The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1905-01-24

physical temperament to walk in bis
fathers footsteps. And yet, strange
to say, we find many fathers almost
compelling their unwilling boys to BIZ
doctors or lawyers or even ministers OF
merchants because they themselves
have made successes In those profess
sions or businesses. And we also find
many young men forcing themselves to
take up line Of life work for which
they are entirely untitled merely be.
cause their fathers won fame md for.
tune In those walks of life.
saurs armor was appropriate to his
magnificent frame. His sou Jonathan
may have been able to wear It. There
Is no reason why If man is fitted by
nature and mental power to follow In
his fathers footsteps he should not Ell
ter the profession his father adorned
and fight In his fathers armor. There
are men who have made greater sue
cess than their fathers in the same
field. When we study history we tlnd
that men who were great ministers.
lawyers, doctors. artists. authors and
merchants have had SONS who became
even greater ministers, lawyers, doc
tors. artists, authors and merchants.
Hamilcar was great Carthaginian
general. He was the parent of IIanni
bal, who was n greater general than
his noble sire. There were two great
Seipios, father aud son. Which was
the greater 1t IL impossible to tell.
| SIN Jnifat n Cpnas and II r pan,.a.t
and Lewis A. Sayre were the great
| American surgeons Of tlleir times. They
| all had SONS who became just as great
| as they were. Lyman Beecher's fame
| Ii no greater than that of his son. Hen.
ry Ward Beecher Thomas Moran be-
longs to family Of artists who are
all masters of the brush. Charles Wes-
ley. the hymnologist, had son who
for years was the most eminent organ-
list of NIL Europe. Walter Damrosel
and Frank Dumrosch are treading In
the footsteps Of their gifted father, DR..
Leopold Damrosch. Because father
Ia n great musical genius that does not
prove that his son or sons may not be-
come as great musical masters rs their
sires. Lord Chatham was premier Of
England. His son. William Pitt, was
premier also. But, though genius In
one line Of work may pass FROM father
to son and be Inherited, that does not
prove that all sons are fitted by brain
and temperament to fight the battle III
their fathers armor or to achieve with
the same sword victories such as their
fathers won.
Great In Different Field.
The son of great genius may be as
great man 40 his fnther, but III Il
different sphere. lie cannot wear his
fathers a1mer, but he ea1, wear armor
Of another kind In which be may win
victories In different field. Oliver
Wendell Holmes was one Of the most
beloved writers In American history.
His son Ii great man. but he Ii not a
great writer. Oliver Wendell Holmes,
Jr., Is member of the highest judicial
bench of the world. He IL an honored
associate justice OF the supreme court
Of the United States. Judge Joseph
Story had one OF the greatest legal
minds this nation ever produced. In
his class room at Harvard many who
afterward became great lawyers ant ut
his feet to learn of this modern CANA
liel. Judge Story had son who be-
came one o. the grentest of Americas
seulptors-William Wetmore Story.
Here we find the laws of heredity
changed. A great lawyer has poet
and sculptor for son, while III Oliver
Wendell Holmes case we find d poet
who has great lawyer for son.
What IN true In reference to Inv and
poetry Is also true In reference to the
ministry. Great ministers have had
sons who became great ministers, but
that does not imply that all boys born
In parsonage should follow the pro.
fession Of their fathers. John Mitchell
Mason was the greatest pulpit orator
OF New York city In his day. He died
Dec. IS, 1920. A contemporary gives
this powerful description of this king
Of pulpiteers who swayed his audiences
for Christ. 'Taken altogether no
American preacher has combined more
impressive qualities. His aspect was
on a scale of grandeur corresponding
to the majesty OF the mind within. !
Tall, robust, with head modelled after
neither Greeian nor Roman standard.
yet symmetrical, combining the dig
nifty of the one and the grace of the
other, with an eye that shot fire, es-
pecialiy when under the excitement OF
earnest preaching. yet tender and tear.
full when the pathetic chord was touch
ed, with q forehead bread and high and
with mouth and a chin expressive OF
firmness and decision, DR.. mason stood
before you, the prince of American pull
pit orators" But, though John Mitchell
Mason war ali that, his father, Rev.
John Mason, was just rs great. John
Mitchell mason without doubt inherited |
tho pulpit genius Of his father. But {
as ! read history where / find one !
minister's son who became great 4
also find a dozen minister's
sons who won their fame III other
walks OF life than In the ministry. But
the ministerial talent Ia not necessarily +
q transmittabie taIeDt Agasslz. Hal
lam, Cowper, Colerfdge. Tennyson,
Lowell. Emerson, Matthew Arnold. +
tffa..