It is hoped that these stories have been so brought within the experiences of the pupils that they will be led to discuss them. Many of the stories were tried out with children in the University Training School and the enthusiastic discussions that followed were both interesting and helpful. Lastly, and most important, the authors have attempted to inspire the pupils with a purpose to make the most of themselves. The lives of great men and women are sure to be an inspiration to the young. Since great men stand for great things they are sure to embody the latest and best in science, art, government, religion, and education. By studying the lives of these representative men and women it is hoped that the pupils will be stimulated to lofty purposes. Acknowledgement is hereby made to The Bobbs-Merrill Co., publishers of Mr. Riley's poems, for kind permission to republish "The Old Swimmin'-Hole"; and also, to the publishers of "The Story of a Pioneer"--_Jordan_; "The Story of My Life"--_Keller_; and the magazine "Success" for additional source material. CHESTER M. SANFORD GRACE A. OWEN CONTENTS 1. Calvin Coolidge 9 2. Thomas A. Edison 17 3. Alexander Graham Bell 29 4. Theodore Roosevelt 37 5. John Pershing 44 6. William Howard Taft 51 7. Luther Burbank 57 8. Clara Barton 65 19. George W. Goethals 73 10. James Whitcomb Riley 81 11. Helen Keller 91 12. Wilbur and Orville Wright 99 13. Robert E. Peary 109 14. William Jennings Bryan 117 15. Henry Ford 125 16. Ben B. Lindsey 131 17. Frances Willard 139 18. Jane Addams 147 19. John Mitchell 155 20. Maude Ballington Booth 161 21. Andrew Carnegie 169 22. Anna Shaw 177 23. Ernest Thompson Seton 187 24. John Wanamaker 195 25.