ATTAINABLE IDEALS. 45 



own exertions to rise superior to the lot in wliich 

 they were born. The great catalogue of "tl\e men 

 who have risen " contains probably the vast major- 

 ity of all those names which the human race is 

 most likely to remember always with joy aiwl 

 gratitude. The thinkers who have given us the 

 noblest thoughts, the workers who have most 

 improved the conditions of human life, the bene- 

 factors of their kind whose great inventions or dis- 

 coveries still live amongst us, liave for the most part 

 been self-made men, and have started in many cases 

 from the very humblest and simplest beginnings. 

 But such men have already encouragement enough 

 and to spare; there is no fear that the spur of 

 personal ambition will ever fail in inducing those 

 conscious of great and exceptional abilities from 

 applying them to the very best possible advantage 

 for themselves and their fellows. The danger of 

 hiding our light under a bushel is not one to 

 which most of us in these latter days are conspic- 

 uously liable. On the other hand, it is quite pos- 

 sible that at all times, and especially in these present 

 days of rapid expansion and universal education, 

 the mere material gospel of "getting on " may be 

 preached too strenuously, too often, and too well. 

 Tliere is a real danger that excessive stress may be 

 laid upon the actual or imaginary practical results 

 of teaching and effort, that hopes may be encour- 

 aged which are in their own nature incapable of 



