CHAPTER XXIV. 



THE ACCIDENTS OF LIFE " SOME MEN ACHIEVE GREATNESS, 



AND SOME HAVE GREATNESS THRUST UPON THEM" A SLIDE 



RATTLESNAKES AT THE TOP AND AN ICY POOL AT THE 



BOTTOM A FANCIFUL THEORY. 



WHILE we sat thus conversing, our boatmen went down 

 along the beach, and around a little point that ran out into 

 the lake, to bathe. They were jolly, but uncultivated men, 

 given to rudeness and profanity of speech when out of our 

 immediate presence, and by themselves, and we heard from 

 them, while they were splashing and struggling in the water, 

 expressions somewhat inelegant as well as profane. 



" I have often thought," said Spalding, as we listened to 

 the rude and sometimes profane speech of our men, " how 

 vast the influence which circumstances or accident, over 

 which men have no control, have upon their conduct and 

 destiny in this world, if not in the next. The poet has well 

 said, 



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