Omaha daily bee., 1912-01-08


twenty greatest men. which The Amer
lean published as Mr.. Andrew CRrnegie's 5
selection from all those who have lived
on this planet, has provoked very keen
and interesting discussion on this side OF
the Atlantic, To begin with. no two per-
! sons agree as TO what Is the real test of
greatness. Every man has his own list
Of those whom he regards as supremely
worthy of reverence. and the compiling
OF such n list affords an index 20 the
character OF the compiler which Is probn-
bly, as Illuminating ~ any that can be
devised.
on this subject there In no greater au-
thority than Mr.. Frederic Harrison the
ootogenarian, man of many letters, who
has devoted himself for years to the
study OF those who are most worthy in
history.
Mr.. Harrison sent the following list of
his twenty greatest men with a personal
statement as to why he rejected some
and accepted others:
MOSES-Early theocratio civilization.
| HoMER-Ancient poetry.
! ARISTOTLE-Ancient philosophy.
| uARCHIMEDES-An "a science.
! JULIUS CAESAR-The Romp0 nmplre.
ST. PAULl-Apostlo of Christianity.
! CHARLEMAGNE--F OF Euro
pean state.
! DANTIG--Father OF modern poetry.
| GUTENBERG-Invent OF printing.
LUMBUS-Dlscovere OF America,
WILLIAM THE sILENT-Founder OF
Holland.
sHAKEsPEARE--Gr OF modern
poets.
RICHELIEU-Founde Of modern
France.
NEwToN-Founder OF modern astron-
omy
FRANKLIN Discoyerer of electric
forces.
FREDERICK THE GREAT-Founder
OF Prussian State.
WATT-Inventor OF steam machines.
WASHINGTON.
COMTE--Founder OF the Positive Philos-
ophy.
DARWIN - Author OF "origin Of
Species"
In the letter accompanying this list Mr..
Harrison says: I'VE must start with
Moses, Homer, Aristotle and Archimedes
i. e., the obvious types OF early priestly
civilization, ancient poetry ancient phil
osophy. science, logic and sociology.
ancient geometry and mechanics.
The effect OF these folr founders
teachings lives and works still Tho most
creative spirit OF the ancient world, the
founder of the mighty empire of Rome,
out Of which all medieval civilization
rose, was julius Caesar, and 20 Charles
the Great was the primeval founder Of
modern Europe,
| AS Jesus Christ Is obviously hors con-
cours. st. Paul II the true founder OF
| Christianity as a doctrine. And as truly
Dante Is the founder OF European liter
ature. Why Mr.. Carnegie ignores the
Gospel and prefers Burns to Dante and
| and Milton We cannot understand The
next two names-Gutenberg and Shakes
peare-sre In his list, and, of course, in
everybody else's list.
! columbus must stand for the begin
ming OF the vast American new world.
! William the Silent, RicheIieu and Fred.
ericlS the Great represent the creators OF
three nations, Cromwell was a great a
man, but he was revoutionist rather
than Il founder and l will not Insert our
own hero.
! Newton will be everywhere accepted
as the type Of all modern physical sci
cnce, and Franklin Is, perhaps, the earli-
est and best known name I'm the enormous
range OF electrical invention.
| with more than one-seventh OF our
| twenty names already devoted 10 modern
mechanical inventions, I am not prepared
to folio wour multi-millionaiTe iron lord
/ IN adding more inventors"
] The greatest man Of science Is Dr. Al
/ fred Russell Wallace, who almost tied
! Nth Darwin ia the discovery OF the
! Great principle which mas been the in
spration OF modern science.
tie does not enter into the subject at
the same length as Frederick Harrison,
out he makes the very practical sugges-
tlon that IN compiling hsls OF great men
they should be ayranged IN chFonological
order II this Is done II Will be found
| that eleven out OF Mr.. Carnegie's list
II twenty greatest men were born m the
eighteenth century and none was born
DeiOTs the fifteenth.
Dc. Wallace says. "AT. CaTnegie's list
OF the twenty greatest men is the most
preposterous 1 have ever seen! / can only
retain one OF them-namely, Shakespeare
/ dare say l should alter mine a good dea