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the faculty of control； the vital quality that makes the orator。
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 seatand 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 yetso up…to…date and alive must he necessarily be； in spite of a definitive effort to set himself backevery 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；124 times' 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 interestedand to achieve that at a crossroads church was in itself a triumph to be proud ofbut 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。 There are geniality； composure； humor； simple and homely jestsyet never does the audience forget that he is every moment in tremendous earnest。 They bubble with responsive laughter or are silent in riveted attention。 A stir can be seen to sweep over an audience； of earnestness or surprise or amusement or resolve。 When he is grave and sober or fervid the people feel that he is himself a fervidly earnest man； and when he is telling something humorous there is on his part almost a repressed chuckle； a genial appreciation of the fun of it； not in the least as if he were laughing at his own humor； but as if he and his hearers were laughing together at something of which they were all humorously cognizant。
Myriad successes in life have come through the direct inspiration of this single lecture。 One hears of so many that there must be vastly more that are never told。 A few of the most recent were told me by Dr。 Conwell himself； one being of a farmer boy who walked a long distance to hear him。 On his way home； so the boy； now a man； has written him； he thought over and over of what he could do to advance himself； and before he reached home he learned that a teacher was wanted at a certain country school。 He knew he did not know enough to teach； but was sure he could learn； so he bravely asked for the place。 And something in his earnestness made him win a temporary appointment。 Thereupon he worked and studied so hard and so devotedly； while he daily taught； that within a few months he was regularly employed there。 ‘‘And now；'' says Conwell； abruptly； with his characteristic skim… ming over of the intermediate details between the important beginning of a thing and the satisfactory end； ‘‘and now that young man is one of our college presidents。''
And very recently a lady came to Dr。 Conwell； the wife of an exceptionally prominent man who was earning a large salary； and she told him that her husband was so unselfishly generous with money that often they were almost in straits。 And she said they had bought a little farm as a country place； paying only a few hundred dollars for it； and that she had said to herself； laughingly； after hearing the lecture； ‘‘There are no acres of diamonds on this place！'' But she also went on to tell that she had found a spring of exceptionally fine water there； although in buying they had scarcely known of the spring at all； and she had been so inspired by Conwell that she had had the water analyzed and； finding that it was remarkably pure； had begun to have it bottled and sold under a trade name as special spring water。 And she is making money。 And she also sells pure ice from the pool； cut in winter…time and all because of ‘‘Acres of Diamonds''！
Several millions of dollars； in all； have been received by Russell Conwell as the proceeds from this single lecture。 Such a fact is almost staggering and it is more staggering to realize what good is done in the world by this man； who does not earn for himself； but uses his money in immediate helpfulness。 And one can neither think nor write with moderation when it is further realized that far more good than can be done directly with money he does by uplifting and inspiring with this lecture。 Always his heart is with the weary and the heavy…laden。 Always he stands for self…betterment。
Last year； 1914； he and his work were given unique recognition。 For it was known by his friends that this particular lecture was approaching its five…thousandth delivery； and they planned a celebration of such an event in the history of the most popular lecture in the world。 Dr。 Conwell agreed to deliver it in the Academy of Music； in Philadelphia； and the building was packed and the streets outside were thronged。 The proceeds from all sources for that five…thousandth lecture were over nine thousand dollars。
The hold which Russell Conwell has gained on the affections and respect of his home city was seen not only in the thousands who strove to hear him； but in the prominent men who served on the local committee in charge of the celebration。 There was a national committee； too； and the nation…wide love that he has won； the nation… wide appreciation of what he has done and is still doing； was shown by the fact that among the names of the notables on this committee were those of nine governors of states。 The Governor of Pennsylvania was himself present to do Russell Conwell honor； and he gave to him a key emblematic of the Freedom of the State。
The ‘‘Freedom of the State''yes； this man； well over seventy； has won it。 The Freedom of the State； the Freedom of the Nationfor this man of helpfulness； this marvelous exponent of the gospel of success； has worked marvelously for the freedom； the betterment； the liberation； the advancement； of the individual。
FIFTY YEARS ON THE LECTURE PLATFORM
BY RUSSELL H。 CONWELL
AN Autobiography！ What an absurd request！ If all the conditions were favorable； the story of my public Life could not be made interesting。 It does not seem possible that any will care to read so plain and uneventful a tale。 I see nothing in it for boasting； nor much that could be helpful。 Then I never saved a scrap of paper intentionally concerning my work to which I could refer； not a book； not a sermon； not a lecture； not a newspaper notice or account； not a magazine article； not one of the kind biographies written from time to time by noble friends have I ever kept even as a souvenir； although some of them may be in my library。 I have ever felt that the writers concerning my life were too generous and that my own work was too hastily done。 Hence I have nothing upon which to base an autobiographical account； except the recollections which come to an overburdened m