OR more than forty years Henry Ward Beecher was one of the two or three most conspicuous figures in American life. During all these years he divided honours with the man who happened to be President and the occasional banker, inventor, author or statesman who for the hour stood in the lime light. More men heard Mr. Beecher preach and lecture than any other American speaker. More people read what Mr. Beecher wrote than any other writer. More people knew Mr. Beecher than any other man upon our streets or cars. He left behind more than forty volumes, including sermons, patriotic iaddresses, essays, theology, philosophy, with studies of travel, nature and art. He was successful as preacher, lecturer, editor, essay ist, and statesman. Not once in athousand years does a man appear in the world Of whom we can say as was said of Theseus, Whether he ran, or whether he walked, or whether he stood, he conquered. Popularity is like the tides of the sea; it.