Itisopentosufferersofanyraceorcreed,andthepoorareneverrefusedadmission,therulebeingthattreatmentisfreeforthosewhocannotpay,butthatsuchascanafforditshallpayaccordingtotheirmeans。
Andthehospitalhasakindlyfeaturethatendearsittopatientsandtheirrelativesalike,andthatisthat,byDr。Conwell'spersonalorder,therearenotonlytheusualweek-dayhoursforvisiting,butalsooneeveningaweekandeverySundayafternoon。“Forotherwise,''ashesays,“manywouldbeunabletocomebecausetheycouldnotgetawayfromtheirwork。''
Alittleovereightyearsagoanotherhospitalwastakenincharge,theGarretson——notfoundedbyConwell,thisone,butacquired,andpromptlyexpandedinitsusefulness。
BoththeSamaritanandtheGarretsonarepartofTempleUniversity。TheSamaritanHospitalhastreated,sinceitsfoundation,uptothemiddleof1915,29,301patients;theGarretson,initsshorterlife,5,923。Includingdispensarycasesaswellashousepatients,thetwohospitalstogether,undertheheadshipofPresidentConwell,havehandledover400,000cases。
HowConwellcanpossiblymeetthemultifariousdemandsuponhistimeisinitselfamiracle。
Heistheheadofthegreatchurch;heistheheadoftheuniversity;heistheheadofthehospitals;
heistheheadofeverythingwithwhichheisassociated!Andheisnotonlynominally,butveryactively,thehead!
VIII
HISSPLENDIDEFFICIENCY
CONWELLhasafewstrongandefficientexecutivehelperswhohavelongbeenassociatedwithhim;menandwomenwhoknowhisideasandideals,whoaredevotedtohim,andwhodotheirutmosttorelievehim;andofcoursethereisverymuchthatisthusdoneforhim;butevenasitis,heissoovershadowingamanthereisreallynootherwordthatallwhoworkwithhimlooktohimforadviceandguidancetheprofessorsandthestudents,thedoctorsandthenurses,thechurchofficers,theSunday-schoolteachers,themembersofhiscongregation。Andheisnevertoobusytoseeanyonewhoreallywishestoseehim。
Hecanattendtoavastintricacyofdetail,andanswermyriadpersonalquestionsanddoubts,andkeepthegreatinstitutionssplendidlygoing,bythoroughsystematizationoftime,andbywatchingeveryminute。Hehasseveralsecretaries,forspecialwork,besideshisprivatesecretary。Hiscorrespondenceisverygreat。Oftenhedictatestoasecretaryashetravelsonthetrain。EveninthefewdaysforwhichhecanrunbacktotheBerkshires,workisawaitinghim。Workfollowshim。Andafterknowingofthis,oneispositivelyamazedthatheisabletogivetohiscountry-widelecturesthetimeandthetravelingthattheyinexorablydemand。Onlyamanofimmensestrength,ofthegreateststamina,averitablesuperman,couldpossiblydoit。Andattimesonequiteforgets,noticingthemultiplicityofhisoccupations,thathepreparestwosermonsandtwotalksonSunday!
HereishisusualSundayschedule,whenathome。Herisesatsevenandstudiesuntilbreakfast,whichisateight-thirty。Thenhestudiesuntilnine-forty-five,whenheleadsamen'smeetingatwhichheislikelyalsotoplaytheorganandleadthesinging。Atten-thirtyistheprincipalchurchservice,atwhichhepreaches,andatthecloseofwhichheshakeshandswithhundreds。
Hedinesatone,afterwhichhetakesfifteenminutes'restandthenreads;andatthreeo'clockheaddresses,inatalkthatislikeanothersermon,alargeclassofmen——notthesamemenasinthemorning。HeisalsosuretolookinattheregularsessionoftheSunday-school。Homeagain,wherehestudiesandreadsuntilsupper-time。Atseven-
thirtyistheeveningservice,atwhichheagainpreachesandafterwhichheshakeshandswithseveralhundredmoreandtalkspersonally,inhisstudy,withanywhohaveneedoftalkwithhim。
Heisusuallyhomebyten-thirty。Ispokeofit,oneevening,ashavingbeenastrenuousday,andheresponded,withacheerfullywhimsicalsmile:
“Threesermonsandshookhandswithninehundred。''
Thatevening,astheserviceclosed,hehadsaidtothecongregation:“Ishallbehereforanhour。Wealwayshaveapleasanttimetogetherafterservice。Ifyouareacquaintedwithme,comeupandshakehands。Ifyouarestrangers''——
justtheslightestofpauses——“comeupandletusmakeanacquaintancethatwilllastforeternity。''Irememberhowsimplyandeasilythiswassaid,inhisclear,deepvoice,andhowimpressiveandimportantitseemed,andwithwhatunexpectednessitcame。“Comeandmakeanacquaintancethatwilllastforeternity!''
Andtherewasaserenityabouthiswayofsayingthiswhichwouldmakestrangersthink——justashemeantthemtothink——thathehadnothingwhatevertodobuttotalkwiththem。Evenhisowncongregationhave,mostofthem,littleconceptionofhowbusyamanheisandhowpreciousishistime。
OneeveninglastJunetotakeaneveningofwhichIhappenedtoknow——hegothomefromajourneyoftwohundredmilesatsixo'clock,andafterdinnerandaslightrestwenttothechurchprayer-meeting,whichheledinhisusualvigorouswayatsuchmeetings,playingtheorganandleadingthesinging,aswellasprayingandtalk-
ing。Aftertheprayer-meetinghewenttotwodinnersinsuccession,bothofthemimportantdinnersinconnectionwiththecloseoftheuniversityyear,andatbothdinnershespoke。Attheseconddinnerhewasnotifiedofthesuddenillnessofamemberofhiscongregation,andinstantlyhurriedtotheman'shomeandthencetothehospitaltowhichhehadbeenremoved,andthereheremainedattheman'sbedside,orinconsultationwiththephysicians,untiloneinthemorning。Nextmorninghewasupatsevenandagainatwork。
“ThisonethingIdo,''ishisprivatemaximofefficiency,andaliteralistmightpointoutthathedoesnotonethingonly,butathousandthings,notgettingConwell'smeaning,whichisthatwhateverthethingmaybewhichheisdoingheletshimselfthinkofnothingelseuntilitisdone。
Dr。Conwellhasaprofoundloveforthecountryandparticularlyforthecountryofhisownyouth。
Helovesthewindthatcomessweepingoverthehills,helovesthewide-stretchingviewsfromtheheightsandtheforestintimaciesofthenestlednooks。Helovestheripplingstreams,helovesthewildflowersthatnestleinseclusionorthatunexpectedlypaintsomemountainmeadowwithdelight。Helovestheverytouchoftheearth,andhelovesthegreatbarerocks。
Hewritesversesattimes;atleasthehaswrittenlinesforafewoldtunes;anditinterestedmegreatlytochanceuponsomelinesofhisthatpictureheavenintermsoftheBerkshires:
_Thewide-stretchingvalleysincolorssofadeless,Wheretreesarealldeathlessandflowerse'erbloom_。
ThatisheavenintheeyesofaNewEnglandhill-man!Notgoldenpavementandivorypalaces,butvalleysandtreesandflowersandthewidesweepoftheopen。
Fewthingspleasehimmorethantogo,forexample,blackberrying,andhehasaknackofneverscratchinghisfaceorhisfingerswhendoingso。Andhefindsblackberrying,whetherhegoesaloneorwithfriends,anextraordinarilygoodtimeforplanningsomethinghewishestodoorworkingoutthethoughtofasermon。Andfishingisevenbetter,forinfishinghefindsimmenserecreationandrestfulnessandatthesametimeafurtheropportunitytothinkandplan。
Asasmallboyhewishedthathecouldthrowadamacrossthetrout-brookthatrunsnearthelittleConwellhome,and——ashenevergivesup——
hefinallyrealizedtheambition,althoughitwasafterhalfacentury!Andnowhehasabigpond,three-quartersofamilelongbyhalfamilewide,lyinginfrontofthehouse,downaslopefromit——
apondstockedwithsplendidpickerel。Helikestofloataboutrestfullyonthispond,thinkingorfishing,orboth。Andonthatpondheshowedmehowtocatchpickerelevenunderablazeofsunlight!
Heisatrout-fisher,too,foritisatroutstreamthatfeedsthispondandgoesdashingawayfromitthroughthewilderness;andformilesadjoininghisplaceafishingclubofwealthymenboughtuptherightsinthistroutstream,andtheyapproachedhimwithaliberaloffer。Buthedeclinedit。“IrememberedwhatgoodtimesIhadwhenIwasaboy,fishingupanddownthatstream,andIcouldn'tthinkofkeepingtheboysofthepresentdayfromsuchapleasure。Sotheymaystillcomeandfishfortrouthere。''
Aswewalkedonedaybesidethisbrook,hesuddenlysaid:“Didyouevernoticethateverybrookhasitsownsong?Ishouldknowthesongofthisbrookanywhere。''
Itwouldseemasifhelovedhisruggednativecountrybecauseitisruggedevenmorethanbecauseitisnative!Himselfsorugged,sohardy,soenduring——thestrengthofthehillsishisalso。
Always,inhisveryappearance,youseesomethingofthisruggednessofthehills;aruggedness,asincerity,aplainness,thatmarkalikehischaracterandhislooks。Andalwaysonerealizesthestrengthoftheman,evenwhenhisvoice,asitusuallyis,islow。Andoneincreasinglyrealizesthestrengthwhen,onthelectureplatformorinthepulpitorinconversation,heflashesvividlyintofire。
Abig-bonedmanheis,sturdy-framed,atallman,withbroadshouldersandstronghands。
Hishairisadeepchestnut-brownthatatfirstsightseemsblack。Inhisearlymanhoodhewassuperbinlooks,ashispicturesshow,butanxietyandworkandtheconstantflightofyears,withphysicalpain,havesettledhisfaceintolinesofsadnessandalmostofseverity,whichinstantlyvanishwhenhespeaks。Andhisfaceisilluminedbymarvelouseyes。
Heisalonelyman。Thewifeofhisearlyyearsdiedlong,longago,beforesuccesshadcome,andshewasdeeplymourned,forshehadloyallyhelpedhimthroughatimethatheldmuchofstruggleandhardship。Hemarriedagain;andthiswifewashisloyalhelpmateformanyyears。
Inatimeofspecialstress,whenadefalcationofsixty-fivethousanddollarsthreatenedtocrushTempleCollegejustwhenitwasgettingonitsfeet,forbothTempleChurchandTempleCollegehadinthoseearlydaysbuoyantlyassumedheavyindebtedness,heraisedeverydollarhecouldbysellingormortgaginghisownpossessions,andinthishiswife,ashelovinglyremembers,mostcordiallystoodbesidehim,althoughsheknewthatifanythingshouldhappentohimthefinancialsacrificewouldleaveherpenniless。Shediedafteryearsofcompanionship;hischildrenmarriedandmadehomesoftheirown;heisalonelyman。Yetheisnotunhappy,forthetremendousdemandsofhistremendousworkleavehimlittletimeforsadnessorretrospect。Attimestherealizationcomesthatheisgettingold,thatfriendsandcomradeshavebeenpassingaway,leavinghimanoldmanwithyoungerfriendsandhelpers。Butsuchrealizationonlymakeshimworkwithanearnestnessstillmoreintense,knowingthatthenightcomethwhennomanshallwork。
Deeplyreligiousthoughheis,hedoesnotforcereligionintoconversationonordinarysubjectsoruponpeoplewhomaynotbeinterestedinit。
Withhim,itisactionandgoodworks,withfaithandbelief,thatcount,exceptwhentalkisthenatural,thefitting,thenecessarything;whenaddressingeitheroneindividualorthousands,hetalkswithsuperbeffectiveness。
Hissermonsare,itmayalmostliterallybesaid,parableafterparable;althoughhehimselfwouldbethelastmantosaythis,foritwouldsoundasifheclaimedtomodelafterthegreatestofallexamples。Hisownwayofputtingitisthatheusesstoriesfrequentlybecausepeoplearemoreimpressedbyillustrationsthanbyargument。
Always,whetherinthepulpitoroutofit,heissimpleandhomelike,humanandunaffected。
Ifhehappenstoseesomeoneinthecongregationtowhomhewishestospeak,hemayjustleavehispulpitandwalkdowntheaisle,whilethechoirissinging,andquietlysayafewwordsandreturn。
Intheearlydaysofhisministry,ifheheardofapoorfamilyinimmediateneedoffoodhewouldbequitelikelytogatherabasketofprovisionsandgopersonally,andofferthisassistanceandsuchotherashemightfindnecessarywhenhereachedtheplace。Ashebecameknownheceasedfromthisdirectandopenmethodofcharity,forheknewthatimpulsivenesswouldbetakenforintentionaldisplay。Buthehasneverceasedtobereadytohelpontheinstantthatheknowshelpisneeded。Delayandlengthyinvestigationareavoidedbyhimwhenhecanbecertainthatsomethingimmediateisrequired。
Andtheextentofhisquietcharityisamazing。
familyforwhichtosavemoney,andwithnocaretoputawaymoneyforhimself,hethinksonlyofmoneyasaninstrumentforhelpfulness。
Ineverheardafriendcriticizehimexceptfortoogreatopen-handedness。
Iwasstronglyimpressed,aftercomingtoknowhim,thathepossessedmanyofthequalitiesthatmadeforthesuccessoftheold-timedistrictleadersofNewYorkCity,andImentionedthistohim,andheatoncerespondedthathehadhimselfmet“BigTim,''thelong-timeleaderoftheSullivans,andhadhadhimathishouse,BigTimhavinggonetoPhiladelphiatoaidsomehenchmanintrouble,andhavingpromptlysoughttheaidofDr。Conwell。AnditwascharacteristicofConwellthathesaw,whatsomanyneversaw,themoststrikingcharacteristicofthatTammanyleader。For,“BigTimSullivanwassokind-hearted!''Conwellappreciatedtheman'spoliticalunscrupulousnessaswellasdidhisenemies,buthesawalsowhatmadehisunderlyingpower——hiskind-heartedness。ExceptthatSullivancouldbesupremelyunscrupulous,andthatConwellissupremelyscrupulous,thereweremarkedsimilaritiesinthesemastersovermen;andConwellpossesses,asSullivanpossessed,awonderfulmemoryforfacesandnames。
Naturally,RussellConwellstandssteadilyandstronglyforgoodcitizenship。ButhenevertalksboastfulAmericanism。HeseldomspeaksinsomanywordsofeitherAmericanismorgoodcitizenship,butheconstantlyandsilentlykeepstheAmericanflag,asthesymbolofgoodcitizenship,beforehispeople。AnAmericanflagisprominentinhischurch;anAmericanflagisseeninhishome;
abeautifulAmericanflagisupathisBerkshireplaceandsurmountsaloftytowerwhere,whenhewasaboy,therestoodamightytreeatthetopofwhichwasaneagle'snest,whichhasgivenhimanameforhishome,forhetermsit“TheEagle'sNest。''
RememberingalongstorythatIhadreadofhisclimbingtothetopofthattree,thoughitwasawell-nighimpossiblefeat,andsecuringthenestbygreatperseveranceanddaring,Iaskedhimifthestorywereatrueone。“Oh,I'veheardsomethingaboutit;somebodysaidthatsomebodywatchedme,orsomethingofthekind。ButIdon'trememberanythingaboutitmyself。''
Anyfriendofhisissuretosaysomething,afterawhile,abouthisdetermination,hisinsistenceongoingaheadwithanythingonwhichhehasreallysethisheart。Oneoftheveryimportantthingsonwhichheinsisted,inspiteofverygreatopposition,andespeciallyanoppositionfromtheotherchurchesofhisdenominationforthiswasagoodmanyyearsago,whentherewasmuchmorenarrownessinchurchesandsectsthanthereisatpresent,waswithregardtodoingawaywithclosecommunion。Hedeterminedonanopencommunion;andhiswayofputtingit,oncedecidedupon,was:“Myfriends,itisnotformetoinviteyoutothetableoftheLord。ThetableoftheLordisopen。Ifyoufeelthatyoucancometothetable,itisopentoyou。''Andthisistheformwhichhestilluses。
Henotonlynevergivesup,but,sohisfriendssay,heneverforgetsathinguponwhichhehasoncedecided,andattimes,longaftertheysupposedthematterhasbeenentirelyforgotten,theysuddenlyfindDr。Conwellbringinghisoriginalpurposetopass。WhenIwastoldofthisIrememberedthatpickerel-pondintheBerkshires!
Ifheisreallysetupondoinganything,littleorbig,adversecriticismdoesnotdisturbhisserenity。Someyearsagohebeganwearingahugediamond,whosesizeattractedmuchcriticismandcausticcomment。Heneversaidawordindefense;hejustkeptonwearingthediamond。
Oneday,however,aftersomeyears,hetookitoff,andpeoplesaid,“Hehaslistenedtothecriticismatlast!''Hesmiledreminiscentlyashetoldmeaboutthis,andsaid:“AdearolddeaconofmycongregationgavemethatdiamondandI
didnotliketohurthisfeelingsbyrefusingit。
Itreallybotheredmetowearsuchaglaringbigthing,butbecauseIdidn'twanttohurttheolddeacon'sfeelingsIkeptonwearingituntilhewasdead。ThenIstoppedwearingit。''
TheambitionofRussellConwellistocontinueworkingandworkinguntiltheverylastmomentofhislife。Inworkheforgetshissadness,hisloneliness,hisage。Andhesaidtomeoneday,“Iwilldieinharness。''
IX
THESTORYOFACRESOFDIAMONDS
CONSIDERINGeverything,themostremarkablethinginRussellConwell'sremarkablelifeishislecture,“AcresofDiamonds。''
Thatis,thelectureitself,thenumberoftimeshehasdeliveredit,whatasourceofinspirationithasbeentomyriads,themoneythathehasmadeandismaking,and,stillmore,thepurposetowhichhedirectsthemoney。Inthecircumstancessurrounding“AcresofDiamonds,''initstremendoussuccess,intheattitudeofmindrevealedbythelectureitselfandbywhatDr。
Conwelldoeswithit,itisilluminativeofhischaracter,hisaims,hisability。
Thelectureisvibrantwithhisenergy。Itflasheswithhishopefulness。Itisfullofhisenthusiasm。
Itispackedfullofhisintensity。Itstandsforthepossibilitiesofsuccessineveryone。Hehasdelivereditoverfivethousandtimes。Thedemandforitneverdiminishes。Thesuccessgrowsneverless。
ThereisatimeinRussellConwell'syouthofwhichitispainforhimtothink。Hetoldmeofitoneevening,andhisvoicesanklowerandlowerashewentfarbackintothepast。ItwasofhisdaysatYalethathespoke,fortheyweredaysofsuffering。ForhehadnotmoneyforYale,andinworkingformoreheenduredbitterhumiliation。Itwasnotthattheworkwashard,forRussellConwellhasalwaysbeenreadyforhardwork。Itwasnotthattherewereprivationsanddifficulties,forhehasalwaysfounddifficultiesonlythingstoovercome,andenduredprivationswithcheerfulfortitude。Butitwasthehumiliationsthathemet——thepersonalhumiliationsthataftermorethanhalfacenturymakehimsufferinrememberingthem——yetoutofthosehumiliationscameamarvelousresult。
“Idetermined,''hesays,“thatwhateverI
coulddotomakethewayeasieratcollegeforotheryoungmenworkingtheirwayIwoulddo。''
Andso,manyyearsago,hebegantodevoteeverydollarthathemadefrom“AcresofDiamonds''
tothisdefinitepurpose。Hehaswhatmaybetermedawaiting-list。Onthatlistareveryfewcaseshehaslookedintopersonally。
Infinitelybusymanthatheis,hecannotdoextensivepersonalinvestigation。Alargeproportionofhisnamescometohimfromcollegepresidentswhoknowofstudentsintheirowncollegesinneedofsuchahelpinghand。
“Everynight,''hesaid,whenIaskedhimtotellmeaboutit,“whenmylectureisoverandthecheckisinmyhand,Isitdowninmyroominthehotel''——whatalonelypicture,tool——“I
sitdowninmyroominthehotelandsubtractfromthetotalsumreceivedmyactualexpensesforthatplace,andmakeoutacheckforthedifferenceandsendittosomeyoungmanonmylist。AndIalwayssendwiththecheckaletterofadviceandhelpfulness,expressingmyhopethatitwillbeofsomeservicetohimandtellinghimthatheistofeelundernoobligationexcepttohisLord。Ifeelstrongly,andItrytomakeeveryyoungmanfeel,thattheremustbenosenseofobligationtomepersonally。AndItellthemthatIamhopingtoleavebehindmemenwhowilldomoreworkthanIhavedone。Don'tthinkthatIputintoomuchadvice,''headded,withasmile,“forIonlytrytoletthemknowthatafriendistryingtohelpthem。''
Hisfacelightedashespoke。“Thereissuchafascinationinit!''heexclaimed。“Itisjustlikeagamble!AndassoonasIhavesenttheletterandcrossedanameoffmylist,Iamaimingforthenextone!''
Andafterapauseheadded:“Idonotattempttosendanyyoungmanenoughforallhisexpenses。ButIwanttosavehimfrombitterness,andeachcheckwillhelp。And,too,''heconcluded,navely,inthevernacular,“Idon'twantthemtolaydownonme!''
Hetoldmethathemadeitclearthathedidnotwishtogetreturnsorreportsfromthisbranchofhislife-work,foritwouldtakeagreatdealoftimeinwatchingandthinkingandinthereadingandwritingofletters。“Butitismainly,''hewenton,“thatIdonotwishtoholdovertheirheadsthesenseofobligation。''
WhenIsuggestedthatthiswassurelyanexampleofbreadcastuponthewatersthatcouldnotreturn,hewassilentforalittleandthensaid,thoughtfully:“Asonegetsoninyearsthereissatisfactionindoingathingforthesakeofdoingit。Thebreadreturnsinthesenseofeffortmade。''
OnarecenttripthroughMinnesotahewaspositivelyupset,sohissecretarytoldme,throughbeingrecognizedonatrainbyayoungmanwhohadbeenhelpedthrough“AcresofDiamonds,''
andwho,findingthatthiswasreallyDr。Conwell,eagerlybroughthiswifetojoinhiminmostferventthanksforhisassistance。BoththehusbandandhiswifeweresoemotionallyovercomethatitquiteovercameDr。Conwellhimself。
Thelecture,toquotethenoblewordsofDr。
Conwellhimself,isdesignedtohelp“everyperson,ofeithersex,whocherishesthehighresolveofsustainingacareerofusefulnessandhonor。''
Itisalectureofhelpfulness。Anditisalecture,whengivenwithConwell'svoiceandfaceandmanner,thatisfulloffascination。Andyetitisallsosimple!
Itispackedfullofinspiration,ofsuggestion,ofaid。Healtersittomeetthelocalcircumstancesofthethousandsofdifferentplacesinwhichhedeliversit。Butthebaseremainsthesame。Andeventhosetowhomitisanoldstorywillgotohearhimtimeaftertime。Itamuseshimtosaythatheknowsindividualswhohavelistenedtoittwentytimes。
ItbeginswithastorytoldtoConwellbyanoldArabasthetwojourneyedtogethertowardNineveh,and,asyoulisten,youheartheactualvoicesandyouseethesandsofthedesertandthewavingpalms。Thelecturer'svoiceissoeasy,soeffortless,itseemssoordinaryandmatter-of-
fact——yettheentiresceneisinstantlyvitalandalive!Instantlythemanhashisaudienceunderasortofspell,eagertolisten,readytobemerryorgrave。Hehasthefacultyofcontrol,thevitalqualitythatmakestheorator。
Thesamepeoplewillgotohearthislectureoverandover,andthatisthekindoftributethatConwelllikes。Irecentlyheardhimdeliveritinhisownchurch,whereitwouldnaturallybethoughttobeanoldstory,andwhere,presumably,onlyafewofthefaithfulwouldgo;butitwasquiteclearthatallofhischurcharethefaithful,foritwasalargeaudiencethatcametolistentohim;hardlyaseatinthegreatauditoriumwasvacant。Anditshouldbeaddedthat,althoughitwasinhisownchurch,itwasnotafreelecture,whereathrongmightbeexpected,butthateachonepaidaliberalsumforaseat——andthepayingofadmissionisalwaysapracticaltestofthesincerityofdesiretohear。
Andthepeopleweresweptalongbythecurrentasiflecturerandlecturewereofnovelinterest。
Thelectureinitselfisgoodtoread,butitisonlywhenitisilluminedbyConwell'svividpersonalitythatoneunderstandshowitinfluencesintheactualdelivery。
Onthatparticulareveninghehaddecidedtogivethelectureinthesameformaswhenhefirstdelivereditmanyyearsago,withoutanyofthealterationsthathavecomewithtimeandchanginglocalities,andashewenton,withtheaudienceripplingandbubblingwithlaughterasusual,heneverdoubtedthathewasgivingitashehadgivenityearsbefore;andyet——soup-to-dateandalivemusthenecessarilybe,inspiteofadefinitiveefforttosethimselfback——everyonceinawhilehewascomingoutwithillustrationsfromsuchdistinctlyrecentthingsastheautomobile!
ThelasttimeIheardhimwasthe5,124thtimeforthelecture。Doesn'titseemincredible!5,124
times'Inoticedthathewastodeliveritatalittleout-of-the-wayplace,difficultforanyconsiderablenumbertogetto,andIwonderedjusthowmuchofanaudiencewouldgatherandhowtheywouldbeimpressed。SoIwentoverfromthereIwas,afewmilesaway。TheroadwasdarkandIpicturedasmallaudience,butwhenIgotthereIfoundthechurchbuildinginwhichhewastodeliverthelecturehadaseatingcapacityof830andthatprecisely830peoplewerealreadyseatedthereandthatafringeofotherswerestandingbehind。Manyhadcomefrommilesaway。Yetthelecturehadscarcely,ifatall,beenadvertised。Butpeoplehadsaidtooneanother:“Aren'tyougoingtohearDr。Conwell?''
Andthewordhadthusbeenpassedalong。
Irememberhowfascinatingitwastowatchthataudience,fortheyrespondedsokeenlyandwithsuchheartfeltpleasurethroughouttheentirelecture。Andnotonlyweretheyimmenselypleasedandamusedandinterested——andtoachievethatatacrossroadschurchwasinitselfatriumphtobeproudof——butIknewthateverylistenerwasgivenanimpulsetowarddoingsomethingforhimselfandforothers,andthatwithatleastsomeofthemtheimpulsewouldmaterializeinacts。Overandoveronerealizeswhatapowersuchamanwields。
Andwhatanunselfishness!For,faroninyearsasheis,andsufferingpain,hedoesnotchopdownhislecturetoadefinitelength;hedoesnottalkforjustanhourorgoongrudginglyforanhourandahalf。Heseesthatthepeoplearefascinatedandinspired,andheforgetspain,ignorestime,forgetsthatthenightislateandthathehasalongjourneytogotogethome,andkeepsongenerouslyfortwohours!Andeveryonewishesitwerefour。
Alwayshetalkswitheaseandsympathy。
Therearegeniality,composure,humor,simpleandhomelyjests——yetneverdoestheaudienceforgetthatheiseverymomentintremendousearnest。Theybubblewithresponsivelaughteroraresilentinrivetedattention。Astircanbeseentosweepoveranaudience,ofearnestnessorsurpriseoramusementorresolve。Whenheisgraveandsoberorfervidthepeoplefeelthatheishimselfafervidlyearnestman,andwhenheistellingsomethinghumorousthereisonhispartalmostarepressedchuckle,agenialappreciationofthefunofit,notintheleastasifhewerelaughingathisownhumor,butasifheandhishearerswerelaughingtogetheratsomethingofwhichtheywereallhumorouslycognizant。
Myriadsuccessesinlifehavecomethroughthedirectinspirationofthissinglelecture。Onehearsofsomanythattheremustbevastlymorethatarenevertold。AfewofthemostrecentweretoldmebyDr。Conwellhimself,onebeingofafarmerboywhowalkedalongdistancetohearhim。Onhiswayhome,sotheboy,nowaman,haswrittenhim,hethoughtoverandoverofwhathecoulddotoadvancehimself,andbeforehereachedhomehelearnedthatateacherwaswantedatacertaincountryschool。Heknewhedidnotknowenoughtoteach,butwassurehecouldlearn,sohebravelyaskedfortheplace。
Andsomethinginhisearnestnessmadehimwinatemporaryappointment。Thereuponheworkedandstudiedsohardandsodevotedly,whilehedailytaught,thatwithinafewmonthshewasregularlyemployedthere。“Andnow,''saysConwell,abruptly,withhischaracteristicskim-
mingoveroftheintermediatedetailsbetweentheimportantbeginningofathingandthesatisfactoryend,“andnowthatyoungmanisoneofourcollegepresidents。''
AndveryrecentlyaladycametoDr。Conwell,thewifeofanexceptionallyprominentmanwhowasearningalargesalary,andshetoldhimthatherhusbandwassounselfishlygenerouswithmoneythatoftentheywerealmostinstraits。
Andshesaidtheyhadboughtalittlefarmasacountryplace,payingonlyafewhundreddollarsforit,andthatshehadsaidtoherself,laughingly,afterhearingthelecture,“Therearenoacresofdiamondsonthisplace!''Butshealsowentontotellthatshehadfoundaspringofexceptionallyfinewaterthere,althoughinbuyingtheyhadscarcelyknownofthespringatall;
andshehadbeensoinspiredbyConwellthatshehadhadthewateranalyzedand,findingthatitwasremarkablypure,hadbeguntohaveitbottledandsoldunderatradenameasspecialspringwater。Andsheismakingmoney。Andshealsosellspureicefromthepool,cutinwinter-timeandallbecauseof“AcresofDiamonds''!
Severalmillionsofdollars,inall,havebeenreceivedbyRussellConwellastheproceedsfromthissinglelecture。Suchafactisalmoststaggering——
anditismorestaggeringtorealizewhatgoodisdoneintheworldbythisman,whodoesnotearnforhimself,butuseshismoneyinimmediatehelpfulness。Andonecanneitherthinknorwritewithmoderationwhenitisfurtherrealizedthatfarmoregoodthancanbedonedirectlywithmoneyhedoesbyupliftingandinspiringwiththislecture。Alwayshisheartiswiththewearyandtheheavy-laden。Alwayshestandsforself-betterment。
Lastyear,1914,heandhisworkweregivenuniquerecognition。Foritwasknownbyhisfriendsthatthisparticularlecturewasapproachingitsfive-thousandthdelivery,andtheyplannedacelebrationofsuchaneventinthehistoryofthemostpopularlectureintheworld。Dr。ConwellagreedtodeliveritintheAcademyofMusic,inPhiladelphia,andthebuildingwaspackedandthestreetsoutsidewerethronged。Theproceedsfromallsourcesforthatfive-thousandthlecturewereoverninethousanddollars。
TheholdwhichRussellConwellhasgainedontheaffectionsandrespectofhishomecitywasseennotonlyinthethousandswhostrovetohearhim,butintheprominentmenwhoservedonthelocalcommitteeinchargeofthecelebration。
Therewasanationalcommittee,too,andthenation-widelovethathehaswon,thenation-
wideappreciationofwhathehasdoneandisstilldoing,wasshownbythefactthatamongthenamesofthenotablesonthiscommitteewerethoseofninegovernorsofstates。TheGovernorofPennsylvaniawashimselfpresenttodoRussellConwellhonor,andhegavetohimakeyemblematicoftheFreedomoftheState。
The“FreedomoftheState''——yes;thisman,welloverseventy,haswonit。TheFreedomoftheState,theFreedomoftheNation——forthismanofhelpfulness,thismarvelousexponentofthegospelofsuccess,hasworkedmarvelouslyforthefreedom,thebetterment,theliberation,theadvancement,oftheindividual。
FIFTYYEARSONTHELECTURE
PLATFORM
BY
RUSSELLH。CONWELL
ANAutobiography!Whatanabsurdrequest!
Ifalltheconditionswerefavorable,thestoryofmypublicLifecouldnotbemadeinteresting。
Itdoesnotseempossiblethatanywillcaretoreadsoplainanduneventfulatale。Iseenothinginitforboasting,normuchthatcouldbehelpful。
ThenIneversavedascrapofpaperintentionallyconcerningmyworktowhichIcouldrefer,notabook,notasermon,notalecture,notanewspapernoticeoraccount,notamagazinearticle,notoneofthekindbiographieswrittenfromtimetotimebynoblefriendshaveIeverkeptevenasasouvenir,althoughsomeofthemmaybeinmylibrary。Ihaveeverfeltthatthewritersconcerningmylifeweretoogenerousandthatmyownworkwastoohastilydone。HenceIhavenothinguponwhichtobaseanautobiographicalaccount,excepttherecollectionswhichcometoanoverburdenedmind。
Mygeneralviewofhalfacenturyonthelectureplatformbringstomepreciousandbeautifulmemories,andfillsmysoulwithdevoutgratitudefortheblessingsandkindnesseswhichhavebeengiventomesofarbeyondmydeserts。
SomuchmoresuccesshascometomyhandsthanIeverexpected;somuchmoreofgoodhaveIfoundthanevenyouth'swildestdreamincluded;somuchmoreeffectivehavebeenmyweakestendeavorsthanIeverplannedorhoped——
thatabiographywrittentruthfullywouldbemostlyanaccountofwhatmenandwomenhavedoneforme。
Ihavelivedtoseeaccomplishedfarmorethanmyhighestambitionincluded,andhaveseentheenterprisesIhaveundertakenrushbyme,pushedonbyathousandstronghandsuntiltheyhaveleftmefarbehindthem。Therealitiesarelikedreamstome。Blessingsonthelovingheartsandnoblemindswhohavebeensowillingtosacrificeforothers'goodandtothinkonlyofwhattheycoulddo,andneverofwhattheyshouldget!
ManyofthemhaveascendedintotheShiningLand,andhereIaminmineagegazingupalone,_OnlywaitingtilltheshadowsArealittlelongergrown_。
Fiftyyears!Iwasayoungman,notyetofage,whenIdeliveredmyfirstplatformlecture。
TheCivilWarof1861-65drewonwithallitspassions,patriotism,horrors,andfears,andIwasstudyinglawatYaleUniversity。IhadfromchildhoodfeltthatIwas“calledtotheministry。''
TheearliesteventofmemoryistheprayerofmyfatheratfamilyprayersinthelittleoldcottageintheHampshirehighlandsoftheBerkshireHills,callingonGodwithasobbingvoicetoleadmeintosomespecialservicefortheSaviour。Itfilledmewithawe,dread,andfear,andIrecoiledfromthethought,untilIdeterminedtofightagainstitwithallmypower。SoIsoughtforotherprofessionsandfordecentexcusesforbeinganythingbutapreacher。
YetwhileIwasnervousandtimidbeforetheclassindeclamationanddreadedtofaceanykindofanaudience,Ifeltinmysoulastrangeimpulsiontowardpublicspeakingwhichforyearsmadememiserable。Thewarandthepublicmeetingsforrecruitingsoldiersfurnishedanoutletformysuppressedsenseofduty,andmyfirstlecturewasonthe“LessonsofHistory''asappliedtothecampaignsagainsttheConfederacy。
Thatmatchlesstemperanceoratorandlovingfriend,JohnB。Gough,introducedmetothelittleaudienceinWestfield,Massachusetts,in1862。
Whatafoolishlittleschool-boyspeechitmusthavebeen!ButMr。Gough'skindwordsofpraise,thebouquetsandtheapplause,mademefeelthatsomehowthewaytopublicoratorywouldnotbesohardasIhadfeared。
FromthattimeIactedonMr。Gough'sadviceand“soughtpractice''byacceptingalmosteveryinvitationIreceivedtospeakonanykindofasubject。Thereweremanysadfailuresandtears,butitwasarestfulcompromisewithmyconscienceconcerningtheministry,anditpleasedmyfriends。
Iaddressedpicnics,Sunday-schools,patrioticmeetings,funerals,anniversaries,commencements,debates,cattle-shows,andsewing-circleswithoutpartialityandwithoutprice。Forthefirstfiveyearstheincomewasallexperience。Thenvoluntarygiftsbegantocomeoccasionallyintheshapeofajack-knife,aham,abook,andthefirstcashremunerationwasfromafarmers'club,ofseventy-fivecentstowardthe“horsehire。''
ItwasacuriousfactthatonememberofthatclubafterwardmovedtoSaltLakeCityandwasamemberofthecommitteeattheMormonTabernaclein1872which,whenIwasacorrespondent,onajourneyaroundtheworld,employedmetolectureon“MenoftheMountains''intheMormonTabernacle,atafeeoffivehundreddollars。
WhileIwasgainingpracticeinthefirstyearsofplatformwork,Ihadthegoodfortunetohaveprofitableemploymentasasoldier,orasacorrespondentorlawyer,orasaneditororasapreacher,whichenabledmetopaymyownexpenses,andithasbeenseldominthefiftyyearsthatIhaveevertakenafeeformypersonaluse。
Inthelastthirty-sixyearsIhavededicatedsolemnlyallthelectureincometobenevolententerprises。IfIamantiquatedenoughforanautobiography,perhapsImaybeagedenoughtoavoidthecriticismofbeinganegotist,whenI
statethatsomeyearsIdeliveredonelecture,“AcresofDiamonds,''overtwohundredtimeseachyear,atanaverageincomeofaboutonehundredandfiftydollarsforeachlecture。
ItwasaremarkablegoodfortunewhichcametomeasalecturerwhenMr。JamesRedpathorganizedthefirstlecturebureaueverestablished。
Mr。RedpathwasthebiographerofJohnBrownofHarper'sFerryrenown,andasMr。Brownhadbeenlongafriendofmyfather'sIfoundemployment,whileastudentonvacation,insellingthatlifeofJohnBrown。ThatacquaintancewithMr。
RedpathwasmaintaineduntilMr。Redpath'sdeath。ToGeneralCharlesH。Taylor,withwhomIwasemployedforatimeasreporterfortheBoston_DailyTraveler_,Iwasindebtedformanyactsofself-sacrificingfriendshipwhichsoftenmysoulasIrecallthem。HedidmethegreatestkindnesswhenhesuggestedmynametoMr。
Redpathasonewhocould“fillinthevacanciesinthesmallertowns''wherethe“greatlightscouldnotalwaysbesecured。''
WhatagloriousgalaxyofgreatnamesthatoriginallistofRedpathlecturerscontained!
HenryWardBeecher,JohnB。Gough,SenatorCharlesSumner,TheodoreTilton,WendellPhillips,Mrs。MaryA。Livermore,BayardTaylor,RalphWaldoEmerson,withmanyofthegreatpreachers,musicians,andwritersofthatremarkableera。EvenDr。Holmes,JohnWhittier,HenryW。Longfellow,JohnLothropMotley,GeorgeWilliamCurtis,andGeneralBurnsidewerepersuadedtoappearoneormoretimes,althoughtheyrefusedtoreceivepay。IcannotforgethowashamedIfeltwhenmynameap-
pearedintheshadowofsuchnames,andhowsureIwasthateveryacquaintancewasridiculingmebehindmyback。Mr。BayardTaylor,however,wrotemefromthe_Tribune_officeakindnotesayingthathewasgladtoseeme“ontheroadtogreatusefulness。''GovernorClafflin,ofMassachusetts,tookthetimetosendmeanoteofcongratulation。
GeneralBenjaminF。Butler,however,advisedmeto“sticktothelast''andbeagoodlawyer。
Theworkoflecturingwasalwaysataskandaduty。IdonotfeelnowthatIeversoughttobeanentertainer。IamsureIwouldhavebeenanutterfailurebutforthefeelingthatImustpreachsomegospeltruthinmylecturesanddoatleastthatmuchtowardthatever-persistent“callofGod。''WhenIenteredtheministry1879IhadbecomesoassociatedwiththelectureplatforminAmericaandEnglandthatIcouldnotfeeljustifiedinabandoningsogreatafieldofusefulness。
Theexperiencesofalloursuccessfullecturersareprobablynearlyalike。Thewayisnotalwayssmooth。Butthehardroads,thepoorhotels,thelatetrains,thecoldhalls,thehotchurchauditoriums,theoverkindnessofhospitablecommittees,andthebrokenhoursofsleepareannoyancesonesoonforgets;andthehostsofintelligentfaces,themessagesofthanks,andtheeffectsoftheearningsonthelivesofyoungcollegemencanneverceasetobeadailyjoy。Godblessthemall。
OftenhaveIbeenaskedifIdidnot,infiftyyearsoftravelinallsortsofconveyances,meetwithaccidents。Itisamarveltomethatnosucheventeverbroughtmeharm。Inacontinuousperiodofovertwenty-sevenyearsIdeliveredabouttwolecturesineverythreedays,yetIdidnotmissasingleengagement。SometimesIhadtohireaspecialtrain,butIreachedthetownontime,withonlyarareexception,andthenIwasbutafewminuteslate。Accidentshaveprecededandfollowedmeontrainsandboats,andweresometimesinsight,butIwaspreservedwithoutinjurythroughalltheyears。IntheJohnstownfloodregionIsawabridgegooutbehindourtrain。IwasonceonaderelictsteamerontheAtlanticfortwenty-sixdays。AtanothertimeamanwaskilledintheberthofasleeperI
hadlefthalfanhourbefore。OftenhaveIfeltthetrainleavethetrack,butnoonewaskilled。
Robbershaveseveraltimesthreatenedmylife,butallcameoutwithoutlosstome。Godandmanhaveeverbeenpatientwithme。
Yetthisperiodoflecturinghasbeen,afterall,asideissue。TheTemple,anditschurch,inPhiladelphia,which,whenitsmembershipwaslessthanthreethousandmembers,forsomanyyearscontributedthroughitsmembershipoversixtythousanddollarsayearfortheupliftofhumanity,hasmadelifeacontinualsurprise;whiletheSamaritanHospital'samazinggrowth,andtheGarretsonHospital'sdispensaries,havebeensocontinuallyministeringtothesickandpoor,andhavedonesuchskilfulworkforthetensofthousandswhoaskfortheirhelpeachyear,thatI
havebeenmadehappywhileawaylecturingbythefeelingthateachhourandminutetheywerefaithfullydoinggood。TempleUniversity,whichwasfoundedonlytwenty-sevenyearsago,hasalreadysentoutintoahigherincomeandnoblerlifenearlyahundredthousandyoungmenandwomenwhocouldnotprobablyhaveobtainedaneducationinanyotherinstitution。Thefaithful,self-sacrificingfaculty,nownumberingtwohundredandfifty-threeprofessors,havedonetherealwork。ForthatIcanclaimbutlittlecredit;
andImentiontheUniversityhereonlytoshowthatmy“fiftyyearsonthelectureplatform''
hasnecessarilybeenasidelineofwork。
Mybest-knownlecture,“AcresofDiamonds,''
wasamereaccidentaladdress,atfirstgivenbeforeareunionofmyoldcomradesoftheForty-
sixthMassachusettsRegiment,whichservedintheCivilWarandinwhichIwascaptain。I
hadnothoughtofgivingtheaddressagain,andevenafteritbegantobecalledforbylecturecommitteesIdidnotdreamthatIshouldlivetodeliverit,asInowhavedone,almostfivethousandtimes。“Whatisthesecretofitspopularity?''Icouldneverexplaintomyselforothers。
IsimplyknowthatIalwaysattempttoenthusemyselfoneachoccasionwiththeideathatitisaspecialopportunitytodogood,andIinterestmyselfineachcommunityandapplythegeneralprincipleswithlocalillustrations。
Thehandwhichnowholdsthispenmustinthenaturalcourseofeventssoonceasetogestureontheplatform,anditisasincere,prayerfulhopethatthisbookwillgoonintotheyearsdoingincreasinggoodfortheaidofmybrothersandsistersinthehumanfamily。