When Lord Esher took leave of the Bench and Bar recently, he made a noteworthy utterance, which has an interest for all young people, even though they are not lawyers or ever likely to be.
This eminent judge, who has sat on the judicial bench with great distinction for twenty-nine years, told his hearers that resoluteness of purpose had been the secret of his success.
“What I will say to all of you,” he remarked, “is this. I became a judge because I had made up my mind and will, from the beginning, that I would be a judge. Do not suppose I had no checks, and that there were not occasional times when it appeared that one was being passed over. I said, ‘Never mind the checks; I will go on, and I will get to the top, if it is possible to do it!’ I recommend that to you all.”
The great Napoleon, more than a year after he had become Emperor, tried to find out if there was anyone in France who had never heard of him.
It was not long before he discovered a wood-cutter at Montmartre within the walls of Paris, to whom the name of Napoleon was quite unknown, and, more than that, the man was ignorant of the Revolution and had no knowledge of the fact that Louis XVI. was dead.
Another anecdote showing equally well that the trumpet of fame does not reach the ears of everybody was told by Mr. Roebuck in the course of a speech made at Salisbury in 1852. He told his audience that when he mentioned the recent death of the Duke of Wellington to a “shrewd Hampshire labourer,” the man replied—
“I be very sorry for he. But who was he?”
Life is mostly froth and bubble, Two things stand like stone: Kindness in another’s trouble, Courage in your own.
A REAL FRIEND.—Account her your real friend who desires your good rather than your good-will.
1. E ver G ree N 2. L E A 3. I st H mi A 4. S o l A nu M 5. H u Z z A 6. A nd I ro N
BY AGNES GIBERNE, Author of “Sun, Moon and Stars,” “The Girl at the Dower House,” etc.
Lucille, turning to go, made a little sign to Roy to follow her. Ivor opened the door, moving mechanically, as if his mind were far away; and Roy, with a show of reluctance, went in her rear.
“But, Mademoiselle, I want to know about them all at home. Molly most! And Den can tell me.”
“Yes; soon. But would you not leave Monsieur to read his letter in peace? Would not that be kind?”