HOW TO WORK 



tually in the bath, for while he was being rubbed and 

 wiped, he was employed either in hearing some book 

 read to him, or in dictating himself. In his journeys 

 he lost no time from his studies; but his mind at those 

 seasons being disengaged from all other thoughts, ap- 

 plied itself wholly to that single pursuit. A secretary 

 constantly attended him in his chariot, who in the 

 winter wore a particular sort of warm gloves that the 

 sharpness of the weather might not occasion any in- 

 terruption to his studies." 



Such application as this, it is hardly necessary to 

 prove, would triumph against almost any obstacle. 

 Pliny, indeed, had no obstacles placed in his path, so far 

 as we are aware. He pursued the bent of his native 

 talent. But cases are not wanting in which men have 

 achieved fame in fields which nature seemed to have 

 forbidden them to traverse. The case of Demosthenes 

 is so characteristic in this regard that it will bear exposit- 

 ing notwithstanding its familiarity. We are assured that 

 this greatest of all orators of antiquity if not indeed of 

 all time had originally "a weak voice, a short breath, 

 and a very uncouth and ungracious manner. By dint of 

 resolution and infinite pains, he overcame all these de- 

 fects. He would climb up steep and craggy places to 

 help his wind and strengthen his voice ; he would de- 

 claim with pebbles in his mouth to remedy the defect in 

 his speech ; he would place a looking-glass before him to 

 correct the awkwardness of his gesture; and he learned 

 of the best players the proper graces of action and pro- 

 nunciation. He was so intent upon his study that he 



