WHAT CONSTITUTES SUCCESS. 259 



directing his hands. In other words he is to expend a portion of 

 his gains in improving his intellectual powers, thereby rendering 

 himself a better man inherently, better qualified to enjoy his own 

 existence, to fulfill the duties of social life, to contribute to the 

 happiness of others, and to elevate the standard of intellectual and 

 practical knowledge, morality and religion in his own family, 

 neighborhood or town, or in the State, nation or world at large, in 

 whatever sphere he is called upon to exercise his talents or exert 

 his influence ; he must be honest with the community in which he 

 lives, by being ever ready to bear' his part with heart, hand and 

 purse in providing those means of social, intellectual, mioral and 

 religious culture which are essential to the advancement of any 

 community, and so indispensibly necessary to the development of 

 such a community as our sons and daughters will be content to 

 dwell in ; must be ready to comfort the afflicted, aid the needy, 

 and assist the unfortunate ; must remember that while he, perhaos, 

 was advancing in worldly prosperity, from 1862 to 1865, faster 

 than ever before, other men, whose lives were equally dear to 

 them, and perhaps worth more to their country, were falling in de- 

 fence of oiir free institutions, and that some of tlieir vpidows and 

 orphans are within his reach and entitled to his sympathy, protec- 

 tion and material aid ; must remember that the debt of gratitude 

 which he owes to his forefathers for the inestimable blessings and 

 privileges of civil and religious liberty which he enjoys, is to be 

 paid by fostering and perpetuating those blessings for the good of 

 those who are to come after him ; must be ready to deny himself, 

 and if need be, sacrifice his*own will or convenience for the good 

 of others ; must be ready when any enterprise is started in his 

 vicinit}'-, having for its object the good of humanity, whether that 

 enterprise be an agricultural society, farmers' club or lyceum, to 

 do just what will bo for the best interests of the community, re- 

 membering that their interests are to be consulted, that he is but 

 one individual of the same, and that if whatever is agitated is cal- 

 culated to advance the intellectual, industrial or moral interests of 

 the community, present or future, he is in duty bound to give it 

 his candid support. None of us admire the man who, when asked to 

 do something for posterity, excused himself on the ground that 

 posterity had done nothing for him. Poor selfish fool 1 posterity 

 will do something for him, whereof he will be amazing glad if he 

 knows anything about it, and that is to forget him as soon as he is 

 buried, for he has done nothing to cause himself to be remembered. 



