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Those who have the pleasure of attending the opening meetings of schoolsand colleges, and of giving away prizes and certificates, are generallyexpected at the same time to offer such words of counsel and encouragementas the experience of the world might enable them to give to those who areentering life.
Having been myself when young rather prone to suffer from low spirits, Ihave at several of these gatherings taken the opportunity of dwelling onthe privileges and blessings we enjoy, and I reprint here the substance ofsome of these addresses (omitting what was special to the circumstances ofeach case, and freely making any alterations and additions which havesince occurred to me), hoping that the thoughts and quotations in which Ihave myself found most comfort may perhaps be of use to others also.
It is hardly necessary to say that I have not by any means referred to allthe sources of happiness open to us, some indeed of the greatest pleasuresand blessings being altogether omitted.
In reading over the proofs I feel that some sentences may appear toodogmatic, but I hope that allowance will be made for the circumstancesunder which they were delivered.
DOWN, KENT, January 1887.
A lecture which I delivered three years ago at the Working Men's College,and which forms the fourth chapter of this book, has given rise to a gooddeal of discussion. The Pall Mall Gazette took up the subject and issueda circular to many of those best qualified to express an opinion. Thiselicited many interesting replies, and some other lists of books weredrawn up. When my book was translated, a similar discussion took place inGermany. The result has been very gratifying, and after carefullyconsidering the suggestions which have been made, I see no reason for anymaterial change in the first list. I had not presumed to form a list of myown, nor did I profe