States. Our business was managed with the utmost economy. My experiences as a woodsman enabled me without difficulty to cut wood in sled lengths in the woods, haul it to the yard in the rear of our store, and at intervals, when not employed in the store, I cut the supply of wood requisite for both the store and the dwelling-house which was attached. When we commenced the business of receiving saw-logs in the winter, it fell upon me to attend to their measurement and putting them in skid-ways in the creek. At night I posted books, and kept the clerical work of the concern in order. My experience in a law office enabled me to draw up contracts and perform other services for the firm of Smith & Westover, with whom we dealt, and who were making contracts with farmers in our section. After a period of three or four years, Mr. Westover of this firm proposed to me that I should retire from the store and take charge of their business in Canada. This I did in the year 1859. I entered their employment fully realizing that a future lay before me, if I was worthy of it, and fully understanding also the necessary conditions of success. I determined to make my services valuable to them, and spared neither brain nor physical effort to do so. In the winter I laboured from dawn of day till ten o'clock at night, while the sleighing continued. I mastered the details of the business, such as I had not already mastered, with facility and despatch. I looked after their interests with the same earnestness, forethought and desire to secure success, as if it had been my own. I traversed the valley of Big Creek on foot from Lynedoch to the lake, twice a week, during the running season, and kept thoroughly conversant with all the details of work in every branch of the operations. I never sought to impress my employers with the knowledge that I was doing the utmost that lay in my power to promote their interests but I allowed my work to speak for itself, not entertaining any anxiety as to whether I would receive due credit or not.

This position continued for two years. Smith & Westover then sold their Canadian interest to a former partner, Mr.

James Ramsdell. Extensive credit had to be given, and no doubt some fears were entertained as to whether Mr. Ramsdell could manage the business with a sufficient degree of success to ensure payment of the sums left upon account. Now came the reward of efforts to serve faithfully my employers, which had resulted in their belief that I was a competent and honest man. They insisted, as a condition of sale to Mr. Ramsdell, that I should be taken into partnership on equal terms, and my employers, upon retiring from the business, lent me the amount of capital that was necessary to keep up my portion of the venture. This was my introduction to a profitable business upon my own account. I did not owe this to the philanthropy or generosity of Messrs. Smith & Westover, it was purely a business transaction. I had acquired their confidence and had impressed them with the belief that I was a competent man to manage the business, and they insisted that I should be taken into the partnership, purely for the reason that they desired to secure their pay. The business of Ramsdell & Charlton was a highly successful one. I gave to it the same effort that I had given to the management of the business of Smith & Westover, and I certainly was not more earnest and painstaking in my own affairs than I had been in the management of theirs. In due time Mr. Ramsdell desired to retire from the business, and I bought his interest. Success in the management of the timber trade continued and increased. It is unnecessary to follow my business career further. I have only to say that I have given to it earnest attention, and have worked without shrinking from the exertions that were necessary to keep up every department of my affairs, and to prosecute vigorously and energetically whatever lay before me to do. I make these statements for the purpose of influencing the young men who are about to embark upon a business career of their own. The opportunities that fell in my own way, perhaps may not confront those whom I am addressing, but opportunities will be afforded to all who have the industry, the energy, and the capacity to avail themselves of them. There are of course accidental

circumstances. Take advantage of the accidents. There are openings that require a little courage and industry. Walk into the openings. There is a living and a position in Canada for every hard working, intelligent, honest man. I have before recounted some of the conditions of success, and I will here again say that not the least important one is to live within your means, and to esteem work a privilege as well as a duty. I do not know whether there is more enjoyment in a life of activity and labour, than in one of idleness and ease, for I have never tried the latter, but I am quite well convinced that the former is more conducive to enjoyment, and it goes without saying, that it leads more surely to prosperity and a good position.

I need say little about my public career. My critics will deal with that question, some of them perhaps with undue generosity, others again possibly with scant justice, but the verdict must be made up without my assistance. I have only to say, in connection with this question, that if I have achieved any degree of distinction or success, it has been the result of industry and close application; that I realized at the outset of my parliamentary career that a vast amount of digging had to be done, solid, hard plodding, in many cases dry, uncongenial work, statistics had to be mastered, public questions thoroughly considered, history of public movements studied, the course of events and policies closely scanned, large stores of information upon a great variety of subjects acquired, preparations made for debate, not only relating to points one wished to advance, but an array of facts held ready to meet any possible contingency or attack. Whether my life as a public man, in its results, has been worth the efforts that have been expended, I would hardly venture to say. Rewards, if I had been seeking merely for position, might seem inadequate, but if I can bring myself to feel that my efforts in any direction have been of service to my fellowmen and my country, and that my course has been above the sordid, mercenary spirit of the mere political trickster and seeker for favours, I think that I shall arrive at the conclusion

that, notwithstanding disappointments and defeats, and misrepresentations and malignant attacks, and scant recognition of services, I have not laboured in vain, and perhaps would not shrink, with all the experience I now possess, from entering upon the same course again.

And, now, in conclusion, I have but to add that our young country needs for its development true womanhood, and earnest, honest industrious manhood. We want good citizens, honest, God-fearing men and women, who realize the gravity of the great problems of life, who understand the necessity for carrying out the purposes of Providence by their own efforts as labourers, in a physical, and in a spiritual and mental sense. I have spoken of the conditions of success in life. That success in a greater or lesser degree is obtainable by all. Its conditions are plain, easily mastered, easily applied. I hope my words may prove of service to many, and that my own experience may be some slight incentive to effort in the directions I have indicated. I wish for you, one and all, success in life, and the wisdom to enable you to apply the conditions necessary to obtain that result.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

IF I were asked, "Who is your hero?" I would probably answer, "Abraham Lincoln." This lecture on the life of the great president was prepared in 1893, and delivered once or twice in my own county. It was first given outside on December 12, 1898, at a meeting in the Hamilton House, Washington. The Hon. Nelson R. Dingley, was in the chair, and the audience included many notable Americans. The speech was repeated before the Marquette Club, Chicago. I had the honour to be the principal speaker of the evening, among the other speakers being the Hon. Whitelaw Reid, Peace Commissioner, Paris; General Woodford, late United States Minister to Spain; Mr. Dawes, Collector of Currency, and the Hon. Mr. Ogden, United States Senator from Texas.

Chicago, February 13, 1899.

MR. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:-History has its important epochs, and each of these periods, standing out boldly in the declining light of the past, and arresting attention by its distinctive features and prime importance, has its great names, its master spirits, who have performed famous deeds, and have secured the attention of mankind, often not so much because of the possession of transcendent talent, or exceptional force, as because of exceptional opportunities, and the concurrence of circumstances that developed latent