WINTER MEETING. 297 



sought the companionship of shrub and flower, and asked unto the last 

 that his faithful oxen be brought near, that he might stroke their glossy 

 coats with his hands. Thus in his closing days he communed with 

 nature. Jefferson sought Monticello, and Washington Mount Vernon. 

 The inspirations that had imbued their young lives upon the farm had 

 lived on and on through all the varied excitements of public life, to be 

 renewed and rekindled again in age. But not so with all. Some hav- 

 ing quitted that vocation, the best on earth for the all-round develop- 

 ment of the highest type of manhood, being allured by the glittering 

 phosphorescence called " fame," have forged their way by accumulated 

 force of character, to the top crest of the popular wave. It may be 

 they enjoyed the plaudits of their fellows, and may have 



" Trod the paths of glory and 

 Sounded all the depths and shoals of honor." 



Yet this position, so full of apparent glory, fails to satisfy to the 

 fulness all the wants and cravings of human existence. 



Then again, how fickle and how versatile is human appreciation ! 

 The man who today is upborne by the plaudits of his fellows till his 

 career is like a brilliant meteor blazing athwart the political firmament, 

 may tomorrow sink, amid their curses, into obscurity and darkness. 

 Warren Hastings, Burke and Sheridan of the old world, and Aaron 

 Burr of the new, are samples. 



It was said of one of the former, that, having followed the bubble 

 fame, and devoted the best energies of his vigorous manhood in poli- 

 tical service, the star of his glory had set prematurely. An aimless 

 wanderer, unappreciated, he moved among his fellows. He came 

 nearly to his journey's end. Cheerless and sick of heart, he retraced 

 his steps. Coming to the place where once he had shone so brilliantly, 

 where now there was none so poor as to do him homage, he said: "I 

 come — an old man, broken by the storms of state — to lay my weary 

 bones among ye. Give me a little earth for charity." 



Others have gone out into restricted lines: worshippers of mam- 

 mon; the all-consuming desire to make money — every other faculty 

 shriveled and shrunken : the money-making, money-getting mania 

 overshadowing and dwarfing every other development. Of such an 

 one you ask, your purpose ? To make money. After some years, 

 success having crowned his efforts, you ask, what next"? The reply 

 comes quickly, make more money. Later you ask, what next ? More 

 money. And so on and on, this ruling passion, ruling stronger and 

 stronger, till it becomes even strong in death. What next — golden 

 streets? Nay, verily; he could not enjoy gold or wealth except to 



