his is a proverb: "A bid from
Rothschild electrifies the market." Each new achievement and success
builds higher the tower of observation that lifts the great man into
the presence of the nation. All eyes are upon the prospered
individual, all ears are alert to his whisper. Prosperity's voice is
the voice of an oracle, all her words are winged. Every successful
venture in the world of commerce or statecraft quadruples influence
over the nation's youth. This principle interprets the curiosity of
the boy in store or bank, asking a thousand questions about his
successful employer. It explains why the eager aspirant for political
influence searches all the journals for some word from Gladstone or
Castelar or Bismarck. A sentence from these great champions hath
sufficed for reversing the policy of a government. The memory of many
triumphs lies back of the great leader's words and lends them weight.

Success is an orator; it charms multitudes. Full oft one who is a
veritable genius for making homely truths beautiful has accomplished
less for his age than some prosperous man whose few stumbling words
have sufficed for shaping national policies and guiding his generation.
All the young are drawn into the wake of the successful. Wealth
fulfills the story of Orpheus, whose sweet voice made the very stones
and trees follow after him. Truly wealth is an evangelist, the almoner
of bounty toward college and library and art gallery and liberty and
religion. But its chief use is in this: It enables its possessor to
repeat his industry, integrity and thrift in the children of a nation.
All youthful hearts do well to covet wealth, wisdom and leverage power!
But man should remember that the chief value of prosperity is in its
capitalization of personality, and the rendering of others sensitive to
example and precept. Should man forget this, earth will hear no sadder
cry than his when, closing the life career, he exclaims: "While thy
servant was busy here and there the opportune moment was gone."

Friendship yields these plastic moments and unique opportunities. For
the most part the soul dwells in a castle locked and barred against
outsiders. No man can keep open-house for every passer-by. But
friendship is an open sesame, drawing every bar and bolt. How the
heart leaps when the friend crosses the threshold! His shadow always
falls behind him. His coming is summer in the soul; his presence is
peace. Friendship glorifi