CHARACTER-BUILDING The Game of Life By JOHN GODFREY SAXE [John Godfrey Saxe, journalist, lecturer, and poet, was born at Highgate, Vt., June 2, 1816. He entered Wesleyan University in 1835, but left it during his freshman year to enter Middlebury College, where he graduated in 1839. He then studied law at Lakeport, N. Y., and at St. Albans, Vt., and was admitted to the bar in 1843. From 1847 to 1848 he was superintendent of common schools for Chittenden County, Vermont, and in 1850 bought the Burlington "Sentinel," which he edited. He was United States deputy collector of customs in 1850 and served his county as state attorney in the following year. In 1859-60 he stood for the governorship of Vermont on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated. In 1872 he became editor of the Albany “Evening Journal." Besides these active participations in the world of affairs he was eagerly interested in literary pursuits. In 1846 he published a poem called "Progress" and, four years later, followed it with a volume of "Humorous and Satirical Poems." His other titles are "The Money King and Other Poems," published in 1859. "Clever Stories of Many Nations," "The Masquerade and Other Poems" in 1866. “Fables and Legends" in 1872, and “Leisure Day Rhymes" in 1875. A master of easy and humorous discourse, he devoted much time to popular lecturing and was a frequent speaker at college anniversaries. As often happens in the case of professed humorists, his nature was subject to fits of melancholy; and these became so confirmed a few years before his death that he withdrew from society completely. He died at Albany, March 31, 1887.] (Though I never have played it, for pleasure or lucre,) In which, when the cards are in certain conditions, The players appear to have changed their positions, And one of them cries, in a confident tone, "I think I may venture to go it alone!" While watching the game, 'tis a whim of the bard's And to fancy he finds in the trivial strife Some excellent hints for the battle of Life; When great Galileo proclaimed that the world "It moves, for all that!" was his answering tone, When Kepler, with intellect piercing afar, And doctors, who ought to have lauded his name, "I can wait," he replied, "till the truth you shall own"; For he felt in his heart he could go it alone! Alas! for the player who idly depends, In the struggle of life, upon kindred or friends; They can never atone for inglorious ease, Nor comfort the coward who finds, with a groan, That his crutches have left him to go it alone! There's something, no doubt, in the hand you may hold, Health, family, culture, wit, beauty, and gold. The fortunate owner may fairly regard As, each in its way, a most excellent card; Yet the game may be lost, with all these for your own, Unless you've the courage to go it alone! In battle or business, whatever the game, In law or in love, it is ever the same; In the struggle for power, or the scramble for pelf, Let this be your motto,-Rely on yourself. For, whether the prize be a ribbon or throne, The victor is he who can go it alone! THE TRUE GENTLEMAN Description of an Educated Man By THOMAS HENRY HUXLEY His [Thomas Henry Huxley, scientist and man of letters, was born at Ealing, near London, May 4, 1825. At the age of twelve he wished to become a mechanical engineer but was diverted to the study of medicine. Necessity compelled him, at the close of his medical course, and before he was twenty-one, to seek remunerative employment, and in 1846 he applied for admission to the medical service of the navy. first post was at the naval hospital at Haslar, from which he was sent as assistant surgeon on the surveying ship "Rattlesnake," and spent four years, chiefly off the coast of Australia. Besides studying the anatomy and physiology of oceanic forms, he read enormously in general literature. Returning in 1850 he found that the scientific papers he had sent home had made him famous. In 1851 he was elected fellow of the Royal Society, and in 1854 he became lecturer on natural history at the Royal School of Mines, and held this post for thirty-one years. He became known as a paleontologist as well as a microscopist, and, upon the appearance of Darwin's "Origin of Species" in 1859, at once adopted and supported Darwin's views. His addresses at the Royal Institution, his lectures to workingmen (published in 1863 as "Man's Place in Nature"), his published essays and reports of investigations gave him the leadership among men of science in London. In 1870 he added to his labors that of gratuitous position on the London School Board, and worked so variously and devotedly as to be compelled to take a long holiday in Egypt in the winter of 1872. In 1876 he came to the United States, gave an address at the opening of Johns Hopkins University, and lectured in New York on "Evolution." In 1883 he became president of the Royal Society, receiving its Copley and Darwin medals later. The last ten years of his life were devoted to private work, his health having failed. He issued a long series of "Lay Sermons" and essays. He died at Eastbourne, June 29, 1895.] THAT HAT man, I think, has had a liberal education who has been so trained in youth that his body is the ready servant of his will, and does with ease and pleasure all the work that, as a mechanism, it is capable of; whose intellect is a clear, cold, logic engine, with all its parts of equal strength, and in smooth working order; ready, like a steam engine, to be turned to any kind of work, and spin the gossamers as well as forge the anchors of the mind; whose mind is stored with a knowledge of the great and fundamental truths of Nature and of the laws of her operations; one who, no stunted ascetic, is full of life and fire, but whose passions are trained to come to heel* by a vigorous will, the servant of a tender conscience; who has learned to love all beauty, whether of Nature or of art, to hate all vileness, and to respect others as himself. Such a one and no other, I conceive, has had a liberal education; for he is, as completely as a man can be, in harmony with Nature. He will make the best of her, and she of him. They will get on together rarely (splendidly): she as his ever beneficent mother; he as her mouthpiece, her conscious self, her minister and interpreter. * Come to heel"; the huntsman's dog is trained to follow his master closely, and instantly cease the most exciting chase when whistled to. THE TRUE GENTLEMAN Honor By ALBERT MATHEWS [Albert Mathews, lawyer and author, was born at New York City, September 8, 1820. He was educated at Yale College, from which he graduated in 1842. Between 1842 and 1845 he studied law at Harvard Law School and at New York City, and was admitted to the bar in the latter place in 1845. In 1859 he began his contributions to literature; most of which have appeared under the pen name of "Paul Siegvolk." In that year he published "Walter Ashwood: A Love Story"; in 1879, "Incidental Protection a Solecism" and "A Bundle of Papers." In 1881 he produced a work in the line of his professional activities: "Thoughts on the Codification of the Common Law"; in 1889, "Memorial of Bernard Roelker"; in 1893, "The School Days of Robert Singleton," contributed to the July and August numbers of the "Home Journal." In the same year he wrote "Ruminations: the Ideal American Lady, and other Essays"; in 1896 appeared “A Few Verses." From 1893 to 1899 he was a frequent contributor to the "Home Journal," writing a column named "Schediasms."] BORN ORN of Christian precept and example, and nurtured by feudalistic chivalry and gallantry, it has something of the majesty of the former, with the perfume of the latter; and is personified in the gentleman. It would be a grave mistake to confound honor with mere honesty. The latter falls within the category of the homely virtues of common men, while the former is the mainspring of the moral character of the gentleman. Indeed, common honesty scarcely deserves to be esteemed a great affirmative merit at all by rightly thinking men; except, perhaps, when it has heroically conquered a severe temptation offered to some unselfish weakness or pious affection. Only in a community where roguery is common can mere simple honesty take high rank as a positive virtue. True, it does not deny any one his |