Page:Cyclopedia of illustrations for public speakers, containing facts, incidents, stories, experiences, anecdotes, selections, etc., for illustrative purposes, with cross-references; (IA cyclopediaofillu00scotrich).pdf/243



"What a world this would be," says Christopher North, "were all its inhabitants to fiddle like Paganini, ride like Ducrow, discourse like Coleridge, and do everything else in a style of equal perfection!" Nay, good Christopher, the world would remain the same old dull commonplace world. Our standard would be raised, that is all. If every one rode like Ducrow, no one would stop a moment to look at Ducrow; if every one fiddled like Paganini, Paganini's fiddle would be complained of by the neighbors as a nuisance; if every one discoursed like Coleridge, Coleridge would be voted an intolerable bore. We give our admiration to intellectual performances that are rare and difficult. The moment the rarity and the difficulty disappear our admiration also disappears, we seek fresh idols to worship,—Lippincott's Magazine.

(980)

Excelling—See ;.

Exceptional Men—See.

Excess—See.

Excess of Duty—See.

EXCLUSION FROM HEAVEN

A new story of Col. Robert J. Ingersoll is told by the Chicago Record-Herald:

Bishop Potter once lay sick, so sick that his life was despaired of, and even his most intimate friends were denied admittance to his bedside. One day, however, Colonel Ingersoll called. Bishop Potter, learning that Ingersoll was in the house, demanded, despite the protest of his physicians and nurses, that the distinguished agnostic be asked into the sick-room.

"How is it, Bishop," said Ingersoll after he had offered his condolences to the in-*vadid, "that I am so highly favored when your other friends are not allowed to see you?"

"Well, you see, Colonel," answered the Bishop weakly, "I may not recover from this illness, and if I do not I have every assurance of seeing the others in the next world. I realized that if I wished to see you again, I must do it here." (Text.)

(981)

Exclusion of Evils—See.

Exclusion versus Expulsion—See.

EXCUSES

The biographer of "Father Morris," an American preacher of some local celebrity, tells of him this incident:

He had noticed a falling off in his little village meeting for prayer. The first time he collected a tolerable audience, he took occasion to tell them something concerning the conference meeting of the disciples, after the resurrection. "But Thomas was not with them! Thomas not with them!" said the old man in a sorrowful voice. "Why, what could keep Thomas away? Perhaps," said he, glancing at some of his auditors, "Thomas had got cold-hearted, and was afraid they would ask him to make the first prayer. Perhaps," he continued, looking at some of the farmers, "he was afraid the roads were bad; or perhaps," he added after a pause, "he thought a shower was coming on." He went on, significantly summing up common excuses, and then with great simplicity and emotion he added: "But only think what Thomas lost, for in the middle of the meeting the Lord Jesus came and stood among them! Thomas was not with them when Jesus came." (Text.)

(982)

See ;.

Exercise and Food—See.

EXERCISE PROLONGING LIFE

William Cullen Bryant kept himself in a healthy bodily condition up to an extreme old age by taking long daily walks, and by swinging a chair, instead of Indian clubs, around his head each morning and evening. Bancroft, the historian, kept mind and body in tune by daily horseback exercise, while Mr. Gladstone was able at an advanced age to perform enormous mental work by the physical stamina which he maintained by cutting down trees in his park. These are only a few out of a large number of instances that might be cited, all going to show that health and life may be maintained and the mental powers continued unimpaired through old age if the obvious needs of the body are not neglected.—Boston Herald.