New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-06
THE LESSON OF NOBLE LIFE.

worlu waits. Tor they are the leaven or society,".
THE LESSON OF A NOBLE LIFE.
DIR. sUTPHEN. OF CLEVELAND. SPEAKS on THE
RECORD LEFT BY ION KEITH-FALCoNER.
lion Keith Falconer. the famous athlete and
scholar, who excelled as a bicyclist. beating the
champion OF the world on the wheel; the devoted
friend OF the poor and the hero-apostie OF the mis-
eions at Alden. in South Arabia. the subject Of
address made by the Rev. DR.. Paul f. Sutphen.
Of Cleveland Ohio. at the Young Mems Christian
Association yesterday afternoon. DR.. Sutphen Is
said 10 be one Of the best speakers in Cleveland.
and is especially attractive 10 young men, The rain
yesterday afternoon did not seem to keep away
many OF the regular attendants at the Sunday
afternoon talks to young men, for large number
was present. DR.. Sutphen said in part:
Ion Keith Falconer achieved a most remarkable
fame. OF such a character however. that 1t would
be known to but few dare say there are
many present who have never heard Of him. The
man Of whom speak. however. had such splendid
purpose that he Is hardly exceeded by any man Of
modern times.
II find him entering a bicycle race. and carrying
OF all the honors of the day. and again discussing
the most profound questions with the learned men
OF Europe. 1t is that Characteristic hold up before
you this afternoon. Ion Keith-Falconer was born
in the city OF Edinburgh on July B. 1856, just forty
years ago to-day. He died nine years ago. and
years Old The best part OF his work he did be-
tween the age Of tventy-one and thirty years. When
he was thirteen years old he went 10 famous
English. school, where for the next three years he
pursued his studies. One thing in connection with
his life here lmpresses me- and that Is the perfect
unconcern he had to let the other students know
that ne was Christian. Some boys. you know.
are ashamed Of this fact when they are among
BOYS who are not Christians. He was no moro
ashamed of Christ than he was of his own father.
And the boys who were in association with him
TO know that he had been In contact
with the Masters life and had learned the lesson.
One Of the teachers sad The bright memory OF
his boyhood will be with me all my life
He was enthusiastic In studying Hebrew. and
soon became such a master of the language that
he wrote his letters in the Hebrew language as
easily as he would write them in English. From
that he turned to the study OF Arabic. one OF the
most difficult tongues for the European TO master.
and until he died at thrty-one ne was such mas
ter Of the tongue that he was recognized as one OK
the foremost authorities in all Europe. 10 whom the
learned men went to solve problems in that tongue
And yet that man was not merely bookworm
He was perfect enthusiast on the bicycle. and one
Of the foremost athletes in Cambridge University
In 1878 he received challenge from the champion
bicycle rider Of the world. He accepted the chal
lenge The race for five miles. and he defea'ei
his 6 by y and s ss as5 e and nd the
entire course was covered by him in Is minutes and
il seconds which was the fastest time up to tn ma
old high wheel. which was not equipped with 'he
modern appliances Of to-day .uans,. .ra t,ers
appears article i'll the Encyclopaeda on that SUB
S 9n his 70 the M mssOa i6s East
the most beautiful thing man can give Is him m,
self his own HE w2s tn maS Sedns is
mission which cost 100000 To this he gave soc'e"
Later Falconer went to Germany. and there
made the acquaintance OF General Gordon A snort
time am ssr n h ne Tsn xR Arnb and
utmost that be learned Then returning Is1r 70
Ensad he Of s1,aa Me m Hden @
and he looked at his magnificent physique maze so
BY e h Arabs 9syH rns nd hSW Well quaed
to do mission work there ana de G6 20 s he had
building Of sehoO! and hospital pp n5ns ss fH
there returned to England and urged upon r rh,a
spendi1 worx. On his return to England. after
another six months in Aden he was appo n pro
the most abstruse languages in one Of The gIea1ess
universities in the world and he aesepsTd deyd4ed
Them to the astonshment and admiration EI an Iis s
s s IN s s% me ha
strong hold upon the people there ana 'ney am rem
him n. 2sp h s1e% ha s1e ad It's hHd upon
him and after eleven weeks OF awful sunefg I hs
1ons spirit took its i Ss BY an the n sds Of the
Oh You ask ala pay, Io3s at ~n the de ff
on calySry Think Of this young ann man pe OF
and e eontnme snd never turning
his mission. This good Work M ,, 10 s 9,
only h hhe ss achievements Of that noble fe It
me close with this word: The woru DOGS a are
earths a ssnk Of GfpGna who are no will
ing 70 ask the question Does II pay oa Of this
sin -stained world"