A Temple of Fame

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 2, 1901

A “Temple of Fame.”—The New York University has a Temple of Fame, upon the walls of which are to be inscribed in gold a roll of “immortal” Americans, and those are to be decided by the vote of a jury, composed of college professors, ex-presidents, doctors of science and divinity, lawyers, etc. To entitle him to a right on the scroll of fame in this New York University building, one must get at least fifty votes. Only thirty such have yet been found. Washington leads, with ninety-seven votes, and Asa Gray (how many can tell who he was?) is at the foot of the procession, with fifty-one. Now, as has been said, the men named are doubtless worthy of honor, and so may be honored, but fame does not come that way. But it is the people that give fame, and that not by vote. It is only stating a truth—sad tho’ it is—to say that John L. Sullivan is more famous than Horace Mann ever was. How different to man’s in many cases will be God’s roll of real immortals!