Page:Cyclopedia of illustrations for public speakers, containing facts, incidents, stories, experiences, anecdotes, selections, etc., for illustrative purposes, with cross-references; (IA cyclopediaofillu00scotrich).pdf/673



glad to answer any questions if any of the younger brethren had anything that perplexed them. Immediately, a young clergyman arose and said, "Mr. Beecher, we have in our little church at a very estimable man, but the moment I begin preaching he falls asleep and snores, so he disturbs the whole congregation and absolutely spoils the effect of the sermon. But he is the only rich man we have, and he is the main support of the church, and we dare not say anything to him for fear we might offend him. Now, what would you do in such a case as that?" Mr. Beecher admitted it was a puzzling situation, and then he said: "We get around it in Plymouth Church in this way: I give my sexton orders to keep close watch of the congregation, and the moment he sees any man asleep to go right up and slap me on the back."

(2856)

SELF-CENTERED

The Rev. C. A. S. Dwight, in an article on "Timing the Sun," writes as follows:

There is a story of a punctilious Yankee who was fond of boasting that his watch had never been slow or fast for forty years. One morning he rose to see the sun rise. He kept looking at his wonderful watch and consulting at the same time a farmers' almanac. There was a pause in the dawn. The Yankee grew impatient. Tapping his watch, he exclaimed: "If that sun ain't over the hill in a minute and a half he'll be late!"

Some men have "views" which they have carefully carried with them for years, as that Yankee did his watch. If events do not square with their views, so much the worse for the events. All such measurings of the eternal by the local tests of human opinion or of conventional standards is vain. The sun knows what he is about. It is the part of wisdom to correct one's timepiece by the sun and not to try to run unassisted the astronomical machinery of the whole universe.

(2857)

SELF-CONFIDENCE

When the little Corsican, Napoleon Bonaparte, a feeble youth at the beginning of his wonderful career, was presented to the convention of France as the man who could rescue the country from its peril, the president fixt his eye upon him dubiously and said: "Are you willing to undertake our defense?" "Yes," was the calm and confident reply. "But are you aware of the magnitude of the undertaking?" asked the president again. "Fully," said Napoleon, fixing his piercing eye upon the questioner, adding, "and I am in the habit of accomplishing that which I undertake."

A similar self-confidence has often proved the one great secret of a successful career.

(2858)

As Napoleon was contemplating one of his great campaigns, his uncle, Cardinal Fesch, was dissuading him. Napoleon opened the window, pointed and said:

"Do you see that star?"

Cardinal Fesch said: "No; I see no star."

Napoleon turned his back upon him and said: "But I see it."

To see your star whether other men see it or not, whether other men believe in it or not; to believe in yourself—that may be to discover that hidden self that is nobler than you have ever been.

(2859)

At one time, skilled artist tho he was, Constable was curiously ready to make alterations in his pictures to please persons of very little judgment in the case. At last, however, he rebelled. He was finishing his famous picture "The Dell," when he was beset by an adviser: "Don't you see," retorted Constable, "that I might go on and make this picture so good that it would be good for nothing." Being asked on another occasion if a certain picture on the easel was painted for any particular person, he replied: "Yes, sir; it is painted for a very particular person, the person for whom I have all my life painted." (Text.)

(2860)

SELF-CONFIDENCE MISPLACED

In a current magazine we find the following:

Some years ago an attorney was called in by a large company and handed a lease.

"Give us your opinion," said the president. "We have a great deal of this sort of legal business, and it is only fair to say that your opinion may mean much to us and to yourself."

The lawyer went through the document with some care, but quickly, and on the spot.

"This is one of the best-drawn leases I have ever examined," he said heartily. "You are wise to handle such matters inside your