gging among the ruins of Pompeii, which was buried by the dust
and ashes from an eruption of Vesuvius A. D. 79, the workmen found the
skeleton of a Roman soldier in the sentry-box at one of the city's
gates. He might have found safety under sheltering rocks close by;
but, in the face of certain death, he had remained at his post, a mute
witness to the thorough discipline, the ceaseless vigilance and
fidelity which made the Roman legionaries masters of the known world.

The world admires the man who never flinches from unexpected
difficulties, who calmly, patiently, and courageously grapples with his
fate; who dies, if need be, at his post.

"Clear grit" always commands respect. It is that quality which
achieves, and everybody admires achievement. In the strife of parties
and principles, backbone without brains will carry against brains
without backbone. You can not, by tying an opinion to a man's tongue,
make him the representative of that opinion; at the close of any battle
for principles, his name will be found neither among the dead nor among
the wounded, but among the missing.

The "London Times" was an insignificant sheet published by Mr. Walter
and was steadily losing money. John Walter, Jr., then only
twenty-seven years old, begged his father to give him full control of
the paper. After many misgivings, the father finally consented. The
young journalist began to remodel the establishment and to introduce
new ideas everywhere. The paper had not attempted to mold public
opinion, and had had no individuality or character of its own. The
audacious young editor boldly attacked every wrong, even the
government, whenever he thought it corrupt. Thereupon the public
customs, printing, and the government advertisements were withdrawn.
The father was in utter dismay. His son, he was sure, would ruin the
paper and himself. But no remonstrance could swerve the son from his
purpose to give the world a great journal which should have weight,
character, individuality, and independence.

The public soon saw that a new power stood behind the "Times"; that its
articles meant business; that new life and new blood and new ideas had
been infused into the insignificant sheet; that a man with brains and
push and tenacity of purpose stood at the helm,--a man who could make a
way when he could not find one. Among other new features foreign
dispatches were introduced, and they appeared in the "Times" several
days before th