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 have been spending an hour in illustrious company; among men nearly all great, some of them the greatest in their lines whom this world has known—its real kings—for "the king is the man who can." We have seen several who started, like Cæsar, Cicero, Demosthenes, Gladstone, Webster, with bodies not naturally strong, but who found and persistently used means which brought them abundant helpful vigor, enabling them to use their great abilities to a good, and in Gladstone's case—and, but for the knife of Brutus, doubtless in Cæsar's also—to a great age.

And what wondrous interest clusters about these great names—each in itself a mighty chapter in, and a conspicuous part of, this world's history; conquerors, emperors, soldiers, statesmen, divines, jurists, philosophers, inventors, poets, merchant-princes, explorers—leaders all in all the great activities. Seat them around a festive board. What a feast of reason; what a flow of soul! Who would not travel far for the privilege of once looking on, and listening to these grand minds at play? Yet, rich as they were in gifts of mind, they were scarcely less so in those of person. One of the best tests of human physical speed, power, and endurance yet devised; one palpably fair, yet which, before all eyes, and free from all bad influences, in one short half hour takes the strongest man in all his glorious prime, and tries all that is in him, till he can scarcely go another foot, is a University boat-race. In England, sixty years ago, they fixed on a proper course for it, and have fought their great battle there steadily, and almost annually, ever since. For nearly half a century we in this country have been rowing our University race; yet where is our University race-course to-day? Now at Lake Winnepesaukee; then at Springfield; at Lake