Page:Cyclopedia of illustrations for public speakers, containing facts, incidents, stories, experiences, anecdotes, selections, etc., for illustrative purposes, with cross-references; (IA cyclopediaofillu00scotrich).pdf/344



Joseph H. Choate tells the story of how he was approached one wet, wintry night on one of London's lonely streets by a policeman.

"I say, old chap," called the "bobby," "what are you doing walking about in this beastly weather? Better go home."

"I have no home," replied Mr. Choate. "I am the American ambassador."

This story is repeated in a pamphlet issued by the American Embassy Association, whose purpose is to promote and encourage the acquisition by the United States of permanent homes for its ambassadors in foreign capitals.

(1426)

HOMESICKNESS

A young Swedish girl was very homesick. "You ought to be contented, and not fret for your old home, Ina," said her mistress, as she looked at the dim eyes of the girl. "You are earning good wages, your work is light, every one is kind to you, and you have plenty of friends here."

"Yas'm," said the girl; "but it is not the place where I do be that makes me vera homesick; it is the place where I don't be." (Text.)—

(1427)

HOMING INSTINCT, THE

The soul's instinct toward the immortal life is like the instinct of these wasps:

Fabre, the wonderful French observer of wasps, experimented on them in regard to the matter of finding and knowing their holes, by carrying them away shut up in a dark box to the center of a village three kilometers from the nesting-ground, and releasing them after being kept all night in the dark boxes. These wasps when released in the busy town, certainly a place never visited by them before, immediately mounted vertically to above the roofs and then instantly and energetically flew south, which was the direction of their holes. Nine separate wasps, released one at a time, did this without a moment's hesitation, and the next day Fabre found them all at work again at their hole-digging. He knew them by two spots of white paint he had put on each one.—, "Insect Stories."

(1428)

HONESTY

A merchant prince once pointed out a clerk in his employ to a friend, and said, "That young man is my banker. He alone has entire control of my finances. He could abscond with a hundred thousand dollars without my preventing it." Seeing the friend's evident disapproval at so great trust in one man, he continued, "I would trust him as I would my minister. He is absolutely honest; he could not steal." And there are thousands of such men who have passed beyond temptation because of the ingrained, undisturbed integrity, acquired by a reverence for right and an early resolution to be true.—, "Character Lessons."

(1429)

See ;.

HONESTY IN BUSINESS

The story is told of a young merchant who, beginning business some fifty years ago, overheard one day a clerk's misrepresenting the quality of some merchandise. He was instantly reprimanded and the article was unsold. The clerk resigned his position at once, and told his employer that the man who did business that way could not last long. But the merchant did last, and but lately died the possessor of the largest wealth ever gathered in a single lifetime.—

(1430)

HONESTY, INTERMITTENT

In his "Among the Wild Tribes of the Afghan Frontier," Dr. T. L. Tennell tells of an escort of two villainous-looking Afghans who had him in charge in turning back to Bannee from a journey across the frontier. They had paid him the greatest attention and brought him safely home. When he offered to reward them for their good conduct in guarding him and his belongings, they repelled the offer with a show of indignation, adding that to accept money from a guest would be to break their best traditions. But next morning, after he had entertained them generously overnight, and sent them off with many expressions of appreciation of their faithfulness, he found that they had decamped with all his best clothes. Their honesty did not survive the night.

(1431)