Lazarus has rightly called to mind what is told by the pious Chr. von Schmidt, concerning the clever boy who lies under a tree and recognizes the condition of every passer-by according to what he says. “What fine lumber,”--“Good-morning, carpenter,”--“What magnificent bark,”--“Good-morning, tanner,”--“What beautiful branches,”--“Good-morning, painter.” This significant story shows us how easy it is with a little observation to perceive things that might otherwise have been hidden. With what subtle clearness it shows how effective is the egoism which makes each man first of all, and in most cases exclusively, perceive what most concerns him as most prominent! And in addition men so eagerly and often present us the chance for the deepest insight into their souls that we need only to open our eyes--seeing and interpreting is so childishly easy! Each one of us experiences almost daily the most instructive things; e.g. through the window of my study I could look into a great garden in which a house was being built; when the carpenters left in the evening they put two blocks at the entrance and put a board on them crosswise. Later there came each evening a gang of youngsters who found in this place a welcome playground. That obstruction which they had to pass gave me an opportunity to notice the expression of their characters. One ran quickly and jumped easily over,--that one will progress easily and quickly in his life. Another approached carefully, climbed slowly up the board and as cautiously descended on the other side--careful, thoughtful, and certain. The third climbed up and jumped down--a deed purposeless, incidental, uninforming. The fourth ran energetically to the obstruction, then stopped and crawled boldly underneath--disgusting boy who nevertheless will have carried his job ahead. Then, again, there came a fifth who jumped,--but too low, remained hanging and tumbled; he got up, rubbed his knee, went back, ran again and came over magnificently--and how magnificently will he achieve all things in life, for he has will, fearlessness, and courageous endurance!--he can’t sink. Finally a sixth came storming along--one step, and board and blocks fell together crashing, but he proudly ran over the obstruction, and those who came behind him made use of the open way. He is of the people who go through life as path-finders; we get our great men from among such.