第6章
Itisopentosufferersofanyraceorcreed，andthepoorareneverrefusedadmission，therulebeingthattreatmentisfreeforthosewhocannotpay，butthatsuchascanafforditshallpayaccordingtotheirmeans。
Andthehospitalhasakindlyfeaturethatendearsittopatientsandtheirrelativesalike，andthatisthat，byDr。Conwell"spersonalorder，therearenotonlytheusualweek-dayhoursforvisiting，butalsooneeveningaweekandeverySundayafternoon。“Forotherwise，""ashesays，“manywouldbeunabletocomebecausetheycouldnotgetawayfromtheirwork。""
Alittleovereightyearsagoanotherhospitalwastakenincharge，theGarretson——notfoundedbyConwell，thisone，butacquired，andpromptlyexpandedinitsusefulness。
BoththeSamaritanandtheGarretsonarepartofTempleUniversity。TheSamaritanHospitalhastreated，sinceitsfoundation，uptothemiddleof1915，29，301patients；theGarretson，initsshorterlife，5，923。Includingdispensarycasesaswellashousepatients，thetwohospitalstogether，undertheheadshipofPresidentConwell，havehandledover400，000cases。
HowConwellcanpossiblymeetthemultifariousdemandsuponhistimeisinitselfamiracle。
Heistheheadofthegreatchurch；heistheheadoftheuniversity；heistheheadofthehospitals；
heistheheadofeverythingwithwhichheisassociated!Andheisnotonlynominally，butveryactively，thehead!
VIII
HISSPLENDIDEFFICIENCY
CONWELLhasafewstrongandefficientexecutivehelperswhohavelongbeenassociatedwithhim；menandwomenwhoknowhisideasandideals，whoaredevotedtohim，andwhodotheirutmosttorelievehim；andofcoursethereisverymuchthatisthusdoneforhim；butevenasitis，heissoovershadowingaman(thereisreallynootherword)thatallwhoworkwithhimlooktohimforadviceandguidancetheprofessorsandthestudents，thedoctorsandthenurses，thechurchofficers，theSunday-schoolteachers，themembersofhiscongregation。Andheisnevertoobusytoseeanyonewhoreallywishestoseehim。
Hecanattendtoavastintricacyofdetail，andanswermyriadpersonalquestionsanddoubts，andkeepthegreatinstitutionssplendidlygoing，bythoroughsystematizationoftime，andbywatchingeveryminute。Hehasseveralsecretaries，forspecialwork，besideshisprivatesecretary。Hiscorrespondenceisverygreat。Oftenhedictatestoasecretaryashetravelsonthetrain。EveninthefewdaysforwhichhecanrunbacktotheBerkshires，workisawaitinghim。Workfollowshim。Andafterknowingofthis，oneispositivelyamazedthatheisabletogivetohiscountry-widelecturesthetimeandthetravelingthattheyinexorablydemand。Onlyamanofimmensestrength，ofthegreateststamina，averitablesuperman，couldpossiblydoit。Andattimesonequiteforgets，noticingthemultiplicityofhisoccupations，thathepreparestwosermonsandtwotalksonSunday!
HereishisusualSundayschedule，whenathome。Herisesatsevenandstudiesuntilbreakfast，whichisateight-thirty。Thenhestudiesuntilnine-forty-five，whenheleadsamen"smeetingatwhichheislikelyalsotoplaytheorganandleadthesinging。Atten-thirtyistheprincipalchurchservice，atwhichhepreaches，andatthecloseofwhichheshakeshandswithhundreds。
Hedinesatone，afterwhichhetakesfifteenminutes"restandthenreads；andatthreeo"clockheaddresses，inatalkthatislikeanothersermon，alargeclassofmen——notthesamemenasinthemorning。HeisalsosuretolookinattheregularsessionoftheSunday-school。Homeagain，wherehestudiesandreadsuntilsupper-time。Atseven-
thirtyistheeveningservice，atwhichheagainpreachesandafterwhichheshakeshandswithseveralhundredmoreandtalkspersonally，inhisstudy，withanywhohaveneedoftalkwithhim。
Heisusuallyhomebyten-thirty。Ispokeofit，oneevening，ashavingbeenastrenuousday，andheresponded，withacheerfullywhimsicalsmile:
“Threesermonsandshookhandswithninehundred。""
Thatevening，astheserviceclosed，hehadsaidtothecongregation:“Ishallbehereforanhour。Wealwayshaveapleasanttimetogetherafterservice。Ifyouareacquaintedwithme，comeupandshakehands。Ifyouarestrangers""——
justtheslightestofpauses——“comeupandletusmakeanacquaintancethatwilllastforeternity。""Irememberhowsimplyandeasilythiswassaid，inhisclear，deepvoice，andhowimpressiveandimportantitseemed，andwithwhatunexpectednessitcame。“Comeandmakeanacquaintancethatwilllastforeternity!""
Andtherewasaserenityabouthiswayofsayingthiswhichwouldmakestrangersthink——justashemeantthemtothink——thathehadnothingwhatevertodobuttotalkwiththem。Evenhisowncongregationhave，mostofthem，littleconceptionofhowbusyamanheisandhowpreciousishistime。
OneeveninglastJunetotakeaneveningofwhichIhappenedtoknow——hegothomefromajourneyoftwohundredmilesatsixo"clock，andafterdinnerandaslightrestwenttothechurchprayer-meeting，whichheledinhisusualvigorouswayatsuchmeetings，playingtheorganandleadingthesinging，aswellasprayingandtalk-
ing。Aftertheprayer-meetinghewenttotwodinnersinsuccession，bothofthemimportantdinnersinconnectionwiththecloseoftheuniversityyear，andatbothdinnershespoke。Attheseconddinnerhewasnotifiedofthesuddenillnessofamemberofhiscongregation，andinstantlyhurriedtotheman"shomeandthencetothehospitaltowhichhehadbeenremoved，andthereheremainedattheman"sbedside，orinconsultationwiththephysicians，untiloneinthemorning。Nextmorninghewasupatsevenandagainatwork。
“ThisonethingIdo，""ishisprivatemaximofefficiency，andaliteralistmightpointoutthathedoesnotonethingonly，butathousandthings，notgettingConwell"smeaning，whichisthatwhateverthethingmaybewhichheisdoingheletshimselfthinkofnothingelseuntilitisdone。
Dr。Conwellhasaprofoundloveforthecountryandparticularlyforthecountryofhisownyouth。
Helovesthewindthatcomessweepingoverthehills，helovesthewide-stretchingviewsfromtheheightsandtheforestintimaciesofthenestlednooks。Helovestheripplingstreams，helovesthewildflowersthatnestleinseclusionorthatunexpectedlypaintsomemountainmeadowwithdelight。Helovestheverytouchoftheearth，andhelovesthegreatbarerocks。
Hewritesversesattimes；atleasthehaswrittenlinesforafewoldtunes；anditinterestedmegreatlytochanceuponsomelinesofhisthatpictureheavenintermsoftheBerkshires:
_Thewide-stretchingvalleysincolorssofadeless，Wheretreesarealldeathlessandflowerse"erbloom_。
ThatisheavenintheeyesofaNewEnglandhill-man!Notgoldenpavementandivorypalaces，butvalleysandtreesandflowersandthewidesweepoftheopen。
Fewthingspleasehimmorethantogo，forexample，blackberrying，andhehasaknackofneverscratchinghisfaceorhisfingerswhendoingso。Andhefindsblackberrying，whetherhegoesaloneorwithfriends，anextraordinarilygoodtimeforplanningsomethinghewishestodoorworkingoutthethoughtofasermon。Andfishingisevenbetter，forinfishinghefindsimmenserecreationandrestfulnessandatthesametimeafurtheropportunitytothinkandplan。
Asasmallboyhewishedthathecouldthrowadamacrossthetrout-brookthatrunsnearthelittleConwellhome，and——ashenevergivesup——
hefinallyrealizedtheambition，althoughitwasafterhalfacentury!Andnowhehasabigpond，three-quartersofamilelongbyhalfamilewide，lyinginfrontofthehouse，downaslopefromit——
apondstockedwithsplendidpickerel。Helikestofloataboutrestfullyonthispond，thinkingorfishing，orboth。Andonthatpondheshowedmehowtocatchpickerelevenunderablazeofsunlight!
Heisatrout-fisher，too，foritisatroutstreamthatfeedsthispondandgoesdashingawayfromitthroughthewilderness；andformilesadjoininghisplaceafishingclubofwealthymenboughtuptherightsinthistroutstream，andtheyapproachedhimwithaliberaloffer。Buthedeclinedit。“IrememberedwhatgoodtimesIhadwhenIwasaboy，fishingupanddownthatstream，andIcouldn"tthinkofkeepingtheboysofthepresentdayfromsuchapleasure。Sotheymaystillcomeandfishfortrouthere。""
Aswewalkedonedaybesidethisbrook，hesuddenlysaid:“Didyouevernoticethateverybrookhasitsownsong?Ishouldknowthesongofthisbrookanywhere。""
Itwouldseemasifhelovedhisruggednativecountrybecauseitisruggedevenmorethanbecauseitisnative!Himselfsorugged，sohardy，soenduring——thestrengthofthehillsishisalso。
Always，inhisveryappearance，youseesomethingofthisruggednessofthehills；aruggedness，asincerity，aplainness，thatmarkalikehischaracterandhislooks。Andalwaysonerealizesthestrengthoftheman，evenwhenhisvoice，asitusuallyis，islow。Andoneincreasinglyrealizesthestrengthwhen，onthelectureplatformorinthepulpitorinconversation，heflashesvividlyintofire。
Abig-bonedmanheis，sturdy-framed，atallman，withbroadshouldersandstronghands。
Hishairisadeepchestnut-brownthatatfirstsightseemsblack。Inhisearlymanhoodhewassuperbinlooks，ashispicturesshow，butanxietyandworkandtheconstantflightofyears，withphysicalpain，havesettledhisfaceintolinesofsadnessandalmostofseverity，whichinstantlyvanishwhenhespeaks。Andhisfaceisilluminedbymarvelouseyes。
Heisalonelyman。Thewifeofhisearlyyearsdiedlong，longago，beforesuccesshadcome，andshewasdeeplymourned，forshehadloyallyhelpedhimthroughatimethatheldmuchofstruggleandhardship。Hemarriedagain；andthiswifewashisloyalhelpmateformanyyears。
Inatimeofspecialstress，whenadefalcationofsixty-fivethousanddollarsthreatenedtocrushTempleCollegejustwhenitwasgettingonitsfeet，forbothTempleChurchandTempleCollegehadinthoseearlydaysbuoyantlyassumedheavyindebtedness，heraisedeverydollarhecouldbysellingormortgaginghisownpossessions，andinthishiswife，ashelovinglyremembers，mostcordiallystoodbesidehim，althoughsheknewthatifanythingshouldhappentohimthefinancialsacrificewouldleaveherpenniless。Shediedafteryearsofcompanionship；hischildrenmarriedandmadehomesoftheirown；heisalonelyman。Yetheisnotunhappy，forthetremendousdemandsofhistremendousworkleavehimlittletimeforsadnessorretrospect。Attimestherealizationcomesthatheisgettingold，thatfriendsandcomradeshavebeenpassingaway，leavinghimanoldmanwithyoungerfriendsandhelpers。Butsuchrealizationonlymakeshimworkwithanearnestnessstillmoreintense，knowingthatthenightcomethwhennomanshallwork。
Deeplyreligiousthoughheis，hedoesnotforcereligionintoconversationonordinarysubjectsoruponpeoplewhomaynotbeinterestedinit。
Withhim，itisactionandgoodworks，withfaithandbelief，thatcount，exceptwhentalkisthenatural，thefitting，thenecessarything；whenaddressingeitheroneindividualorthousands，hetalkswithsuperbeffectiveness。
Hissermonsare，itmayalmostliterallybesaid，parableafterparable；althoughhehimselfwouldbethelastmantosaythis，foritwouldsoundasifheclaimedtomodelafterthegreatestofallexamples。Hisownwayofputtingitisthatheusesstoriesfrequentlybecausepeoplearemoreimpressedbyillustrationsthanbyargument。
Always，whetherinthepulpitoroutofit，heissimpleandhomelike，humanandunaffected。
Ifhehappenstoseesomeoneinthecongregationtowhomhewishestospeak，hemayjustleavehispulpitandwalkdowntheaisle，whilethechoirissinging，andquietlysayafewwordsandreturn。
Intheearlydaysofhisministry，ifheheardofapoorfamilyinimmediateneedoffoodhewouldbequitelikelytogatherabasketofprovisionsandgopersonally，andofferthisassistanceandsuchotherashemightfindnecessarywhenhereachedtheplace。Ashebecameknownheceasedfromthisdirectandopenmethodofcharity，forheknewthatimpulsivenesswouldbetakenforintentionaldisplay。Buthehasneverceasedtobereadytohelpontheinstantthatheknowshelpisneeded。Delayandlengthyinvestigationareavoidedbyhimwhenhecanbecertainthatsomethingimmediateisrequired。
Andtheextentofhisquietcharityisamazing。
familyforwhichtosavemoney，andwithnocaretoputawaymoneyforhimself，hethinksonlyofmoneyasaninstrumentforhelpfulness。
Ineverheardafriendcriticizehimexceptfortoogreatopen-handedness。
Iwasstronglyimpressed，aftercomingtoknowhim，thathepossessedmanyofthequalitiesthatmadeforthesuccessoftheold-timedistrictleadersofNewYorkCity，andImentionedthistohim，andheatoncerespondedthathehadhimselfmet“BigTim，""thelong-timeleaderoftheSullivans，andhadhadhimathishouse，BigTimhavinggonetoPhiladelphiatoaidsomehenchmanintrouble，andhavingpromptlysoughttheaidofDr。Conwell。AnditwascharacteristicofConwellthathesaw，whatsomanyneversaw，themoststrikingcharacteristicofthatTammanyleader。For，“BigTimSullivanwassokind-hearted!""Conwellappreciatedtheman"spoliticalunscrupulousnessaswellasdidhisenemies，buthesawalsowhatmadehisunderlyingpower——hiskind-heartedness。ExceptthatSullivancouldbesupremelyunscrupulous，andthatConwellissupremelyscrupulous，thereweremarkedsimilaritiesinthesemastersovermen；andConwellpossesses，asSullivanpossessed，awonderfulmemoryforfacesandnames。
Naturally，RussellConwellstandssteadilyandstronglyforgoodcitizenship。ButhenevertalksboastfulAmericanism。HeseldomspeaksinsomanywordsofeitherAmericanismorgoodcitizenship，butheconstantlyandsilentlykeepstheAmericanflag，asthesymbolofgoodcitizenship，beforehispeople。AnAmericanflagisprominentinhischurch；anAmericanflagisseeninhishome；
abeautifulAmericanflagisupathisBerkshireplaceandsurmountsaloftytowerwhere，whenhewasaboy，therestoodamightytreeatthetopofwhichwasaneagle"snest，whichhasgivenhimanameforhishome，forhetermsit“TheEagle"sNest。""
RememberingalongstorythatIhadreadofhisclimbingtothetopofthattree，thoughitwasawell-nighimpossiblefeat，andsecuringthenestbygreatperseveranceanddaring，Iaskedhimifthestorywereatrueone。“Oh，I"veheardsomethingaboutit；somebodysaidthatsomebodywatchedme，orsomethingofthekind。ButIdon"trememberanythingaboutitmyself。""
Anyfriendofhisissuretosaysomething，afterawhile，abouthisdetermination，hisinsistenceongoingaheadwithanythingonwhichhehasreallysethisheart。Oneoftheveryimportantthingsonwhichheinsisted，inspiteofverygreatopposition，andespeciallyanoppositionfromtheotherchurchesofhisdenomination(forthiswasagoodmanyyearsago，whentherewasmuchmorenarrownessinchurchesandsectsthanthereisatpresent)，waswithregardtodoingawaywithclosecommunion。Hedeterminedonanopencommunion；andhiswayofputtingit，oncedecidedupon，was:“Myfriends，itisnotformetoinviteyoutothetableoftheLord。ThetableoftheLordisopen。Ifyoufeelthatyoucancometothetable，itisopentoyou。""Andthisistheformwhichhestilluses。
Henotonlynevergivesup，but，sohisfriendssay，heneverforgetsathinguponwhichhehasoncedecided，andattimes，longaftertheysupposedthematterhasbeenentirelyforgotten，theysuddenlyfindDr。Conwellbringinghisoriginalpurposetopass。WhenIwastoldofthisIrememberedthatpickerel-pondintheBerkshires!
Ifheisreallysetupondoinganything，littleorbig，adversecriticismdoesnotdisturbhisserenity。Someyearsagohebeganwearingahugediamond，whosesizeattractedmuchcriticismandcausticcomment。Heneversaidawordindefense；hejustkeptonwearingthediamond。
Oneday，however，aftersomeyears，hetookitoff，andpeoplesaid，“Hehaslistenedtothecriticismatlast!""Hesmiledreminiscentlyashetoldmeaboutthis，andsaid:“AdearolddeaconofmycongregationgavemethatdiamondandI
didnotliketohurthisfeelingsbyrefusingit。
Itreallybotheredmetowearsuchaglaringbigthing，butbecauseIdidn"twanttohurttheolddeacon"sfeelingsIkeptonwearingituntilhewasdead。ThenIstoppedwearingit。""
TheambitionofRussellConwellistocontinueworkingandworkinguntiltheverylastmomentofhislife。Inworkheforgetshissadness，hisloneliness，hisage。Andhesaidtomeoneday，“Iwilldieinharness。""
IX
THESTORYOFACRESOFDIAMONDS
CONSIDERINGeverything，themostremarkablethinginRussellConwell"sremarkablelifeishislecture，“AcresofDiamonds。""
Thatis，thelectureitself，thenumberoftimeshehasdeliveredit，whatasourceofinspirationithasbeentomyriads，themoneythathehasmadeandismaking，and，stillmore，thepurposetowhichhedirectsthemoney。Inthecircumstancessurrounding“AcresofDiamonds，""initstremendoussuccess，intheattitudeofmindrevealedbythelectureitselfandbywhatDr。
Conwelldoeswithit，itisilluminativeofhischaracter，hisaims，hisability。
Thelectureisvibrantwithhisenergy。Itflasheswithhishopefulness。Itisfullofhisenthusiasm。
Itispackedfullofhisintensity。Itstandsforthepossibilitiesofsuccessineveryone。Hehasdelivereditoverfivethousandtimes。Thedemandforitneverdiminishes。Thesuccessgrowsneverless。
ThereisatimeinRussellConwell"syouthofwhichitispainforhimtothink。Hetoldmeofitoneevening，andhisvoicesanklowerandlowerashewentfarbackintothepast。ItwasofhisdaysatYalethathespoke，fortheyweredaysofsuffering。ForhehadnotmoneyforYale，andinworkingformoreheenduredbitterhumiliation。Itwasnotthattheworkwashard，forRussellConwellhasalwaysbeenreadyforhardwork。Itwasnotthattherewereprivationsanddifficulties，forhehasalwaysfounddifficultiesonlythingstoovercome，andenduredprivationswithcheerfulfortitude。Butitwasthehumiliationsthathemet——thepersonalhumiliationsthataftermorethanhalfacenturymakehimsufferinrememberingthem——yetoutofthosehumiliationscameamarvelousresult。
“Idetermined，""hesays，“thatwhateverI
coulddotomakethewayeasieratcollegeforotheryoungmenworkingtheirwayIwoulddo。""
Andso，manyyearsago，hebegantodevoteeverydollarthathemadefrom“AcresofDiamonds""
tothisdefinitepurpose。Hehaswhatmaybetermedawaiting-list。Onthatlistareveryfewcaseshehaslookedintopersonally。
Infinitelybusymanthatheis，hecannotdoextensivepersonalinvestigation。Alargeproportionofhisnamescometohimfromcollegepresidentswhoknowofstudentsintheirowncollegesinneedofsuchahelpinghand。
“Everynight，""hesaid，whenIaskedhimtotellmeaboutit，“whenmylectureisoverandthecheckisinmyhand，Isitdowninmyroominthehotel""——whatalonelypicture，tool——“I
sitdowninmyroominthehotelandsubtractfromthetotalsumreceivedmyactualexpensesforthatplace，andmakeoutacheckforthedifferenceandsendittosomeyoungmanonmylist。AndIalwayssendwiththecheckaletterofadviceandhelpfulness，expressingmyhopethatitwillbeofsomeservicetohimandtellinghimthatheistofeelundernoobligationexcepttohisLord。Ifeelstrongly，andItrytomakeeveryyoungmanfeel，thattheremustbenosenseofobligationtomepersonally。AndItellthemthatIamhopingtoleavebehindmemenwhowilldomoreworkthanIhavedone。Don"tthinkthatIputintoomuchadvice，""headded，withasmile，“forIonlytrytoletthemknowthatafriendistryingtohelpthem。""
Hisfacelightedashespoke。“Thereissuchafascinationinit!""heexclaimed。“Itisjustlikeagamble!AndassoonasIhavesenttheletterandcrossedanameoffmylist，Iamaimingforthenextone!""
Andafterapauseheadded:“Idonotattempttosendanyyoungmanenoughforallhisexpenses。ButIwanttosavehimfrombitterness，andeachcheckwillhelp。And，too，""heconcluded，na
Hetoldmethathemadeitclearthathedidnotwishtogetreturnsorreportsfromthisbranchofhislife-work，foritwouldtakeagreatdealoftimeinwatchingandthinkingandinthereadingandwritingofletters。“Butitismainly，""hewenton，“thatIdonotwishtoholdovertheirheadsthesenseofobligation。""
WhenIsuggestedthatthiswassurelyanexampleofbreadcastuponthewatersthatcouldnotreturn，hewassilentforalittleandthensaid，thoughtfully:“Asonegetsoninyearsthereissatisfactionindoingathingforthesakeofdoingit。Thebreadreturnsinthesenseofeffortmade。""
OnarecenttripthroughMinnesotahewaspositivelyupset，sohissecretarytoldme，throughbeingrecognizedonatrainbyayoungmanwhohadbeenhelpedthrough“AcresofDiamonds，""
andwho，findingthatthiswasreallyDr。Conwell，eagerlybroughthiswifetojoinhiminmostferventthanksforhisassistance。BoththehusbandandhiswifeweresoemotionallyovercomethatitquiteovercameDr。Conwellhimself。
Thelecture，toquotethenoblewordsofDr。
Conwellhimself，isdesignedtohelp“everyperson，ofeithersex，whocherishesthehighresolveofsustainingacareerofusefulnessandhonor。""
Itisalectureofhelpfulness。Anditisalecture，whengivenwithConwell"svoiceandfaceandmanner，thatisfulloffascination。Andyetitisallsosimple!
Itispackedfullofinspiration，ofsuggestion，ofaid。Healtersittomeetthelocalcircumstancesofthethousandsofdifferentplacesinwhichhedeliversit。Butthebaseremainsthesame。Andeventhosetowhomitisanoldstorywillgotohearhimtimeaftertime。Itamuseshimtosaythatheknowsindividualswhohavelistenedtoittwentytimes。
ItbeginswithastorytoldtoConwellbyanoldArabasthetwojourneyedtogethertowardNineveh，and，asyoulisten，youheartheactualvoicesandyouseethesandsofthedesertandthewavingpalms。Thelecturer"svoiceissoeasy，soeffortless，itseemssoordinaryandmatter-of-
fact——yettheentiresceneisinstantlyvitalandalive!Instantlythemanhashisaudienceunderasortofspell，eagertolisten，readytobemerryorgrave。Hehasthefacultyofcontrol，thevitalqualitythatmakestheorator。
Thesamepeoplewillgotohearthislectureoverandover，andthatisthekindoftributethatConwelllikes。Irecentlyheardhimdeliveritinhisownchurch，whereitwouldnaturallybethoughttobeanoldstory，andwhere，presumably，onlyafewofthefaithfulwouldgo；butitwasquiteclearthatallofhischurcharethefaithful，foritwasalargeaudiencethatcametolistentohim；hardlyaseatinthegreatauditoriumwasvacant。Anditshouldbeaddedthat，althoughitwasinhisownchurch，itwasnotafreelecture，whereathrongmightbeexpected，butthateachonepaidaliberalsumforaseat——andthepayingofadmissionisalwaysapracticaltestofthesincerityofdesiretohear。
Andthepeopleweresweptalongbythecurrentasiflecturerandlecturewereofnovelinterest。
Thelectureinitselfisgoodtoread，butitisonlywhenitisilluminedbyConwell"svividpersonalitythatoneunderstandshowitinfluencesintheactualdelivery。
Onthatparticulareveninghehaddecidedtogivethelectureinthesameformaswhenhefirstdelivereditmanyyearsago，withoutanyofthealterationsthathavecomewithtimeandchanginglocalities，andashewenton，withtheaudienceripplingandbubblingwithlaughterasusual，heneverdoubtedthathewasgivingitashehadgivenityearsbefore；andyet——soup-to-dateandalivemusthenecessarilybe，inspiteofadefinitiveefforttosethimselfback——everyonceinawhilehewascomingoutwithillustrationsfromsuchdistinctlyrecentthingsastheautomobile!
ThelasttimeIheardhimwasthe5，124thtimeforthelecture。Doesn"titseemincredible!5，124
times"Inoticedthathewastodeliveritatalittleout-of-the-wayplace，difficultforanyconsiderablenumbertogetto，andIwonderedjusthowmuchofanaudiencewouldgatherandhowtheywouldbeimpressed。SoIwentoverfromthereIwas，afewmilesaway。TheroadwasdarkandIpicturedasmallaudience，butwhenIgotthereIfoundthechurchbuildinginwhichhewastodeliverthelecturehadaseatingcapacityof830andthatprecisely830peoplewerealreadyseatedthereandthatafringeofotherswerestandingbehind。Manyhadcomefrommilesaway。Yetthelecturehadscarcely，ifatall，beenadvertised。Butpeoplehadsaidtooneanother:“Aren"tyougoingtohearDr。Conwell?""
Andthewordhadthusbeenpassedalong。
Irememberhowfascinatingitwastowatchthataudience，fortheyrespondedsokeenlyandwithsuchheartfeltpleasurethroughouttheentirelecture。Andnotonlyweretheyimmenselypleasedandamusedandinterested——andtoachievethatatacrossroadschurchwasinitselfatriumphtobeproudof——butIknewthateverylistenerwasgivenanimpulsetowarddoingsomethingforhimselfandforothers，andthatwithatleastsomeofthemtheimpulsewouldmaterializeinacts。Overandoveronerealizeswhatapowersuchamanwields。
Andwhatanunselfishness!For，faroninyearsasheis，andsufferingpain，hedoesnotchopdownhislecturetoadefinitelength；hedoesnottalkforjustanhourorgoongrudginglyforanhourandahalf。Heseesthatthepeoplearefascinatedandinspired，andheforgetspain，ignorestime，forgetsthatthenightislateandthathehasalongjourneytogotogethome，andkeepsongenerouslyfortwohours!Andeveryonewishesitwerefour。
Alwayshetalkswitheaseandsympathy。
Therearegeniality，composure，humor，simpleandhomelyjests——yetneverdoestheaudienceforgetthatheiseverymomentintremendousearnest。Theybubblewithresponsivelaughteroraresilentinrivetedattention。Astircanbeseentosweepoveranaudience，ofearnestnessorsurpriseoramusementorresolve。Whenheisgraveandsoberorfervidthepeoplefeelthatheishimselfafervidlyearnestman，andwhenheistellingsomethinghumorousthereisonhispartalmostarepressedchuckle，agenialappreciationofthefunofit，notintheleastasifhewerelaughingathisownhumor，butasifheandhishearerswerelaughingtogetheratsomethingofwhichtheywereallhumorouslycognizant。
Myriadsuccessesinlifehavecomethroughthedirectinspirationofthissinglelecture。Onehearsofsomanythattheremustbevastlymorethatarenevertold。AfewofthemostrecentweretoldmebyDr。Conwellhimself，onebeingofafarmerboywhowalkedalongdistancetohearhim。Onhiswayhome，sotheboy，nowaman，haswrittenhim，hethoughtoverandoverofwhathecoulddotoadvancehimself，andbeforehereachedhomehelearnedthatateacherwaswantedatacertaincountryschool。Heknewhedidnotknowenoughtoteach，butwassurehecouldlearn，sohebravelyaskedfortheplace。
Andsomethinginhisearnestnessmadehimwinatemporaryappointment。Thereuponheworkedandstudiedsohardandsodevotedly，whilehedailytaught，thatwithinafewmonthshewasregularlyemployedthere。“Andnow，""saysConwell，abruptly，withhischaracteristicskim-
mingoveroftheintermediatedetailsbetweentheimportantbeginningofathingandthesatisfactoryend，“andnowthatyoungmanisoneofourcollegepresidents。""
AndveryrecentlyaladycametoDr。Conwell，thewifeofanexceptionallyprominentmanwhowasearningalargesalary，andshetoldhimthatherhusbandwassounselfishlygenerouswithmoneythatoftentheywerealmostinstraits。
Andshesaidtheyhadboughtalittlefarmasacountryplace，payingonlyafewhundreddollarsforit，andthatshehadsaidtoherself，laughingly，afterhearingthelecture，“Therearenoacresofdiamondsonthisplace!""Butshealsowentontotellthatshehadfoundaspringofexceptionallyfinewaterthere，althoughinbuyingtheyhadscarcelyknownofthespringatall；
andshehadbeensoinspiredbyConwellthatshehadhadthewateranalyzedand，findingthatitwasremarkablypure，hadbeguntohaveitbottledandsoldunderatradenameasspecialspringwater。Andsheismakingmoney。Andshealsosellspureicefromthepool，cutinwinter-timeandallbecauseof“AcresofDiamonds""!
Severalmillionsofdollars，inall，havebeenreceivedbyRussellConwellastheproceedsfromthissinglelecture。Suchafactisalmoststaggering——
anditismorestaggeringtorealizewhatgoodisdoneintheworldbythisman，whodoesnotearnforhimself，butuseshismoneyinimmediatehelpfulness。Andonecanneitherthinknorwritewithmoderationwhenitisfurtherrealizedthatfarmoregoodthancanbedonedirectlywithmoneyhedoesbyupliftingandinspiringwiththislecture。Alwayshisheartiswiththewearyandtheheavy-laden。Alwayshestandsforself-betterment。
Lastyear，1914，heandhisworkweregivenuniquerecognition。Foritwasknownbyhisfriendsthatthisparticularlecturewasapproachingitsfive-thousandthdelivery，andtheyplannedacelebrationofsuchaneventinthehistoryofthemostpopularlectureintheworld。Dr。ConwellagreedtodeliveritintheAcademyofMusic，inPhiladelphia，andthebuildingwaspackedandthestreetsoutsidewerethronged。Theproceedsfromallsourcesforthatfive-thousandthlecturewereoverninethousanddollars。
TheholdwhichRussellConwellhasgainedontheaffectionsandrespectofhishomecitywasseennotonlyinthethousandswhostrovetohearhim，butintheprominentmenwhoservedonthelocalcommitteeinchargeofthecelebration。
Therewasanationalcommittee，too，andthenation-widelovethathehaswon，thenation-
wideappreciationofwhathehasdoneandisstilldoing，wasshownbythefactthatamongthenamesofthenotablesonthiscommitteewerethoseofninegovernorsofstates。TheGovernorofPennsylvaniawashimselfpresenttodoRussellConwellhonor，andhegavetohimakeyemblematicoftheFreedomoftheState。
The“FreedomoftheState""——yes；thisman，welloverseventy，haswonit。TheFreedomoftheState，theFreedomoftheNation——forthismanofhelpfulness，thismarvelousexponentofthegospelofsuccess，hasworkedmarvelouslyforthefreedom，thebetterment，theliberation，theadvancement，oftheindividual。
FIFTYYEARSONTHELECTURE
PLATFORM
BY
RUSSELLH。CONWELL
ANAutobiography!Whatanabsurdrequest!
Ifalltheconditionswerefavorable，thestoryofmypublicLifecouldnotbemadeinteresting。
Itdoesnotseempossiblethatanywillcaretoreadsoplainanduneventfulatale。Iseenothinginitforboasting，normuchthatcouldbehelpful。
ThenIneversavedascrapofpaperintentionallyconcerningmyworktowhichIcouldrefer，notabook，notasermon，notalecture，notanewspapernoticeoraccount，notamagazinearticle，notoneofthekindbiographieswrittenfromtimetotimebynoblefriendshaveIeverkeptevenasasouvenir，althoughsomeofthemmaybeinmylibrary。Ihaveeverfeltthatthewritersconcerningmylifeweretoogenerousandthatmyownworkwastoohastilydone。HenceIhavenothinguponwhichtobaseanautobiographicalaccount，excepttherecollectionswhichcometoanoverburdenedmind。
Mygeneralviewofhalfacenturyonthelectureplatformbringstomepreciousandbeautifulmemories，andfillsmysoulwithdevoutgratitudefortheblessingsandkindnesseswhichhavebeengiventomesofarbeyondmydeserts。
SomuchmoresuccesshascometomyhandsthanIeverexpected；somuchmoreofgoodhaveIfoundthanevenyouth"swildestdreamincluded；somuchmoreeffectivehavebeenmyweakestendeavorsthanIeverplannedorhoped——
thatabiographywrittentruthfullywouldbemostlyanaccountofwhatmenandwomenhavedoneforme。
Ihavelivedtoseeaccomplishedfarmorethanmyhighestambitionincluded，andhaveseentheenterprisesIhaveundertakenrushbyme，pushedonbyathousandstronghandsuntiltheyhaveleftmefarbehindthem。Therealitiesarelikedreamstome。Blessingsonthelovingheartsandnoblemindswhohavebeensowillingtosacrificeforothers"goodandtothinkonlyofwhattheycoulddo，andneverofwhattheyshouldget!
ManyofthemhaveascendedintotheShiningLand，andhereIaminmineagegazingupalone，_OnlywaitingtilltheshadowsArealittlelongergrown_。
Fiftyyears!Iwasayoungman，notyetofage，whenIdeliveredmyfirstplatformlecture。
TheCivilWarof1861-65drewonwithallitspassions，patriotism，horrors，andfears，andIwasstudyinglawatYaleUniversity。IhadfromchildhoodfeltthatIwas“calledtotheministry。""
TheearliesteventofmemoryistheprayerofmyfatheratfamilyprayersinthelittleoldcottageintheHampshirehighlandsoftheBerkshireHills，callingonGodwithasobbingvoicetoleadmeintosomespecialservicefortheSaviour。Itfilledmewithawe，dread，andfear，andIrecoiledfromthethought，untilIdeterminedtofightagainstitwithallmypower。SoIsoughtforotherprofessionsandfordecentexcusesforbeinganythingbutapreacher。
YetwhileIwasnervousandtimidbeforetheclassindeclamationanddreadedtofaceanykindofanaudience，Ifeltinmysoulastrangeimpulsiontowardpublicspeakingwhichforyearsmadememiserable。Thewarandthepublicmeetingsforrecruitingsoldiersfurnishedanoutletformysuppressedsenseofduty，andmyfirstlecturewasonthe“LessonsofHistory""asappliedtothecampaignsagainsttheConfederacy。
Thatmatchlesstemperanceoratorandlovingfriend，JohnB。Gough，introducedmetothelittleaudienceinWestfield，Massachusetts，in1862。
Whatafoolishlittleschool-boyspeechitmusthavebeen!ButMr。Gough"skindwordsofpraise，thebouquetsandtheapplause，mademefeelthatsomehowthewaytopublicoratorywouldnotbesohardasIhadfeared。
FromthattimeIactedonMr。Gough"sadviceand“soughtpractice""byacceptingalmosteveryinvitationIreceivedtospeakonanykindofasubject。Thereweremanysadfailuresandtears，butitwasarestfulcompromisewithmyconscienceconcerningtheministry，anditpleasedmyfriends。
Iaddressedpicnics，Sunday-schools，patrioticmeetings，funerals，anniversaries，commencements，debates，cattle-shows，andsewing-circleswithoutpartialityandwithoutprice。Forthefirstfiveyearstheincomewasallexperience。Thenvoluntarygiftsbegantocomeoccasionallyintheshapeofajack-knife，aham，abook，andthefirstcashremunerationwasfromafarmers"club，ofseventy-fivecentstowardthe“horsehire。""
ItwasacuriousfactthatonememberofthatclubafterwardmovedtoSaltLakeCityandwasamemberofthecommitteeattheMormonTabernaclein1872which，whenIwasacorrespondent，onajourneyaroundtheworld，employedmetolectureon“MenoftheMountains""intheMormonTabernacle，atafeeoffivehundreddollars。
WhileIwasgainingpracticeinthefirstyearsofplatformwork，Ihadthegoodfortunetohaveprofitableemploymentasasoldier，orasacorrespondentorlawyer，orasaneditororasapreacher，whichenabledmetopaymyownexpenses，andithasbeenseldominthefiftyyearsthatIhaveevertakenafeeformypersonaluse。
Inthelastthirty-sixyearsIhavededicatedsolemnlyallthelectureincometobenevolententerprises。IfIamantiquatedenoughforanautobiography，perhapsImaybeagedenoughtoavoidthecriticismofbeinganegotist，whenI
statethatsomeyearsIdeliveredonelecture，“AcresofDiamonds，""overtwohundredtimeseachyear，atanaverageincomeofaboutonehundredandfiftydollarsforeachlecture。
ItwasaremarkablegoodfortunewhichcametomeasalecturerwhenMr。JamesRedpathorganizedthefirstlecturebureaueverestablished。
Mr。RedpathwasthebiographerofJohnBrownofHarper"sFerryrenown，andasMr。Brownhadbeenlongafriendofmyfather"sIfoundemployment，whileastudentonvacation，insellingthatlifeofJohnBrown。ThatacquaintancewithMr。
RedpathwasmaintaineduntilMr。Redpath"sdeath。ToGeneralCharlesH。Taylor，withwhomIwasemployedforatimeasreporterfortheBoston_DailyTraveler_，Iwasindebtedformanyactsofself-sacrificingfriendshipwhichsoftenmysoulasIrecallthem。HedidmethegreatestkindnesswhenhesuggestedmynametoMr。
Redpathasonewhocould“fillinthevacanciesinthesmallertowns""wherethe“greatlightscouldnotalwaysbesecured。""
WhatagloriousgalaxyofgreatnamesthatoriginallistofRedpathlecturerscontained!
HenryWardBeecher，JohnB。Gough，SenatorCharlesSumner，TheodoreTilton，WendellPhillips，Mrs。MaryA。Livermore，BayardTaylor，RalphWaldoEmerson，withmanyofthegreatpreachers，musicians，andwritersofthatremarkableera。EvenDr。Holmes，JohnWhittier，HenryW。Longfellow，JohnLothropMotley，GeorgeWilliamCurtis，andGeneralBurnsidewerepersuadedtoappearoneormoretimes，althoughtheyrefusedtoreceivepay。IcannotforgethowashamedIfeltwhenmynameap-
pearedintheshadowofsuchnames，andhowsureIwasthateveryacquaintancewasridiculingmebehindmyback。Mr。BayardTaylor，however，wrotemefromthe_Tribune_officeakindnotesayingthathewasgladtoseeme“ontheroadtogreatusefulness。""GovernorClafflin，ofMassachusetts，tookthetimetosendmeanoteofcongratulation。
GeneralBenjaminF。Butler，however，advisedmeto“sticktothelast""andbeagoodlawyer。
Theworkoflecturingwasalwaysataskandaduty。IdonotfeelnowthatIeversoughttobeanentertainer。IamsureIwouldhavebeenanutterfailurebutforthefeelingthatImustpreachsomegospeltruthinmylecturesanddoatleastthatmuchtowardthatever-persistent“callofGod。""WhenIenteredtheministry(1879)IhadbecomesoassociatedwiththelectureplatforminAmericaandEnglandthatIcouldnotfeeljustifiedinabandoningsogreatafieldofusefulness。
Theexperiencesofalloursuccessfullecturersareprobablynearlyalike。Thewayisnotalwayssmooth。Butthehardroads，thepoorhotels，thelatetrains，thecoldhalls，thehotchurchauditoriums，theoverkindnessofhospitablecommittees，andthebrokenhoursofsleepareannoyancesonesoonforgets；andthehostsofintelligentfaces，themessagesofthanks，andtheeffectsoftheearningsonthelivesofyoungcollegemencanneverceasetobeadailyjoy。Godblessthemall。
OftenhaveIbeenaskedifIdidnot，infiftyyearsoftravelinallsortsofconveyances，meetwithaccidents。Itisamarveltomethatnosucheventeverbroughtmeharm。Inacontinuousperiodofovertwenty-sevenyearsIdeliveredabouttwolecturesineverythreedays，yetIdidnotmissasingleengagement。SometimesIhadtohireaspecialtrain，butIreachedthetownontime，withonlyarareexception，andthenIwasbutafewminuteslate。Accidentshaveprecededandfollowedmeontrainsandboats，andweresometimesinsight，butIwaspreservedwithoutinjurythroughalltheyears。IntheJohnstownfloodregionIsawabridgegooutbehindourtrain。IwasonceonaderelictsteamerontheAtlanticfortwenty-sixdays。AtanothertimeamanwaskilledintheberthofasleeperI
hadlefthalfanhourbefore。OftenhaveIfeltthetrainleavethetrack，butnoonewaskilled。
Robbershaveseveraltimesthreatenedmylife，butallcameoutwithoutlosstome。Godandmanhaveeverbeenpatientwithme。
Yetthisperiodoflecturinghasbeen，afterall，asideissue。TheTemple，anditschurch，inPhiladelphia，which，whenitsmembershipwaslessthanthreethousandmembers，forsomanyyearscontributedthroughitsmembershipoversixtythousanddollarsayearfortheupliftofhumanity，hasmadelifeacontinualsurprise；whiletheSamaritanHospital"samazinggrowth，andtheGarretsonHospital"sdispensaries，havebeensocontinuallyministeringtothesickandpoor，andhavedonesuchskilfulworkforthetensofthousandswhoaskfortheirhelpeachyear，thatI
havebeenmadehappywhileawaylecturingbythefeelingthateachhourandminutetheywerefaithfullydoinggood。TempleUniversity，whichwasfoundedonlytwenty-sevenyearsago，hasalreadysentoutintoahigherincomeandnoblerlifenearlyahundredthousandyoungmenandwomenwhocouldnotprobablyhaveobtainedaneducationinanyotherinstitution。Thefaithful，self-sacrificingfaculty，nownumberingtwohundredandfifty-threeprofessors，havedonetherealwork。ForthatIcanclaimbutlittlecredit；
andImentiontheUniversityhereonlytoshowthatmy“fiftyyearsonthelectureplatform""
hasnecessarilybeenasidelineofwork。
Mybest-knownlecture，“AcresofDiamonds，""
wasamereaccidentaladdress，atfirstgivenbeforeareunionofmyoldcomradesoftheForty-
sixthMassachusettsRegiment，whichservedintheCivilWarandinwhichIwascaptain。I
hadnothoughtofgivingtheaddressagain，andevenafteritbegantobecalledforbylecturecommitteesIdidnotdreamthatIshouldlivetodeliverit，asInowhavedone，almostfivethousandtimes。“Whatisthesecretofitspopularity?""Icouldneverexplaintomyselforothers。
IsimplyknowthatIalwaysattempttoenthusemyselfoneachoccasionwiththeideathatitisaspecialopportunitytodogood，andIinterestmyselfineachcommunityandapplythegeneralprincipleswithlocalillustrations。
Thehandwhichnowholdsthispenmustinthenaturalcourseofeventssoonceasetogestureontheplatform，anditisasincere，prayerfulhopethatthisbookwillgoonintotheyearsdoingincreasinggoodfortheaidofmybrothersandsistersinthehumanfamily。