“Any one who has made a lasting impression on the minds of his contemporaries,” I began, “and influenced men and women——”
“Do you refer to me?” he interrupted, naively.
DIFFERENT WAYS OF BEING SUCCESSFUL.
I nodded and he laughed. “I have not endowed a university nor made a fortune, nor conquered an enemy in battle,” he said.
“And those who have done such things have not written ‘Locusts and Wild Honey’ and ‘Wake, Robin.’”
“I recognize,” he said, quietly, “that success is not always where people think it is. There are many ways of being successful, and I do not approve of the mistake which causes many to consider that a great fortune acquired means a great success achieved. On the contrary, our greatest men need very little money to accomplish the greatest work.”
“I thought that anyone leading a life so wholly at variance with the ordinary ideas and customs would see success in life from a different point of view,” I observed. “Money is really no object with you?”
“The subject of wealth never disturbs me.”
“You lead a very simple life here?”
“Such as you see.”