In this book one has all the ingredients to understand what it takes to build a strong moral character that is the foundation for a happy and successful life. Do we ask, what is character? Is it not that sum of qualities which distinguishes one person from another? It is no part of Dr. Marden's intent, in this book, to catalog those mental and moral traits of most value to mankind, yet it is his intent to name certain deep-rooted dispositions, which are essential in the mental makeup of those who set before themselves a high ideal in seeking for the grandest thing in the world.
Chapter
1
A
GRAND CHARACTER
IF
Drummond was wise in calling
an abstract quality such as Love, the Greatest Thing in the World —
then Love,
paired with a fully developed Character, must truly be the Grandest
Thing in
the World. Drummond himself, in his life story, is far grander than
anything he
ever wrote, for his was the life of a radiant personality.
"When
you met him,"
says Dr. George Adam Smith, his biographer, "you saw a graceful,
well-dressed gentleman, tall, with a slight swagger in his walk and a
brightness in his face; who seemed to carry no worries, and to suffer
neither
from presumption nor timidity. When you spoke with him, you’d find him
knowledgeable and interested about most any topic.
He
fished, he hunted, he
skated, as few can; he played cricket; he would go any distance to see
a
bon-fire or a football game.
He
had a new story or a new
puzzle or a new joke every time he met you. If it was on the street,
he’d
encourage you to watch the everyday happenings with a keen eye for
detail. He
helped you appreciate the miracle of the smaller things in life. If
you’d meet
him on the train, he was ever poised to read you a fresh tale from a
book he
had most recently
discovered.
He’d make you more
aware of what’s going on in the world.
He
loved to play and he was
known for introducing games and within a matter of minutes he’d have
everybody
in the thick of it. Children loved him for his generosity and
encouragement.”
“Drummond had a genius for friendship,"
says Professor Grose. He so won the affection of working-men that one
said,
after Drummond died, that he almost felt as if he must talk to him in
his prayers
— to invoke his influence for good, from out of the heavens.
Ian
Maclaren, who first knew
Drummond as a boy on the cricket field said, "His influence more than
that
of any other man I ever met, was mesmerizing — which means that, while
other
men affect people by their speech and example, he was able to seize one
directly by his vibrant personality. Overly reserved and always
sensible people
grew uneasy in his presence, and would sometime even force themselves
to resist
Drummond, — as one might do who recognized a magician, and feared his
spell.
Men would quickly become observant, interested, fascinated by the very
sight of
the man, and could not take their eyes off him. It was as if the prince
from a
children’s fairytale had dropped in among the common folk.''
So
when we ask — What is
Character? Is it not that sum of qualities
which
distinguishes one person
from another? Do we say that Drummond's versatility and ability to
connect with
people of all interests was his distinguishing characteristic? It was,
in fact,
his unique combination of higher qualities; and no man can acquire a
far-reaching influence without a fair mental balance, without great
strengths
from many sides.
While
it is not my intent, in
this booklet, to catalogue every mental and moral trait to be acquired
by the
most ambitious, it is my intent to name certain deep-rooted ideals,
which are
most essential in the mental make-up of those who set before themselves
the
goal of developing their character, the highest ideal, also known as
The
Grandest Thing in the World.
The
dominant influences in the
shaping of character are heredity and environment. Before an individual
can
think or act independently these strong influences are hard at work,
making
their firm impression upon our entire being.
As
Daniel Webster wrote:
“If
we work upon marble, it
will perish; if we work upon brass, time will efface it; if we rear
temples,
they will crumble into dust; but if we work upon immortal souls, if we
imbue
them with immortal principles, with the just fear of God and love of
fellow
men, we engrave on those tablets something which will brighten all
eternity.”
Chapter
2
THE
LIGHT BEARERS
True
worth is in being, not
seeming,—
In
doing, each day that goes
by,
Some
little good, not in the
dreaming
Of
great things to do by and
by.
For
whatever men say in their
blindness,
And
in spite of the fancies of
youth,
There's
nothing so kingly as
kindness,
And
nothing so royal as truth.
—ALICE
CART
A
gentleman's first characteristic is that fineness
of structure in the body which renders it capable of the most delicate
sensation, and of structure in the mind which renders it capable of the
most
delicate sympathies; one may say, simply, "fineness of nature."
—RUSKIN
There
is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of
being happy. . . By being happy we sow anonymous benefits upon the
world, which
remain unknown even to ourselves.
—STEVENSON
On
the steps of a public
building in Florence, an old soldier sat playing a violin. By his side
stood a
faithful dog holding in his mouth the disabled veteran's hat, into
which, now
and then, a passer-by would drop a coin. A gentleman, in passing,
paused, and
asked for the violin; first tuning it, he then began to play.
The
sight of such a
well-dressed man, playing the poor man’s violin in such a place, and
with such
kindness and enthusiasm, attracted the passersby, and they stopped. The
music
was so charming that they stood there, enchanted. The number of
donations in
the hat increased largely. The hat became so heavy that the dog began
to growl.
It was emptied, and soon filled again. The company grew until a great
congregation was gathered. The performer played one of the national
anthems,
handed the violin back to its owner, and quickly went along his way.
One
man who was present said:
"That was Amard Bucher, the world renowned violinist. He did this for
charity; let us follow his example." And immediately the hat was passed
again for a collection for the old veteran.
Mr.
Bucher did not give a
penny, but yet he flooded the old man's day with sunshine and showed
him that
there was one who cared for his welfare and truly appreciated him for
his
service.
So,
too, it is related that
when Michael Angelo was at the height of his fame, when monarchs and
popes were
paying fabulous prices for his works, a little boy met him in the
street, with
an old pencil and a piece of dirty brown paper, and asked him for a
picture.
The great artist sat on the curbstone and drew a picture for his little
admirer.
Another
like charming story is
told of Jenny Lind, a famous singer from Sweden, the story tells us of
her
noble nature. Once when walking with a friend she saw an old woman
staggering
into the door of her concert hall. Her pity for the woman was
immediate, and
she entered the door, pretend-ing to need to rest for a moment, but in
reality
she wished to give something to the poor woman. To her surprise, the
old woman
began at once to talk of Jenny Lind, saying, —
"I
have lived a long time
in this world, and desire nothing more before I die but to hear the
sweet sound
of the great Jenny Lind."
"Would
it make you
happy?" inquired Jenny.
"Ay,
that it would; but
such folks as I can't afford to go to the concert, and so I shall never
hear
her in person."
"Don't
be so sure of
that," said Jenny. "Sit down, my friend, and listen.”
She
then sang, with genuine
glee, one of her best songs. The old woman was wild with delight and
wonder,
when she added,—
''Now
you have heard Jenny
Lind."
“Sweeter
than the perfume of
roses, is a reputation for a kind, charitable, unselfish nature; a
ready
disposition to do for others any good turn that is within your power.
The
health and wellbeing of the mind is closely linked to the sensibilities
of the
body; even what the body wears and where it resides has influence on
our
self-esteem.”
"Good
looking,"
Horace Smith remarks," is looking good." "Be good, be manly, be
womanly, be gentle, generous in your sympathies, take rightful
ownership of all
the good that is all around you, — do this and you will never lack kind
words
of admiration toward others."
Was
there ever an unselfish
person, of charitable and generous impulses; one who was sociable,
loving,
kind, of tender spirit and thoughtful of others, who was not
universally beloved
by all? The kind soul, indeed, can be regarded as “the light-bearer.”
Some
people are naturally happy
and optimistic. No matter what their circumstances are, they are
joyous,
content, and satisfied with most everything. They carry a perpetual
holiday in
their eyes, and see joy and beauty everywhere. When we meet them they
impress
us as having just met with some good luck, or as having some grand news
to
share. Like the bees that extract honey from every flower, they have a
happy
air about them which transforms gloom into sunshine. In the hospitals
their
smiles and wit outperform the physician and have a more potent effect
than most
drugs. All doors open to these people. They are welcome everywhere.
The
most fascinating person is
always the one with the most winning manners. Inner character
eventually out-shines
the most seductive outward physical beauty.
We
do not need a formal
introduction to feel the greatness within a man of true character. If
you meet
a cheerful man on the street on a cold day you seem to feel the mercury
rise
several degrees. The two main characteristics of a lady or of a
gentleman are,
according to Earl Beaconsfield, propriety and consideration, for
others.
"If you fall into any
extreme,
let it be on the side
of gentleness.'' "Let each one strive to yield to the wishes of others,
in
absolute unselfishness." "Never part without loving words.'' How
appropriate are such giving sentiments, that we should adopt them as
our life
mottos!
The
following was found in an
old manor-house in England, written and framed, and hung over the
mantel-piece
of a sitting-room:
"The
true
gentleman is God's servant, the world's master, and his own man. Virtue
is his
business; study, his recreation; contentment, his rest; and happiness,
his
reward. God is his Father; the saints, his brethren; and all that need
him his
friends. Devotion is his chaplain; chastity, his chamberlain; sobriety,
his
butler; temperance, his cook; hospitality, his housekeeper; Providence,
his
steward; charity, his treasurer; and discretion, his porter, to let in
or out,
as appropriate. Thus his whole life is made up of virtue, and he is
master of
his house. He is committed to take the world with him, on his personal
journey
toward heaven, and all his business along the way is to make himself
and others
happy. His determination for good is what makes him — a man."