IN

PROFOUND AND RESPECTFUL ADMIRATION

OF

A NOBLE CAREER AND A STAINLESS CHARACTER

This Volume

INTENDED AS A HELP TO PLAIN LIVING AND HIGH THINKING

IS BY PERMISSION

INSCRIBED

ΤΟ

THE RIGHT HON. WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONE, M.P., LL.D., &c.

FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY AND CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

BY

HIS FAITHFUL SERVANT

THE AUTHOR.

Ն

"To those who have opportunities of culture placed within their reach,

these are the instruments of the divine discipline. It is part of that dis-

cipline to put large opportunities in men's hands, and to leave it to them-

selves whether they will use or neglect them. There shall be no coercion to

make us turn them to account. Occasions of learning and self-improvement

come, stay with us for a while, then pass. And the wheels of time shall not

be reversed to bring them back once they are gone. If we neglect them, we

shall be permanent losers for this life. We cannot say how much we may be

losers hereafter. But if we do what we can to use them while they are

granted, we shall have learnt one lesson of the heavenly discipline, and shall

be, we may hope, the better prepared for the others, whether of action or

endurance, which are yet to come."-Principal Shairp.

CHAPTER I.

AT HOME.

Relations between father and son-Anecdote of Dr. John Brown-
Influence of a wise and good father-Willingness to learn-
Family bonds-Affectionate reverence of a father illustrated

viii

---

CONTENTS.

by examples-Exchange of sympathy-Ungracious disrespect-

Beginning the noble labour of self-culture-Examples of reso-

lute purpose-Home lessons and influences-Danger of growing

weary of home-Home criticism-Immortality of the affections

-A mother's love illustrated by examples-Conditions of home

happiness Value of self-restraint - Temptation of saying

"smart things "-Tenderness of heart-Walter Scott at home-

Courtesy the perfection of good manners-Humility-Honour

your father and mother-Standard of true manliness-Christian

chivalry-Courtesy should begin at home-Cheerfulness-Even-

ings at home-Cheerful words make kindly actions-Sympathy

-How to secure domestic peace-The art of conversation-

What to talk about-Conversation makes "a ready man "-The

æsthetic side of self-culture-Art at home-The activities of

life-Elevating effects of music- Cultivate some branch of art.

PAGE

3-22

CHAPTER II.

LIFE IN THE WORLD.

The choice of friends-The object of friendship-A school-boy's

friendship-A young man's friendship-What our friends should

be-Celebrated friendships-Influences to be avoided-As your

aim in life so should be your company-The "fast" school

of young men-The fever of bad company-Entering into

society-Mutual Improvement Associations-Social influences-

Society is the drill-ground-Signs of the true gentleman—.

Emerson's definition of a gentleman-Examples in the art of

politeness-Thackeray's picture of a gentleman-The evil of

the want of society-The life maelstrom of a great city—

Sowing wild oats-As you sow so shall you reap-Examples

of pure lives - The protection of social intercourse - The

shadow of an unhappy home-What is to be done for young

men in our large towns?-The student in business-Thorough-

ness the primary condition of successful work-The story of

Perthes the bookseller-Happy years of earnest striving-A

notable instance of self-culture-Examples of thorough workers

-Orderliness-Advantage of a daily scheme of work-Distribu-

tion of the hours-Time left for study and recreation-The

principle of orderliness ensures absence of worry-A time for

everything-Talleyrand's dislike of hurry-The moral of content-

ment-Carlyle on the dignity of work-An example of the com-

bined life" Keeping up appearances "-How work honours

the worker-Urbanity-The Earl of Chatham on true politeness

-Instances of the influence of good manners-Urbanity in

business

23-44