And now for the fourth man on my slate--stand forth _General Joffre_! Your initiative at the first battle of the Marne saved the world from disaster. You had _one chance in a hundred_ and--you saw and you took it. Your victory saved civilization a colossal setback. Had your beloved France been forced to surrender, the dream of the enemy would have been transformed into fact with Mad Moloch in the saddle for many a weary year. _Here’s to the Big Four_--long may they live to witness the gratitude of all mankind! [Illustration] CHAPTER XI APPLYING THE RULE OF REASON During one of my four-day jumps from coast to coast recently, I made the acquaintance of a very affable gentleman in his early fifties. He had the advantage of me in age, having passed through my period some twenty years back, while my advantage lay before me, yet to be disposed of. He was a man of brains, his eyes were alert, his years rested easily upon him. I marveled at his physical activity, also his _mental pep_. One thing he said to me that will hang in my memory the rest of my days. “I am guided by my _hindsight_--you at your age, by your _foresight_,” said he. Then he went on to explain. At my age he had ambitions and crowded on the steam. At _forty_ his success in all ways seemed assured, so he rushed forward with all his might. At _forty-five_ he experienced a period of physical reaction, which, in the light of his present knowledge, was a warning, but he did not heed it. At _forty-seven_ he was a _physical_ and _mental wreck_. “I had failed to adjust myself to my failing powers,” said he. “I took on greater responsibilities than ever, bent, as I was, on rounding out a huge success. I almost wound up in my grave.” Now here was a chance for a real pointer from a man of intellectual force, so I urged him to go on through the sequence of events that had brought him back to such superb health and spirits. [Illustration: A rattling good story] “It took me three years to get by that ugly period of mental and physical depression, the early part of which I spent in floundering around from one expert to another, traveling here and there and gaining nothing in the way of respite, to say nothing of cure. Then suddenly, I stumbled into an acquaintance with a new adviser--_a life insurance agent_!” I broke out laughing at this point and he joined good-naturedly. “I knew you’d be amused,” said he. “Every friend I have jokes on the subject. Nevertheless,” he continued, “this life insurance agent cured me and I haven’t taken a spoonful of medicine since I met him. Are you interested as to details?” he asked, his eyes twinkling, his cheeks glowing with health. (Courage, friend reader. This isn’t the beginning of the novel I intend to write.) “Up to my ears,” I replied. “I am interested in every little thing that happens.”