Character and Conduct – 22 January – Character of Henry Drummond

Of Henry Drummond. – He seemed to be invariably in good spirits, and invariably disengaged.   He was always ready for any and every office of friendship.   It should be said that though few men were more criticised or misconceived, he himself never wrote an unkind word about any one, never retaliated, never bore malice, and could do full justice to the abilities and character of his opponents.   I have just heard that he exerted himself privately to secure an important appointment for one of his most trenchant critics, and was successful…   The spectacle of his long struggle with a mortal disease was something more than impressive.   Those who saw him in his illness saw that, as the physical life flickered low, the spiritual energy grew.   Always gentle and considerate, he became even more careful, more tender, more thoughtful, more unselfish.   He never in any way complained.   His doctors found it very difficult to get him to talk of his illness.   It was strange and painful, but inspiring, to see his keenness, his mental elasticity, his universal interest.   Dr. Barbour says: ‘I have never seen pain or weariness, or the being obliged to do nothing, more entirely overcome, treated, in fact, as if they were not.   The end came suddenly from failure of the heart.   Those with him received only a few hours’ warning of his critical condition.’   It was not like death.   He lay on his couch in the drawing-room, and passed away in his sleep, with the sun shining in, and the birds singing at the open window.   There was no sadness nor farewell.   It recalled what he himself said of a friend’s death – putting by the well-worn tools without a sigh, and expecting elsewhere better work to do?’

Character Sketch by W. ROBERTSON NICOLL in The Ideal Life

oooOOOooo

These quotes are from ‘Character and Conduct’ A selection of helpful thoughts from various authors arranged for daily reading.

Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1905 as a follow up to her volume of Daily Readings for members of the Being and Doing Guild who asked for an additional volume

In her preface Whishaw writes:

‘This collection of noble thoughts expressed by men and women of past and present ages who have endeavoured to leave the world a little better than they found it.’

It is my hope in publishing the her readers may be inspired to imitate the example of the authors.