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。