Thus Sir Henry Lawrence prized above all other compositions
Wordsworth's 'Character of the Happy Warrior,' which he
endeavoured to embody in his own life. It was ever before him as
an exemplar. He thought of it continually, and often quoted it to
others. His biographer says: "He tried to conform his own life
and to assimilate his own character to it; and he succeeded, as
all men succeed who are truly in earnest." (1)

Books possess an essence of immortality. They are by far the most
lasting products of human effort. Temples crumble into ruin;
pictures and statues decay; but books survive. Time is of no
account with great thoughts, which are as fresh to-day as when
they first passed through their authors' minds ages ago. What was
then said and thought still speaks to us as vividly as ever from
the printed page. The only effect of time has been to sift and
winnow out the bad products; for nothing in literature can long
survive but what is really good. (2)

Books introduce us into the best society; they bring us into the
presence of the greatest minds that have ever lived. We hear what
they said and did; we see them as if they were really alive; we
are participators in their thoughts; we sympathise with them,
enjoy with them, grieve with them; their experience becomes ours,
and we feel as if we were in a measure actors with them in the
scenes which they describe.

The great and good do not die, even in this world. Embalmed in
books their spirits walk abroad. The book is a living voice. It
is an intellect to which one still listens. Hence we ever remain