Page:Cyclopedia of illustrations for public speakers, containing facts, incidents, stories, experiences, anecdotes, selections, etc., for illustrative purposes, with cross-references; (IA cyclopediaofillu00scotrich).pdf/678

 house. The top of the hills shuts it out. You only see the lake."

"I think I would have climbed a little higher and built where I could have seen the sea."

How many people are content to take up their abode on the lakeview side of the hill, instead of climbing to the summit and getting the vision of the great sea! (Text.)

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SELF-MASTERY

It is related that an eminent scientist, with his wife and brother, were sailing one moonlight evening on Lake Geneva. It became necessary to climb the mast to adjust a rope, when the boat capsized, and in a moment all three were struggling in the water. The lady, who was an extremely cultivated woman, coolly called to her companions, "I will not take hold of you, but come to me and let me put my hands upon your shoulders." Which they did, and she was buoyed up for half an hour until all were saved. It was her mastery of herself that made it possible for them to rescue her.—, "Character Lessons."

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Self-mastery Gradual—See.

SELF-MEASUREMENT

The story of the young man in fiction has traveled all this strange distance. It begins with the primitive bard, straining his voice and almost breaking his lyre in order to utter the greatness of youth and the greatness of masculinity; it ends with the novelist looking at both of them with a magnifying-glass; it begins with a delight in things above, and ends with a delight in things below us. I for one have little doubt about their relative value. For if a man can say, "I like to find something greater than myself," he may be a fool or a madman, but he has the essential. But if a man says, "I like to find something smaller than myself," there is only one adequate answer, "You couldn't." (Text.)—, The Critic.

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Self-possession—See ; .

Self-realization—See.

SELF-RELIANCE

Beecher said that once, at school, when he was demonstrating a problem in geometry, the master said, "No," in a tone of absolute conviction, and he sat down in great confusion and dismay. The next boy was stopt with the same emphatic "No"; but the boy went right on, and completed the demonstration. Beecher said to the master, "I recited just as he did, and you said 'No.'" The master replied, "Why didn't you say 'Yes,' and stick to it? It is not enough to know your lesson, you must know that you know it." You have learned nothing until you are sure. If all the world says "No," your business is to say "Yes," and persist in it.—, "Character Lessons."

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Imitate the Flathead Indians, and fling the child into the stream and make him swim. If Flathead Indians do this, straight-browed white men should know enough to imitate them. Bring your children up to believe that God cares for them, but that they must be self-reliant, and care for themselves. The fishes' fin fits the water, the birds' wing the air, the eye fits the sunbeam, the ear matches music, the intellect fits the truth and man's equipment for self-support fits the harvests, the fields and the forests.—

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See ;.

SELF-REPRESSION

When Havelock was prosecuting his great march for the relief of Lucknow, Sir James Outram was sent out to supersede him. Poor Havelock, tho filled with bitter disappointment, was ready to obey; but when Outram discovered what marvelous feats the unyielding courage and determination of Havelock and his brave men had accomplished, he refused to take the glory which belonged to another, and insisted upon his brother officer finishing the work and earning his glory, while he himself served under him. So by requiring self-repression, courtesy may become a positive virtue.—, "Character Lessons."

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See.

SELF-RESTRAINT

In the face of a fire peril which would have stricken an ordinary crowd with panic, 600 convicts recently, at the Western Pen-