewing-circleswherehetriedhisyouthfulpowers，andallforexperiencealone，inthefirstfewyears，exceptpossiblyforsuchathingasahamorajack-knife!
Thefirstmoneythatheeverreceivedforspeakingwas，soherememberswithglee，seventy-fivecents；
andeventhatwasnotforhistalk，butforhorsehire!Butatthesametimethereismorethanamusementinrecallingtheseexperiences，forheknowsthattheywereinvaluabletohimastraining。
AndforoverhalfacenturyhehasaffectionatelyrememberedJohnB。Gough，who，intheheightofhisownpowerandsuccess，sawresolutionandpossibilitiesintheardentyounghill-man，andactuallydidhimthekindnessandthehonorofintroducinghimtoanaudienceinoneoftheMassachusettstowns；anditwasreallyagreatkindnessandagreathonor，fromamanwhohadwonhisfametoayoungmanjustbeginninganoratoricalcareer。
Conwell'slecturinghasbeen，consideringeverything，themostimportantworkofhislife，forbyithehascomeintoclosetouchwithsomanymillions——literallymillions!——ofpeople。
Iaskedhimonceifhehadanyideahowmanyhehadtalkedtointhecourseofhiscareer，andhetriedtoestimatehowmanythousandsoftimeshehadlectured，andtheaverageattendanceforeach，butdesistedwhenhesawthatitranintomillionsofhearers。Whatamarvelissuchafactasthat!Millionsofhearers!
Iaskedthesamequestionofhisprivatesecretary，andfoundthatnoonehadeverkeptanysortofrecord；butascarefulanestimateascouldbemadegaveaconservativeresultoffullyeightmillionhearersforhislectures；andaddingthenumbertowhomhehaspreached，whohavebeenoverfivemillion，thereisatotalofwelloverthirteenmillionwhohavelistenedtoRussellConwell'svoice!Andthisstaggeringtotalis，ifanything，anunderestimate。Thefiguringwasdonecautiouslyandwasbaseduponsuchfactsasthathenowaddressesanaverageofoverforty-fivehundredathisSundayservicesanaveragethatwouldbehigherwereitnotthathissermonsinvacationtimeareusuallydeliveredinlittlechurches；whenathome，attheTemple，headdressesthreemeetingseverySunday，andthathelecturesthroughouttheentirecourseofeachyear，includingsixnightsaweekoflecturingduringvacation-time。Whatapoweriswieldedbyamanwhohasheldoverthirteenmillionpeopleunderthespellofhisvoice!Probablynoothermanwhoeverlivedhadsuchatotalofhearers。
Andthetotalissteadilymounting，forheisamanwhohasneverknownthemeaningofrest。
IthinkitalmostcertainthatDr。Conwellhasneverspokentoanyoneofwhat，tome，isthefinestpointofhislecture-work，andthatisthathestillgoesgladlyandforsmallfeestothesmalltownsthatarenevervisitedbyothermenofgreatreputation。Heknowsthatitisthelittleplaces，theout-of-the-wayplaces，thesubmergedplaces，thatmostneedapleasureandastimulus，andhestillgoesout，manofwelloverseventythatheis，totinytownsindistantstates，heedlessofthediscomfortsoftraveling，ofthepoorlittlehotelsthatseldomhavevisitors，oftheoftentimeshopelesscookingandtheuncleanliness，ofthehardshipsandthediscomforts，oftheunventilatedandoverheatedorunderheatedhalls。Hedoesnotthinkofclaimingtherelaxationearnedbyalifetimeoflabor，or，ifheeverdoes，thethoughtoftheswordofJohnRingrestoresinstantlyhisfervidearnestness。
Howhedoesit，howhecanpossiblykeepitup，isthegreatestmarvelofall。Ihavebeforemealistofhisengagementsforthesummerweeksofthisyear，1915，andIshallsetitdownbecauseitwillspecificallyshow，farmoreclearlythangeneralstatements，thekindofworkhedoes。
Thelististheitineraryofhisvacation。Vacation!
LecturingeveryeveningbutSunday，andonSundayspreachinginthetownwherehehappenstobe!
June24Ackley，Ia。July11*Brookings，S。D。
“25Waterloo，Ia。“12Pipestone，Minn。
“26Decorah，Ia。“13Hawarden，Ia。
“27*Waukon，Ia。“14Canton，S。D
“28RedWing，Minn。“15Cherokee，Ia“29RiverFalls，Wis。“16Pocahontas，Ia“30Northfield，Minn。“17Glidden，Ia。
July1Faribault，Minn。“18*Boone，Ia。
“2SpringValley，Minn。“19Dexter，Ia。
“3BlueEarth，Minn。“20Indianola，Ia“4*Fairmount，Minn。“21Corydon，Ia“5LakeCrystal，Minn。“22Essex，Ia。
“6RedwoodFalls，“23Sidney，Ia。
Minn。“24FallsCity，Nebr。
“7Willmer，Minn。“25*Hiawatha，Kan。
“8Dawson，Minn。“26Frankfort，Kan。
“9Redfield，S。D。“27Greenleaf，Kan。
“10Huron，S。D。“28Osborne，Kan。
July29Stockton，Kan。Aug。14Honesdale，Pa。
“30Phillipsburg，Kan。“15*Honesdale，Pa。
“31Mankato，Kan。“16Carbondale，Pa。
_Enroutetonextdateon_“17Montrose，Pa。
_circuit_。“18Tunkhannock，Pa。
Aug。3Westfield，Pa。“19Nanticoke，Pa。
“4Galston，Pa。“20Stroudsburg，Pa。
“5PortAlleghany，Pa。“21Newton，N。J。
“6Wellsville，N。Y。“22*Newton，N。J。
“7Bath，N。Y。“23Hackettstown，N。J。
“8*Bath，N。Y。“24NewHope，Pa。
“9PennYan，N。Y。“25Doylestown，Pa。
“10Athens，N。Y。“26Phnixville，Pa。
“11Owego，N。Y。“27Kennett，Pa。
“12Patchogue，LI。，N。Y。“28Oxford，Pa。
“13PortJervis，N。Y。“29*Oxford，Pa。
*PreachonSunday。
Andallthesehardships，allthistravelingandlecturing，whichwouldtesttheenduranceoftheyoungestandstrongest，thismanofoverseventyassumeswithoutreceivingaparticleofpersonalgain，foreverydollarthathemakesbyitisgivenawayinhelpingthosewhoneedhelping。
ThatDr。Conwellisintenselymodestisoneofthecuriousfeaturesofhischaracter。Hesincerelybelievesthattowritehislifewouldbe，inthemain，justtotellwhatpeoplehavedoneforhim。Heknowsandadmitsthatheworksunweariedly，butinprofoundsincerityheascribesthesuccessofhisplanstothosewhohavesecondedandassistedhim。Itisinjustthiswaythathelooksuponeveryphaseofhislife。Whenheisremindedofthedevotionofhisoldsoldiers，heremembersitonlywithasortofpleasedwonderthattheygavethedevotiontohim，andhequiteforgetsthattheylovedhimbecausehewasalwaysreadytosacrificeeaseorriskhisownlifeforthem。
Hedeprecatespraise；ifanyonelikeshim，thelikingneednotbeshowninwords，butinhelpingalongagoodwork。Thathischurchhassucceededhasbeenbecauseofthedevotionofthepeople；
thattheuniversityhassucceededisbecauseofthesplendidworkoftheteachersandpupils；thatthehospitalshavedonesomuchhasbeenbecauseofthenobleservicesofphysiciansandnurses。
Tohim，ashehimselfexpressesit，realizingthatsuccesshascometohisplans，itseemsasiftherealitiesarebutdreams。Heisastonishedbyhisownsuccess。Hethinksmainlyofhisownshortcomings。“Godandmanhaveeverbeenverypatientwithme。''Hisdepressionisattimesprofoundwhenhecomparestheactualresultswithwhathewouldlikethemtobe，foralwayshishopeshavegonesoaringfarinadvanceofachievement。Itisthe“Hitchyourchariottoastar''idea。
Hismodestygoeshand-in-handwithkindliness，andIhaveseenhimlethimselfbeintroducedinhisownchurchtohiscongregation，whenheisgoingtodeliveralecturethere，justbecauseaformerpupiloftheuniversitywaspresentwho，Conwellknew，wasambitioustosaysomethinginsideoftheTemplewalls，andthisseemedtobetheonlyopportunity。
Ihavenoticed，whenhetravels，thatthefaceofthenewsboybrightensashebuysapaperfromhim，thattheporterisallhappiness，thatconductorandbrakemanaredevotedlyanxioustobeofaid。Everywherethemanwinslove。Heloveshumanityandhumanityrespondstothelove。
Hehasalwayswontheaffectionofthosewhoknewhim，andBayardTaylorwasoneofthemany；heandBayardTaylorlovedeachotherforlongacquaintanceandfellowexperiencesasworld-
widetravelers，backintheyearswhencomparativelyfewAmericansvisitedtheNileandtheOrient，orevenEurope。
WhenTaylordiedtherewasamemorialserviceinBostonatwhichConwellwasaskedtopreside，and，ashewishedforsomethingmorethanaddresses，hewenttoLongfellowandaskedhimtowriteandreadapoemfortheoccasion。Longfellowhadnotthoughtofwritinganything，andhewastooilltobepresentattheservices，but，therealwaysbeingsomethingcontagiouslyinspiringaboutRussellConwellwhenhewishessomethingtobedone，thepoetpromisedtodowhathecould。Andhewroteandsentthebeautifullinesbeginning:
_Deadhelayamonghisbooks，ThepeaceofGodwasinhislooks_。
Manymenofletters，includingRalphWaldoEmerson，werepresentattheservices，andDr。
ConwellinducedOliverWendellHolmestoreadthelines，andtheywerelistenedtoamidprofoundsilence，totheirfineending。
Conwell，inspiteofhiswidespreadholdonmillionsofpeople，hasneverwonfame，recognition，generalrenown，comparedwithmanymenofminorachievements。Thisseemslikeanimpossibility。Yetitisnotanimpossibility，butafact。Greatnumbersofmenofeducationandcultureareentirelyignorantofhimandhisworkintheworld——men，these，whodeemthemselvesintouchwithworld-affairsandwiththeoneswhomakeandmovetheworld。Itisinexplicable，this，exceptthatneverwasthereamanmoredevoidofthefacultyofself-exploitation，self-advertising，thanRussellConwell。Nor，inthemerereadingofthem，dohiswordsappealwithanythingliketheforceofthesamewordsutteredbyhimself，foralways，withhisspokenwords，ishispersonality。
ThosewhohaveheardRussellConwell，orhaveknownhimpersonally，recognizethecharmofthemanandhisimmenseforcefulness；buttherearemany，andamongthemthosewhocontrolpublicitythroughbooksandnewspapers，who，thoughtheyoughttobethewarmestintheirenthusiasm，haveneverfeltdrawntohearhim，and，iftheyknowofhimatall，thinkofhimasonewhopleasesinasimplewaythecommonerfolk，forgettingintheirpridethateveryreallygreatmanpleasesthecommonones，andthatsimplicityanddirectnessareattributesofrealgreatness。
ButRussellConwellhasalwayswontheadmirationofthereallygreat，aswellasofthehumblermillions。Itisonlyasupposedlyculturedclassinbetweenthatisnotthoroughlyacquaintedwithwhathehasdone。
Perhaps，too，thisisowingtohishavingcastinhislotwiththecity，ofallcities，which，consciouslyorunconsciously，looksmostcloselytofamilyandplaceofresidenceascriterionsofmerit——acitywithwhichitisalmostimpossibleforastrangertobecomeaffiliated——oraphiladelphiated，asitmightbeexpressed——andPhiladelphia，inspiteofallthatDr。Conwellhasdone，hasbeenunderthethrallofthefactthathewentnorthofMarketStreet——thatfatalfactunderstoodbyallwhoknowPhiladelphia——andthathemadenoefforttomakefriendsinRittenhouseSquare。Suchconsiderationsseemabsurdinthistwentiethcentury，butinPhiladelphiatheyarestillpotent。TensofthousandsofPhiladelphianslovehim，andheishonoredbyitsgreatestmen，butthereisaclassofthepseudo-
culturedwhodonotknowhimorappreciatehim。
Anditneedsalsotobeunderstoodthat，outsideofhisownbelovedTemple，hewouldprefertogotoalittlechurchoralittlehallandtospeaktotheforgottenpeople，inthehopeofencouragingandinspiringthemandfillingthemwithhopefulglow，ratherthantospeaktotherichandcomfortable。
Hisdearesthope，sooneofthefewwhoareclosetohimtoldme，isthatnooneshallcomeintohislifewithoutbeingbenefited。Hedoesnotsaythispublicly，nordoesheforamomentbelievethatsuchahopecouldbefullyrealized，butitisverydeartohisheart；andnomanspurredbysuchahope，andthusbendingallhisthoughtstowardthepoor，thehard-working，theunsuccessful，isinawaytowinhonorfromtheScribes；forwehaveScribesnowquiteasmuchaswhentheywereclassedwithPharisees。
Itisnotthefirsttimeintheworld'shistorythatScribeshavefailedtogivetheirrecognitiontoonewhoseworkwasnotamongthegreatandwealthy。
ThatConwellhimselfhasseldomtakenanypartwhateverinpoliticsexceptasagoodcitizenstandingforgoodgovernment；that，asheexpressesit，heneverheldanypoliticalofficeexceptthathewasonceonaschoolcommittee，andalsothathedoesnotidentifyhimselfwiththeso-called“movements''thatfromtimetotimecatchpublicattention，butaimsonlyandconstantlyatthequietbettermentofmankind，maybementionedasadditionalreasonswhyhisnameandfamehavenotbeensteadilyblazoned。
Heknowsandwilladmitthatheworkshardandhasallhislifeworkedhard。“ThingskeepturningmywaybecauseI'monthejob，''ashewhimsicallyexpresseditoneday；butthatisaboutall，soitseemstohim。
Andhesincerelybelievesthathislifehasinitselfbeenwithoutinterest；thatithasbeenanessentiallycommonplacelifewithnothingoftheinterestingortheeventfultotell。Heisfranklysurprisedthattherehaseverbeenthedesiretowriteabouthim。Hereallyhasnoideaofhowfascinatingarethethingshehasdone。Hisentirelifehasbeenofpositiveinterestfromthevarietyofthingsaccomplishedandtheunexpectednesswithwhichhehasaccomplishedthem。
Never，forexample，wastheresuchanorganizer。
Infact，organizationandleadershiphavealwaysbeenasthebreathoflifetohim。Asayouthheorganizeddebatingsocietiesand，beforethewar，alocalmilitarycompany。WhileongarrisondutyintheCivilWarheorganizedwhatisbelievedtohavebeenthefirstfreeschoolforcoloredchildrenintheSouth。OnedayMinneapolishappenedtobespokenof，andConwellhappenedtorememberthatheorganized，whenhewasalawyerinthatcity，whatbecamethefirstY。M。C。A。branchthere。Onceheevenstartedanewspaper。Anditwasnaturalthattheorganizinginstinct，asyearsadvanced，shouldleadhimtogreaterandgreaterthings，suchashischurch，withthenumerousassociationsformedwithinitselfthroughhisinfluence，andtheuniversity——theorganizingoftheuniversitybeinginitselfanachievementofpositiveromance。
“Alifewithoutinterest!''Why，whenI
happenedtoask，oneday，howmanyPresidentshehadknownsinceLincoln，hereplied，quitecasually，thathehad“writtenthelivesofmostofthemintheirownhomes''；andbythishemeanteitherpersonallyorincollaborationwiththeAmericanbiographerAbbott。
Themany-sidednessofConwellisoneofthethingsthatisalwaysfascinating。Afteryouhavequitegotthefeelingthatheispeculiarlyamanofto-day，lecturingonto-day'spossibilitiestothepeopleofto-day，youhappenuponsomesuchfactasthatheattractedtheattentionoftheLondon_Times_throughalectureonItalianhistoryatCambridgeinEngland；orthatontheeveningofthedayonwhichhewasadmittedtopracticeintheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStateshegavealectureinWashingtonon“TheCurriculumoftheProphetsinAncientIsrael。''Theman'slifeisasuccessionofdelightfulsurprises。
Anoddtraitofhischaracterishisloveforfire。
Hecouldeasilyhavebeenaveritablefire-
worshiperinsteadofanorthodoxChristian!Hehasalwayslovedablaze，andhesaysreminiscentlythatfornosinglethingwashepunishedsomuchwhenhewasachildasforbuildingbonfires。Andaftersecuringpossession，ashedidinmiddleage，ofthehousewherehewasbornandofagreatacreagearoundabout，hehadoneofthemostenjoyabletimesofhislifeintearingdownoldbuildingsthatneededtobedestroyedandinheapingupfallentreesandrubbishandinpilinggreatheapsofwoodandsettingthegreatpilesablaze。Yousee，thereisoneofthesecretsofhisstrength——hehasneverlostthecapacityforfieryenthusiasm!
Always，too，intheselateryearsheisshowinghisstrengthandenthusiasminapositivelynobleway。Hehasforyearsbeenakeensuffererfromrheumatismandneuritis，buthehasneverpermittedthistointerferewithhisworkorplans。
Hemakeslittleofhissufferings，andwhenheslowlymakeshisway，bentandtwisted，downstairs，hedoesnotwanttobenoticed。“I'mallright，''hewillsayifanyoneofferstohelp，andatsuchatimecomeshisnearestapproachtoimpatience。Hewantshissufferingignored。
Strengthhasalwaysbeentohimsopreciousabelongingthathewillnotrelinquishitwhilehelives。“I'mallright!''Andhemakeshimselfbelievethatheisallrighteventhoughthepainbecomessosevereastodemandmassage。Andhewillstill，evenwhensuffering，talkcalmly，orwritehisletters，orattendtowhatevermatterscomebeforehim。ItistheSpartanboyhidingthepainofthegnawingfox。Andheneverhasletpaininterferewithhispresenceonthepulpitortheplatform。Hehasonceinawhilegonetoameetingoncrutchesandthen，bytheforceofwill，andinspiredbywhatheistodo，hasstoodbeforehisaudienceorcongregation，amanfullofstrengthandfireandlife。
VII
HOWAUNIVERSITYWASFOUNDED
THEstoryofthefoundationandriseofTempleUniversityisanextraordinarystory；
itisnotonlyextraordinary，butinspiring；itisnotonlyinspiring，butfullofromance。
Fortheuniversitycameoutofnothing!——nothingbuttheneedofayoungmanandthefactthathetoldtheneedtoonewho，throughouthislife，hasfelttheimpulsetohelpanyoneinneedandhasalwaysobeyedtheimpulse。
IaskedDr。Conwell，upathishomeintheBerkshires，totellmehimselfjusthowtheuniversitybegan，andhesaidthatitbeganbecauseitwasneededandsucceededbecauseoftheloyalworkoftheteachers。AndwhenIaskedfordetailshewassilentforawhile，lookingoffintothebroodingtwilightasitlayoverthewatersandthetreesandthehills，andthenhesaid:
“Itwasallsosimple；itallcameaboutsonaturally。Oneevening，afteraservice，ayoungmanofthecongregationcametomeandIsawthathewasdisturbedaboutsomething。Ihadhimsitdownbyme，andIknewthatinafewmomentshewouldtellmewhatwastroublinghim。
“`Dr。Conwell，'hesaid，abruptly，`Iearnbutlittlemoney，andIseenoimmediatechanceofearningmore。Ihavetosupportnotonlymyself，butmymother。Itleavesnothingatall。Yetmylongingistobeaminister。Itistheoneambitionofmylife。IsthereanythingthatIcando?'
“`Anyman，'Isaidtohim，`withtheproperdeterminationandambitioncanstudysufficientlyatnighttowinhisdesire。'
“`Ihavetriedtothinkso，'saidhe，`butI
havenotbeenabletoseeanythingclearly。I
wanttostudy，andamreadytogiveeveryspareminutetoit，butIdon'tknowhowtogetatit。'
“Ithoughtafewminutes，asIlookedathim。
Hewasstronginhisdesireandinhisambitiontofulfilit——strongenough，physicallyandmentally，forworkofthebodyandofthemind——andheneededsomethingmorethangeneralizationsofsympathy。
“`CometomeoneeveningaweekandIwillbeginteachingyoumyself，'Isaid，`andatleastyouwillinthatwaymakeabeginning'；andI
namedtheevening。
“Hisfacebrightenedandheeagerlysaidthathewouldcome，andleftme；butinalittlewhilehecamehurryingbackagain。`MayIbringafriendwithme?'hesaid。
“Itoldhimtobringasmanyashewantedto，formorethanonewouldbeanadvantage，andwhentheeveningcamethereweresixfriendswithhim。AndthatfirsteveningIbegantoteachthemthefoundationsofLatin。''
Hestoppedasifthestorywasover。Hewaslookingoutthoughtfullyintothewaninglight，andIknewthathismindwasbusywiththosedaysofthebeginningoftheinstitutionhesoloves，andwhosecontinuedsuccessmeanssomuchtohim。Inalittlewhilehewenton:
“Thatwasthebeginningofit，andthereislittlemoretotell。Bythethirdeveningthenumberofpupilshadincreasedtoforty；othersjoinedinhelpingme，andaroomwashired；thenalittlehouse，thenasecondhouse。Fromafewstudentsandteacherswebecameacollege。AfterawhileourbuildingswentuponBroadStreetalongsidetheTempleChurch，andafteranotherwhilewebecameauniversity。Fromthefirstouraim''——Inoticedhowquicklyithadbecome“our''insteadof“my''——“ouraimwastogiveeducationtothosewhowereunabletogetitthroughtheusualchannels。Andsothatwasreallyalltherewastoit。''
ThatwastypicalofRussellConwell——totellwithbrevityofwhathehasdone，topointoutthebeginningsofsomething，andquiteomittoelaborateastotheresults。Andthat，whenyoucometoknowhim，ispreciselywhathemeansyoutounderstand——thatitisthebeginningofanythingthatisimportant，andthatifathingisbutearnestlybegunandsetgoingintherightwayitmayjustaseasilydevelopbigresultsaslittleresults。
Buthisstorywasveryfarindeedfrombeing“alltherewastoit，''forhehadquiteomittedtostatetheextraordinaryfactthat，beginningwiththosesevenpupils，comingtohislibraryonaneveningin1884，theTempleUniversityhasnumbered，uptoCommencement-timein1915，88，821students!Nearlyonehundredthousandstudents，andinthelifetimeofthefounder!
Really，themagnitudeofsuchaworkcannotbeexaggerated，northevastimportanceofitwhenitisconsideredthatmostoftheseeighty-eightthousandstudentswouldnothavereceivedtheireducationhaditnotbeenforTempleUniversity。
AnditallcamefromtheinstantresponseofRussellConwelltotheimmediateneedpresentedbyayoungmanwithoutmoney!
“AndthereissomethingelseIwanttosay，''
saidDr。Conwell，unexpectedly。“Iwanttosay，morefullythanamerecasualword，hownoblytheworkwastakenupbyvolunteerhelpers；
professorsfromtheUniversityofPennsylvaniaandteachersfromthepublicschoolsandotherlocalinstitutionsgavefreelyofwhattimetheycoulduntilthenewventurewasfirmlyonitsway。Ihonorthosewhocamesodevotedlytohelp。Anditshouldberememberedthatinthoseearlydaystheneedwasevengreaterthanitwouldnowappear，fortherewerethennonightschoolsormanual-trainingschools。SincethenthecityofPhiladelphiahasgoneintosuchwork，andasfastasithastakenupcertainbranchestheTempleUniversityhasputitsenergyintothebranchesjusthigher。Andthereseemsnolesseningoftheneedofit，''headded，ponderingly。
No；thereiscertainlynolesseningoftheneedofit!Thefiguresoftheannualcataloguewouldaloneshowthat。
Asearlyas1887，justthreeyearsafterthebeginning，theTempleCollege，asitwasbythattimecalled，issueditsfirstcatalogue，whichsetforthwithstirringwordsthattheintentofitsfoundingwasto:
“Providesuchinstructionasshallbebestadaptedtothehighereducationofthosewhoarecompelledtolaborattheirtradewhileengagedinstudy。
“Cultivateatasteforthehigherandmostusefulbranchesoflearning。
“Awakeninthecharacterofyounglaboringmenandwomenadeterminedambitiontobeusefultotheirfellow-men。''
Thecollege——theuniversityasitintimecametobe——earlybroadeneditsscope，butithasfromthefirstcontinuedtoaimattheneedsofthoseunabletosecureeducationwithoutsuchhelpas，throughitsmethods，itaffords。
Itwascharteredin1888，atwhichtimeitsnumbershadreachedalmostsixhundred，andithaseversincehadaconstantfloodofapplicants。
“Ithasdemonstrated，''asDr。Conwellputsit，“thatthosewhoworkforalivinghavetimeforstudy。''Andhe，thoughhedoesnothimselfaddthis，hasgiventheopportunity。
Hefeelsespecialprideinthefeaturesbywhichlecturesandrecitationsareheldatpracticallyanyhourwhichbestsuitstheconvenienceofthestudents。Ifanytenstudentsjoininarequestforanyhourfromnineinthemorningtotenatnightaclassisarrangedforthem，tomeetthatrequest!Thisinvolvesthenecessityforamuchlargernumberofprofessorsandteachersthanwouldotherwisebenecessary，butthatisdeemedaslightconsiderationincomparisonwiththeimmensegooddonebymeetingtheneedsofworkers。
AlsoPresidentConwell——forofcourseheisthepresidentoftheuniversity——isproudofthefactthattheprivilegeofgraduationdependsentirelyuponknowledgegained；thatgraduationdoesnotdependuponhavinglistenedtoanysetnumberoflecturesoruponhavingattendedforsomanytermsoryears。Ifastudentcandofouryears'
workintwoyearsorinthreeheisencouragedtodoit，andifhecannotevendoitinfourhecanhavenodiploma。
Obviously，thereisnoplaceatTempleUniversityforstudentswhocareonlyforafewyearsofleisuredease。Itisaplaceforworkers，andnotatallforthosewhomerelywishtobeabletoboastthattheyattendedauniversity。Thestudentshavecomelargelyfromamongrailroadclerks，bankclerks，bookkeepers，teachers，preachers，mechanics，salesmen，drugclerks，cityandUnitedStatesgovernmentemployees，widows，nurses，housekeepers，brakemen，firemen，engineers，motormen，conductors，andshophands。
Itwaswhenthecollegebecamestrongenough，andsufficientlyadvancedinscholarshipandstanding，andbroadenoughinscope，towinthenameofuniversitythatthistitlewasofficiallygrantedtoitbytheStateofPennsylvania，in1907，andnowitseducationalplanincludesthreedistinctschoolsystems。
First:itoffersahigh-schooleducationtothestudentwhohastoquitschoolafterleavingthegrammar-school。
Second:itoffersafullcollegeeducation，withthebranchestaughtinlong-establishedhigh-
gradecolleges，tothestudentwhohastoquitonleavingthehigh-school。
Third:itoffersfurtherscientificorprofessionaleducationtothecollegegraduatewhomustgotoworkimmediatelyonquittingcollege，butwhowishestotakeupsomesuchcourseaslawormedicineorengineering。
Outoflastyear'senrolmentof3，654itisinterestingtonoticethatthelawclaimed141；
theology，182；medicineandpharmacyanddentistrycombined，357；civilengineering，37；alsothattheteachers'college，withnormalcoursesonsuchsubjectsashouseholdartsandscience，kindergartenwork，andphysicaleducation，took174；andstillmoreinteresting，inaway，toseethat269studentswereenrolledforthetechnicalandvocationalcourses，suchascookinganddress-
making，millinery，manualcrafts，school-gardening，andstory-telling。Therewere511inhigh-
schoolwork，and243inelementaryeducation。
Therewere79studyingmusic，and68studyingtobetrainednurses。Therewere606inthecollegeofliberalartsandsciences，andinthedepartmentofcommercialeducationtherewere987——foritisauniversitythatoffersbothscholarshipandpracticality。
TempleUniversityisnotintheleastacharitableinstitution。Itsfeesarelow，anditshoursarefortheconvenienceofthestudentsthemselves，butitisaplaceofabsoluteindependence。Itis，indeed，aplaceoffargreaterindependence，sooneoftheprofessorspointedout，thanarethegreatuniversitieswhichreceivemillionsandmillionsofmoneyinprivategiftsandendowments。
TempleUniversityinitsearlyyearswassorelyinneedofmoney，andoftentherewerethrillsofexpectancywhensomemanofmightywealthseemedonthepointofgiving。Butnotasingleoneeverdid，andnowtheTemplelikestofeelthatitisgladofit。TheTemple，toquoteitsownwords，is“Aninstitutionforstrongmenandwomenwhocanlaborwithbothmindandbody。''
Andthemanagementisproudtobeabletosaythat，althoughgreatnumbershavecomefromdistantplaces，“notoneofthemanythousandseverfailedtofindanopportunitytosupporthimself。''
Evenintheearlydays，whenmoneywasneededforthenecessarybuildingsthebuildingsofwhichConwelldreamedwhenheleftsecond-storydoorsinhischurch!，theuniversity——collegeitwasthencalled——hadwondevotionfromthosewhoknewthatitwasaplacewhereneithertimenormoneywaswasted，andwhereidlenesswasacrime，andinthedonationsfortheworkweremanysuchitemsasfourhundreddollarsfromfactory-workerswhogavefiftycentseach，andtwothousanddollarsfrompolicemenwhogaveadollareach。
WithintwoorthreeyearspasttheStateofPennsylvaniahasbegungivingitalargesumannually，andthisstateaidispublicrecognitionofTempleUniversityasaninstitutionofhighpublicvalue。
Thestatemoneyisinvestedinthebrainsandheartsoftheambitious。
SoeagerisDr。Conwelltoplacetheopportunityofeducationbeforeeveryone，thatevenhisservantsmustgotoschool!Heisnotoneofthosewhocanseeneedsthatarefarawaybutnotthosethatarerightathome。Hisbeliefineducation，andinthehighestattainableeducation，isprofound，anditisnotonlyonaccountoftheabstractpleasureandvalueofeducation，butitspowerofincreasingactualearningpowerandthusmakingaworkerofmorevaluetobothhimselfandthecommunity。
Manyamanandmanyawoman，whilecontinuingtoworkforsomefirmorfactory，hastakenTempletechnicalcoursesandthusfittedhimselforherselfforanadvancedpositionwiththesameemployer。TheTempleknowsofmanysuch，whohavethuswonprominentadvancement。
Anditknowsofteacherswho，whilecontinuingtoteach，havefittedthemselvesthroughtheTemplecoursesforprofessorships。AnditknowsofmanyacaseoftheriseofaTemplestudentthatreadslikeanArabianNights'fancy!——ofadvancefrombookkeepertoeditor，fromoffice-
boytobankpresident，fromkitchenmaidtoschoolprincipal，fromstreet-cleanertomayor!
TheTempleUniversityhelpsthemthathelpthemselves。
PresidentConwelltoldmepersonallyofonecasethatespeciallyinterestedhimbecauseitseemedtoexhibit，inespecialdegree，theTemplepossibilities；anditparticularlyinterestedmebecauseitalsoshowed，inhighdegree，themethodsandpersonalityofDr。Conwellhimself。
Onedayayoungwomancametohimandsaidsheearnedonlythreedollarsaweekandthatshedesiredverymuchtomakemore。“Canyoutellmehowtodoit?''shesaid。
Helikedherambitionandherdirectness，buttherewassomethingthathefeltdoubtfulabout，andthatwasthatherhatlookedtooexpensiveforthreedollarsaweek!
NowDr。Conwellisamanwhomyouwouldneversuspectofgivingathoughttothehatofmanorwoman!Butasamatteroffactthereisverylittlethathedoesnotsee。
Butthoughthehatseemedtooexpensiveforthreedollarsaweek，Dr。Conwellisnotamanwhomakessnap-judgmentsharshly，andinparticularhewouldbethelastmantoturnawayhastilyonewhohadsoughthimoutforhelp。
Heneverfelt，norcouldpossiblyurgeuponanyone，contentmentwithahumblelot；hestandsforadvancement；hehasnosympathywiththatdictumofthesmug，thathascometousfromanationtightboundforcenturiesbyitsgentryandaristocracy，aboutbeingcontentedwiththepositioninwhichGodhasplacedyou，forhepointsoutthattheBibleitselfholdsupadvancementandsuccessasthingsdesirable。
And，astotheyoungwomanbeforehim，itdeveloped，throughdiscreetinquiryveiledbyfrankdiscussionofhercase，thatshehadmadetheexpensive-lookinghatherself!Whereuponnotonlydidalldoubtfulnessandhesitationvanish，buthesawatoncehowshecouldbetterherself。
Heknewthatawomanwhocouldmakeahatlikethatforherselfcouldmakehatsforotherpeople，andso，“Gointomillineryasabusiness，''
headvised。
“Oh——ifIonlycould!''sheexclaimed。“ButIknowthatIdon'tknowenough。''
“TakethemillinerycourseinTempleUniversity，''
heresponded。
Shehadnotevenheardofsuchacourse，andwhenhewentontoexplainhowshecouldtakeitandatthesametimecontinueatherpresentworkuntilthecoursewasconcluded，shewaspositivelyecstatic——itwasallsounexpected，thisopeningoftheviewofanewandbroaderlife。
“Shewasanunusualwoman，''concludedDr。
Conwell，“andsheworkedwithenthusiasmandtirelessness。Shegraduated，wenttoanup-statecitythatseemedtoofferagoodfield，openedamillineryestablishmentthere，withherownnameabovethedoor，andbecameprosperous。Thatwasonlyafewyearsago。AndrecentlyIhadaletterfromher，tellingmethatlastyearshenettedaclearprofitofthreethousandsixhundreddollars!''
Irememberaman，himselfofdistinguishedposition，sayingofDr。Conwell，“Itisdifficulttospeakintemperedlanguageofwhathehasachieved。''Andthatjustexpressesit；thetemptationisconstantlytousesuperlatives——forsuperlativesfit!Ofcoursehehassucceededforhimself，andsucceededmarvelously，inhisrisefromtherockyhillfarm，buthehasdonesovastlymorethanthatininspiringsuchhostsofotherstosucceed!
Adreamerofdreamsandaseerofvisions——
andwhatrealizationshavecome!Anditinterestedmeprofoundlynotlongago，whenDr。
Conwell，talkingoftheuniversity，unexpectedlyremarkedthathewouldliketoseesuchinstitu-
tionsscatteredthroughouteverystateintheUnion。“Allcarriedonatslightexpensetothestudentsandathourstosuitallsortsofworkingmenandwomen，''headded，afterapause；andthen，abruptly，“IshouldliketoseethepossibilityofhighereducationofferedtoeveryoneintheUnitedStateswhoworksforaliving。''
Therewassomethingsuperbintheveryimaginingofsuchanation-widesystem。ButIdidnotaskwhetherornothehadplannedanydetailsforsuchaneffort。Iknewthatthusfaritmightonlybeoneofhisdreams——butIalsoknewthathisdreamshadawayofbecomingrealities。
Ihadafleetingglimpseofhissoaringvision。Itwasamazingtofindamanofmorethanthree-
scoreandtenthusdreamingofmoreworldstoconquer。AndIthought，whatcouldtheworldhaveaccomplishedifMethuselahhadbeenaConwell!——or，farbetter，whatwonderscouldbeaccomplishedifConwellcouldbutbeaMethuselah!
Hehasallhislifebeenagreattraveler。Heisamanwhoseesvividlyandwhocandescribevividly。Yetoftenhisletters，evenfromplacesofthemostprofoundinterest，aremostlyconcernedwithaffairsbackhome。Itisnotthathedoesnotfeel，andfeelintensely，theinterestofwhatheisvisiting，butthathistremendousearnestnesskeepshimalwaysconcernedabouthisworkathome。TherecouldbenostrongerexamplethanwhatInoticedinaletterhewrotefromJerusa-
lem。“IaminJerusalem!AndhereatGethsemaneandattheTombofChrist''——readingthusfar，oneexpectsthatanyman，andespeciallyaminister，issuretosaysomethingregardingtheassociationsoftheplaceandtheeffectoftheseassociationsonhismind；butConwellisalwaysthemanwhoisdifferent——“AndhereatGethsemaneandattheTombofChrist，IprayespeciallyfortheTempleUniversity。''ThatisConwellism!
Thathefoundedahospital——aworkinitselfgreatenoughforevenagreatlifeisbutoneamongthestrikingincidentsofhiscareer。Anditcameaboutthroughperfectnaturalness。Forhecametoknow，throughhispastoralworkandthroughhisgrowingacquaintancewiththeneedsofthecity，thattherewasavastamountofsufferingandwretchednessandanguish，becauseoftheinabilityoftheexistinghospitalstocareforallwhoneededcare。Therewassomuchsicknessandsufferingtobealleviated，thereweresomanydeathsthatcouldbeprevented——andsohedecidedtostartanotherhospital。
And，likeeverythingwithhim，thebeginningwassmall。Thatcannottoostronglybesetdownasthewayofthisphenomenallysuccessfulorganizer。Mostmenwouldhavetowaituntilabigbeginningcouldbemade，andsowouldmostlikelynevermakeabeginningatall。ButConwell'swayistodreamoffuturebigness，butbereadytobeginatonce，nomatterhowsmallorinsignificantthebeginningmayappeartoothers。
Tworentedrooms，onenurse，onepatient——thiswasthehumblebeginning，in1891，ofwhathasdevelopedintothegreatSamaritanHospital。Inayeartherewasanentirehouse，fittedupwithwardsandoperating-room。Nowitoccupiesseveralbuildings，includingandadjoiningthatfirstone，andagreatnewstructureisplanned。Butevenasitis，ithasahundredandseventybeds，isfittedwithallmodernhospitalappliances，andhasalargestaffofphysicians；andthenumberofsurgicaloperationsperformedthereisverylarge。