Character and conduct

"It is more men that the world wants, not more systems. It is character that our modern life waits for, to redeem and transform it; and conduct as the fruitage of character."

The Citizen in his Relation to the Industrial Situation, BISHOP POTTER.

PREFACE

This collection of noble thoughts expressed by men and women of past and present ages who have endeavoured to leave the world a little better than they found it, is similar in arrangement and purpose to my former volume "Being and Doing"; and has been compiled at the request of several readers who have found that book helpful.

It is obvious that without the kindly co-operation of many authors and publishers such books could not exist, and I tender sincere and hearty thanks to those who have made the work possible. All have treated me with unfailing courtesy and generosity.

Where I have occasionally used short quotations without permission I ask forgiveness.

It would be impossible to name separately each one to whom I am a grateful debtor, so special mention must only be made of the more heavily taxed, and of those who have asked for a formal acknowledgment, namely:--

The Literary Executors of the late Mr. Ruskin, per Mr. George Allen, for extracts from Mr. Ruskin's works.

Mr. Edward Arnold for those from Red Pottage, by Mary Cholmondeley.

Canon Barnett for those from The Service of God.

Messrs. Deighton Bell & Co. for those from Pastor Pastorum, by the Rev. Henry Latham.

Mr. James Drummond for those from the writings of Professor Henry Drummond.

Messrs. Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co. for those from Sir Edwin Arnold's Light of Asia.

Miss May Kendall for those from Turkish Bonds, &c.

Messrs. Longmans, Green & Co. for those from the works of Bishop Paget, and from Canon MacColl's Here and Hereafter.

Professor MacCunn for those from The Making of Character.

Messrs. Macmillan & Co. for those from the works of Bishop Westcott, Mrs. Bernard Bosanquet; Tennyson's Poems; from the present Lord Tennyson's Life of his father; from the Mettle of the Pasture, by James Lane Allen; and from Mrs. Humphry Ward's translation of Amiel's Journal.

Messrs. Methuen & Co. for one from the Life of R. L. Stevenson.

Mr. Lloyd Osbourne for those from R. L. Stevenson's works.

Messrs. Wells, Gardner, Darton & Co. for those from Bishop Winnington Ingram's Under the Dome and Friends of the Master.

Dr. John Watson for those from his writings.

Permission was kindly given me before by Messrs. Macmillan to quote from the works of the late Archbishop Temple and of Matthew Arnold. By Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co. for quotations from Robert Browning. By Mr. C. Lewes for quotations from George Eliot; and from Lord Avebury and the Rev. Stopford Brooke for those from their works.

In my experience the reading of extracts often leads to the reading of the books from which they were taken, and I hope and believe many of these gleanings will serve as introductions.

CONSTANCE M. WHISHAW.

SUNNY BANK, ARNSIDE, CARNFORTH.

New Year's Day

JANUARY 1

"Here you stand at the parting of the ways; some road you are to take; and as you stand here, consider and know how it is that you intend to live. Carry no bad habits, no corrupting associations, no enmities and strifes into this New Year. Leave these behind, and let the Dead Past bury its Dead; leave them behind, and thank God that you are able to leave them."

EPHRAIM PEABODY.