Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1891-08-26
r.co Famous Men on Happiness.

In an interview with Henry M. STAN
lev, the great African explorer, during
his recent visit to this country, said to
him: "Mr. Stanley, you have achieved
much fame, and have received many of
its awards, and doubtless you have enjoy
ed many moments of happiness in conse-
quence of the favors and honors bestow-
ed upon you in acknowledgment of your
heroism ard successful services and on
other occasions also. Can you now tell
me what or when was the very happiest
hour of your life Was it when you
found Livingstone, or was it when you
had triumphantly emerged from the dark
continent, and had returned to civiliza-
ton and your friends, having solved
problems which had vexed the world for
more than twenty centuries-mysteries
older than Christianity itself, or was it at
your marriage, or was the supreme mo-
ment of joy reached on another occa-
sion ?"
/ hurriedIy recited to Mr. Stanley the
fact that Napoleon the Great, in the ze-
NTH of his fame-after he had the OPP
portunity Of drinking at every cup Of
earthly bliss-that he, the most famous
soldier the world has produced, was ask
ed the very same question | was pro-
pounding to the most famous traveller and
discoverer of all ages.
Mr.. Stanley dropped his head in the
attitude Of meditation and anxiety and
in apparent interest at my utterances
and after a moments reflection he said /:
DWELL, now, that is matter TO which |
had never given any serious thought.
Nor do | remember the Napoleon incl
dent to which you refer. Yes, was
happy at my marriage, very happy in
deed. But the fact is, | have always ex-
perienced the very highest pleasures when
| had the conciousness Of having best dis
charged my duty"
Mr.. Stanley's "duty"-or his idea Of
duty-as he expressed it in another con-
nection, has been always embraced in his
sense Of responsibility to and in his work
for commerce and civilization and Chris
tianity. His reply to my question is the
noble answer of a noble man.
Here is briefly, what Napoleon said in
response to the question, what or when
had been the very happiest moment Of
his life
1t was not when he attained to the con-
sulship, nor was it when he was proclaim
ed Emperor, and crowned with the most
brilliant and imposing ceremonies and the
most gratifying honors ever bestowed up
on sovereign. Nor was it at either Of
his marriages, nor at the birth Of his son,
the King of Rome, the long-desired heir
to his throne and the supposed perpetua-
ton of his dynasty. 1t was earlier in his
life than any Of these events had occur
red. 1t was when at the age Of twenty
five, as the victorious commander Of the
army of Italy, he heard the shout Of JOY
from the people in praise and honor of
him as their liberator.
Napoleon's highest happiness was in
the JOY he experienced in bringing hap
piness to others-and before the gall Of
selishness had embittered his future ca
reer Of greatness.
And Stanley's greatest happiness is
measured in his conceptions Of his duty
to his fellow man and to Christianity.
The principle underlying the words OF
these two famous men is the same thing
essentially, even if their is difference in
the expression of the idea-the crystalli-
zation Of unselfshness.-Detroa Free
]