Human nature seems to run in this way, seems to be governed by a great paradoxical law which says, that whenever a man self-centred, thinking of, living for and in himself, is very desirous for place, for preferment, for honor, the very fact of his being thus is of itself a sufficient indicator that he is too small to have them, and mankind refuses to accord them.  While the one who forgets self, and who, losing sight of these things, makes it his chief aim in life to help, to aid, and to serve others, by this very fact makes it known that he is large enough, is great enough to have them, and his fellow-men instinctively bestow them upon him.  This is a great law which many would profit by to recognize.  That it is true is attested by the fact that the praise of mankind instinctively and universally goes out to a hero; but who ever heard of a hero who became such by doing something for himself?  Always something he has done for others.  By the fact that monuments and statues are gratefully erected to the memory of those who have helped and served their fellow-men, not to those who have lived to themselves alone.

I have seen many monuments and statues erected to the memories of philanthropists, but I never yet have seen one erected to a miser; many to generous-hearted, noble-hearted men, but never yet to one whose whole life was that of a sharp bargain-driver, and who clung with a sort of semi-idiotic grasp to all that came thus into his temporary possession.  I have seen many erected to statesmen,—­statesmen,—­but never one to mere politicians; many to true orators, but never to mere demagogues; many to soldiers and leaders, but never to men who were not willing, when necessary, to risk all in the service of their country.  No, you will find that the world’s monuments and statues have been erected and its praises and honors have gone out to those who were large and great enough to forget themselves in the service of others, who have been servants, true servants of mankind, who have been true to the great law that we find our own lives in losing them in the service of others.  Not honor for themselves, but service for others.  But notice the strange, wonderful, beautiful transformation as it returns upon itself,—­honor for themselves, because of service to others.

It would be a matter of exceeding great interest to verify the truth of what has just been said by looking at a number of those who are regarded as the world’s great sons and daughters,—­those to whom its honors, its praises, its homage go out,—­to see why it is, upon what their lives have been founded that they have become so great and are so honored.  Of all this glorious company that would come up, we must be contented to look at but one or two.