登陆注册
5428200000042

第42章

The same people will go to hear this lecture over and over, and that is the kind of tribute that Conwell likes. I recently heard him deliver it in his own church, where it would naturally be thought to be an old story, and where, presumably, only a few of the faithful would go; but it was quite clear that all of his church are the faithful, for it was a large audience that came to listen to him; hardly a seat in the great auditorium was vacant. And it should be added that, although it was in his own church, it was not a free lecture, where a throng might be expected, but that each one paid a liberal sum for a seat--and the paying of admission is always a practical test of the sincerity of desire to hear.

And the people were swept along by the current as if lecturer and lecture were of novel interest.

The lecture in itself is good to read, but it is only when it is illumined by Conwell's vivid personality that one understands how it influences in the actual delivery.

On that particular evening he had decided to give the lecture in the same form as when he first delivered it many years ago, without any of the alterations that have come with time and changing localities, and as he went on, with the audience rippling and bubbling with laughter as usual, he never doubted that he was giving it as he had given it years before; and yet--so up-to-date and alive must he necessarily be, in spite of a definitive effort to set himself back--every once in a while he was coming out with illustrations from such distinctly recent things as the automobile!

The last time I heard him was the 5,124th time for the lecture. Doesn't it seem incredible! 5,124times' I noticed that he was to deliver it at a little out-of-the-way place, difficult for any considerable number to get to, and I wondered just how much of an audience would gather and how they would be impressed. So I went over from there I was, a few miles away. The road was dark and I pictured a small audience, but when I got there I found the church building in which he was to deliver the lecture had a seating capacity of 830 and that precisely 830 people were already seated there and that a fringe of others were standing behind. Many had come from miles away. Yet the lecture had scarcely, if at all, been advertised. But people had said to one another: ``Aren't you going to hear Dr. Conwell?''

And the word had thus been passed along.

I remember how fascinating it was to watch that audience, for they responded so keenly and with such heartfelt pleasure throughout the entire lecture. And not only were they immensely pleased and amused and interested--and to achieve that at a crossroads church was in itself a triumph to be proud of--but I knew that every listener was given an impulse toward doing something for himself and for others, and that with at least some of them the impulse would materialize in acts. Over and over one realizes what a power such a man wields.

And what an unselfishness! For, far on in years as he is, and suffering pain, he does not chop down his lecture to a definite length; he does not talk for just an hour or go on grudgingly for an hour and a half. He sees that the people are fascinated and inspired, and he forgets pain, ignores time, forgets that the night is late and that he has a long journey to go to get home, and keeps on generously for two hours! And every one wishes it were four.

Always he talks with ease and sympathy.

同类推荐
  • 蒙求

    蒙求

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Story of the Gadsby

    The Story of the Gadsby

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • ON INJURIES OF THE HEAD

    ON INJURIES OF THE HEAD

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 谒先主庙

    谒先主庙

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 云溪友议

    云溪友议

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 娇如艳阳

    娇如艳阳

    新书《小妻子不请自来》已开!欢迎各位小可爱入坑~社会我阳哥,有钱有颜常撩妻。——[文艺版小剧场]某一天。繁星闪烁,蝉鸣欢愉。林娇躺在草地上,轻轻地问了一句:“你是我的彩虹吗?应阳。”他躺在她的身侧,隽黑的眉眼弥漫开浅淡的笑意,然后在她的额头上亲了一下,低声道:“我是你的彩虹,而你,是我的小太阳。”——一句话简介:斯人若彩虹,遇上方知有。[事实证明:简介与本书成绩无关,我是佛系作者,大家佛系看书吧!]
  • 霾之国

    霾之国

    雾霾横行,遮天蔽日,出个门都要全副武装。冬眠三十年的明达,面对的就是这样一个陌生的世界。然而更重要的是,他还要寻找陷害父亲的仇人,对抗一个完全摸不到的对手。
  • 妙引宋词好口才

    妙引宋词好口才

    宋词是中国古代文学皇冠上光辉夺目的一颗巨钻,在古代文学的阆苑里,她是一块芬芳绚丽的园圃。她以姹紫嫣红、千姿百态的丰神,与唐诗争奇,与元典斗妍,历来与唐诗并称双绝,都代表一代文学之胜。词,诗歌的一种。因是合乐的歌词,故又称曲子词、乐府、乐章、长短句、诗余、琴趣等。始于隋,定型于中晚唐,盛于宋。隋唐之际,从西域传入的各民族的音乐与中原旧乐渐渐融合,并以胡乐为主,产生了燕乐。原来整齐的五、七言诗已不适应,于是产生了字句不等、形式更为活泼的词。
  • 脑中世界第一部

    脑中世界第一部

    可想过,每个人的潜意识的都存在一个宇宙或一个世界,一场意外使云易进入奇幻懵懂的世界中。
  • 肇论疏科

    肇论疏科

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 至尊僵皇

    至尊僵皇

    “授权作品”僵尸,秉承天地怨念而生,虽拥有无尽的生命,强悍的身体,却不在三界之内,六道之中,不入轮回,无法渡劫飞升。
  • 红绳错:倾国公主

    红绳错:倾国公主

    第156和157是重复的,网页一时跳不开,点了两下,亲不要订阅了。向大家道歉……
  • 埃德蒙号之谜:惊魂一夜

    埃德蒙号之谜:惊魂一夜

    大卫·鲁道夫和杰克·贝克是俄勒冈海岸最佳的渔民拍档。两人幸运地登上了220英尺的巨型渔船——埃德蒙二世。埃德蒙二世渔船载着十名船员,穿行在已被放射性物质腐蚀的太平洋海域。虽然日本福岛核泄漏的有害物质通过洋流循环污染了这里的水质,但经过最先进的盖格水下辐射计数器检测后,埃德蒙二世船长认为捕捞起来的海产品依然适宜食用。就在结束全天劳作,载着整船战利品打道回府时,全船人遇到了始料不及的状况——潜伏在水下的庞然大物苏醒了……
  • 空间神舍

    空间神舍

    她本是世间一个很平凡的剩女子,一直希望努力挣钱带领家人共享幸福生活。每天像个蝼蚁一样战战兢兢小心翼翼地勤劳工作求生存。一天,失业的她因一时的失意而难得地管了件闲事,大难不死的她迎来了后福——拥有一间神奇的小木屋……实现了她最终的梦想!
  • 无上超级至尊系统

    无上超级至尊系统

    新书《纵横网游之血影修罗》已在起点中文网发布,希望大家支持自卑胆小的少年本打算结束自己蹉跎的一生,然而一个来自高等文明的智能系统从天而降,少年叶秋的生活自此生翻天覆地的变化!无上至尊群:815762271