Leaders of men

Prefatory Note

HE following pages have been prepared with two distinct purposes in view: first, to give a closer view T of a number of distinguished contemporary Ameri cans ; and, second, to set out, in bold relief, the most important elements of success, as tliey are conceived and attested by these eminent persoriages. There is no kind of reading at the same time more stimulating, more entertaining, and more genuinely instructive than biography ; especially if such biography brings us face to face with the most practical and vital problems and questions of everyday life.

The material for this work has been drawn from many persons and sources. For the sketch of John D. Long, we are especially indebted to Mrs. Mary C. Robbins ; for that of Cardinal Gibbons, to Rev. Charles W. Currier ; for that of John W. Daniel, to Mr. E. A. Herndon ; for that of Charles Emory Smith, to Mr. Clarence E. Dawson ; for that of David Starr Jordan, to Prof. William J. Neidig ; for that of Henry Watterson, to Mr. Ernest L. Aroni ; and for that of Senator W. A. Clark, to Mr. Joaquin Miller. All sketches included, indeed, have been prepared by unusually capable writers. The instructive discussions of the various elements of success are almost as diverse in authorship as the biographies, although the veteran author, Mr. William M. Thayer, has been the largest contributor.

It is earnestly hoped that this combination of living careers, coupled with wise and instructive counsel, may especially appeal to the youth of both sexes as well as to many others older in years.

Contents

P \ irr ONE LEADERS IN PUBLIC LIFE.

CHAPTER I. Page

I l| I ODORE ROOSEVl II. . . . . • • . . 25

(iii Success Sketch of his Life — A Leader from Youth — From Wi tkling to Athlete Enters Public Life — Career in the Assembly Combined Writing with Hunting — -Efforts to Reform Gotham In the Navy Department — Leader of Rough Riders — The First Battle- His Triumph at Philadelphia — President. I M CI8IOH 01 Cum: VCTER, ........ 42

CHAPTER II. William Pierce Ekyk, ........ 51

( )n Success - - His Life and Career — At College — Enters the Profession of tlif Law Beginnings of his Public Life — Member of the Paris Commission President of the Senate — His Public Service — Love of Outdoor Life — A Pish Story — Some Characteristics.

The Gospel "i Health, ........ 59

Chapter III

Hi- Definition of Success — Boyhood — School Days' — -College Career In Prize Contests First Political Meeting — The Young Lawyer -Nebraska Politics — Elected to Congress — As Editor Nominated for President His Defeat — Campaign of 1!H)0 — The Man.

Honesty is \n Elemeni of Success, ..... 83

Chapter IV

On the Problem.of Life His Ancestry - Life in Oxford County, Maine At Hebron Academy College Career — As a Law Student The Lawyer Political Beginnings Governor of Massachusetts Secretary of the NTavv Personal Characteristics. 1 Hon 1 01 Companions, ........ 104

-

CONTENTS. 9

/ / CHAPTER V. PAGE

John Warwick Daniel, HI

/ Places Emphasis on Persevering Effort — Entrance into Political

/ Life — A Virginia Campaign — Elected to Congress — In the

United States Senate — As an Orator — Mental Characteristics —

Tone of his Public Life — Relations with the People — His Ancestry

Youth and Education — Military Career — Begins the Study of

Law — The Lawyer — Personality.

The Importance op Perseverance, 122

Chapter VI

The Key to his Success — A Typical American — Parentage — Leaves College and Begins Work — His Early Business Enterprises — Qualities as a Manager — First Meeting with William McKinley

Tha Expansion of his Business Interests — Why he Entered

Politics — Later Political Career — The Campaign of 1896 — A Convention Episode — Characteristics — Not a Boss — As an Orator

More Characteristics — Business Methods — Attitude toward

Chapter VII

How Successes are Achieved — Incidents of his Life Compared with those of the Life of Benjamin Franklin — Birthplace, Parentage and Education — Choice of Vocation — Early Newspaper Experience — Career at Union College — His- Part in the Campaign of 1860 — Becomes Editor of the Albany Express — Meeting with Horace Greeley — Editor of the Philadelphia Press — Made Minister to Russia — Campaigns with McKinley — His Appointment as Postmaster-General — -Personal Characteristics — A Forceful and Eloquent Public Speaker — To what he Attributes his Success. Choosing an Occupation, ........ 168

Chapter VIII

On the Qualifications that Assist Success — Some Moral and Mental Traits — His Early Life — School Days — College Career — First

10 CONTENTS.

Page

Efforts in Politics Revolt against Machine Methods — Election to Congress — His Eloquent Plea on the Money Question — Leader of the Silver Republicans NTominated for Vice-President by the Populist Convention Appointment to the United States Senate — Retirement from Political Life.

Chapter IX

On the Elements of Success — His Birth and Ancestry — Where Educated — Admitted to the Bar — Removal to Iowa — Activity in Local Politics — Elected to Congress — First Important Service — - Becomes an Authority on Public Finance — A Temperate Partisan in Politics — Some Characteristics.

Chapter X

/lli> Detestation of Lying — Birthplace — George Dewey's Boyhood First Cruise — Schooling — At the Naval Academy — Tn the Civil War -Afloat and Ashore — Characteristics — Manila — Personal Trails.

Common Sense, 241

CHAPTER XI. Aii'MM Jeremiah Beveridge, ....... 245

On what Brings Success — His Early Struggles — How he Completed his College Course A Hard Worker and Brilliant Speaker in College — Prepares for the Bar His Rapid Rise as a Lawyer —

Enters Public Life — Mental Characteristics — Forensic Power

Career in Politics Electiu i to the United states Senate Philippine Speech.

Tact 043

CONTENTS. 11

PART TWO— LEADERS IN PROFESSIONAL LIFE. CHAPTER NIL Pa 6e

On the Elements of Success — His Personality — A Man of Great Versatility — Methods of Work — Birth and Early Surroundings — Education — " The New Era " — ■ Newspaper Career in New York — War Correspondent — Becomes Editor of the Louisville "Courier- Journal " — Some Difficulties Encountered — His New Policy — What Politics Means to him — Member of Congress — As a Public Speaker — Home Life — What Leads to Success in Journalism. Courage and Self-Confidence, ...... 269

CHAPTER XIII. D/vid Starr Jordan, ......... 279

On Purpose — Birthplace and Parentage — -Youthful Characteristics — In School — Love of Nature — At College — The Teacher and Investigator — With Agassiz at Penikese — President of Indiana University — Accepts the Presidency of Leland Stanford Junior University — In Private Life — In the Class Room — An Impressive Lecturer — His Literary Work — Sense of Humor — As a University President — Views on Education — Personality — Scientific Work.

Singleness of Purpose, ......... 288

Jam,

Chapter XIV. / /

ies Cardinal Gibbons, ....... 295

His Conception of Success — The Office of Cardinal — His Birth place — The Cardinal's Cathedral — Early Training— First Priestly Labors — Made Bishop — Attends the (Ecumenical Council of 1869 — At Richmond — Archbishop at Forty-three — Characteristics — Habits — Third Plenary Council of Baltimore — The Catholic University — Created Cardinal — A Well- Rounded Character — Home Surroundings — In Public Life. Duty, . .307

12 CONTENTS.

Chapter XV. Page

/On " What Career " - -Part in the Twentieth Century Celebration in Boston Divisions of his Career — As a Journalist — As a Christian Minister -Social Reformer — Publicist and Patriot — Character of His Writings — As an Educator — Antiquarian — His Views as to the Purposes of Life — His Uplifting Personality. Not Above One's Business, ....... 330

CHAPTER XVI. Qosneral Lew Wallace, 336

A Confession — His Distinguished Career — Ancestry — Incident in Career of His Father — Early Pranks — Ambitions — Painting Under Limitations — His First Literary Work — Reads Law — In the Mexican War — Lawyer — Military Career Renewed — Civil War — Literary Career — Methods of Work. How to Use Yourself, ........ 348

Chapter XVII

How to Succeed — His Boyhood — Early Oratorical Efforts — Struggles for an Education — The Call to Arms — Yale College — Journalistic Experiences — Admitted to the Bar — Enters the Ministry — His First Church — Work in Philadelphia — The Temple College — Characteristics.

Minding Little Things, ........ 365

CHAPTER XVIII. Sil^s Weir Mitchell, . . . . . . . . 369

Observations about Successful Careers — Birthplace and Education

— At Home — The Doctor — His Study — As a Conversationalist —

Bric-a-B.rac -The Author — Fondness for his Native City — His

Literary Career Literary Methods.

*erils or Success, ......... 381

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIX. Pagi: 390

Thk kles William Eliot, ....

On Happiness — Two Estimates of President Eliot — His Contemporaries—An Early Appreciation of his Administrative Abilities — As a Teacher in Harvard — Chosen President of

Harvard — A Period of Reconstruction — The Elective System

Some Facts and Figures — His Educational Philosophy — At Heart a Democrat — As an Essayist — His Influence with Students

— A Religious Man —As an Administrator — Characteristics. Secret of a Happy Life, 4Qr,

CHAPTER XX. JosejjA Jefferson, ....... 414

/Success as Understood by Mr. Jefferson — His Rank among Actors

— Blending of the Man and Actor— His Theatrical Lineage —

Maternal Ancestry — Birthplace and Early Surroundings

Glimpses of Jefferson in the Early Days — The Mexican War Period — His First Permanent Success — Tn Australia — Visits South America — His Career in London — Later Career His Performances of Rip Van Winkle — His Art.

How to re Insignificant, 42 G

CHAPTER XXI. J(/hn Heyl Vincent

On Success — What he Represents — Birth and Early Environment

— His Ambitions to go to College — In Pennsylvania — At School

— As a Teacher — Enters the Ministry — Some Early Characteristics — Career in the West — As an Editor — Secretary of the Sunday School Union — Further Education — First Identification with Chautauqua — Some Chautauqua Results — President Garfield's Tribute — Literary Work — Home Life — Sermons — Loyalty.

Self-Education, ......

CHAPTER XXII. James Whitcomr Riley

A Poetic Interpretation of Success — Birthplace and Boyhood — A Picture of His Childhood — Early Theatrical Leanings— A Practical Joker — School Days — The " Leonainie " Episode Personal Appearance — Preeminent Qualities of his Work — In What His Uniqueness Lies — " Poems Here at Home " — The Two Classes of Mr. Riley's Poetry— Asa Balladist — His Lyrics — The Poet of the People — Characteristically American. Personal Purity and Nobility, 469 n CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXIII. Page [om v.s Br v< ke i i Reed, ..••••••

On the Righl Use of Wealth A Conversation Glimpses of His Characteristics Strength of his Personal Convictions— His Home How it Bespeaks the Man Favorite Club Early Environment an d Ancestry The Schoolmaster — At College— Habits of Reading— Journeys to California Admission to the Bar — His Return Easl Enters Public Life — Member of Congress— A Memorable Speech Speaker Readiness in Debate — Literary Side of his Career His Epigrams.

Make, Save, Give all You Can,"

CHAPTER XXIV. Andrew Carnegie

Mr. Carnegie on Success — His Early Boyhood in the United Nates His Birthplace — Ancestry — Messenger Boy — Death of His Father.— Learns Telegraphy — Becomes on Employee of the Pennsylvania Railroad — Secretary to Thomas A.Scott — A First [/vestment — During the Civil War — How he Became Connected with the Iron and Steel Industry — His Organizing Ability — A Magazine Episode — His Careful Method — A Great Traveler — His Devotion to Golf -His Benefactions — Characteristics as a Thinker. Writer, and Speaker — His Literary Work — A Few Extracts — His Personality — Secret of his Success. 1 1<>\\ ro Si \kt ix Life, ........ 524

CHAPTER XXV. M irshall Field, ......... 533

Mr. Field on the Elements of Success and Failure — His Rank among Merchants -As an Individual — His Wholesale and Retail Business General Estimate of His Wealth — His Busi- Methods —Foundation Stone of His Success — How His Mercantile Business Grew— A Man of Modest and Retiring Disposition Hi- Associations Restricted to a Few — Private Bene- Eactions Religious bite Public Benefactions — The Field Columbian Museum (lifts to Chicago University — Birthplace and Boyhood Private Life.

'I'm 3Toi ng Man in Mercantile Life, ..... 545

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXVI. Page 551

William Andrews Clark, ...

On/Paramont Elements of Success — Type of the Successful Wester.nPioneer — Birthplace — Lineage — Early Education — Removal the West — A Teacher in the Common Schools — Further Education — Studies Law — A Change of Purpose — First Mining Experiences — Becomes a Trader and Merchant — Organizes a Banking House — Successful Mining Projects — A Hard Worker — An Episode — Efforts in Behalf of Montana — His Political Career

A Memorable Contest — Elected United States Senator — His

Home and Home-Life — Man of Culture and Patron of Art — Personal Characteristics.

CHAPTER XXVII. John Pi/rpont Morgan

Oil/Aids to Success — Birthplace — Descended from an Old Amer- (n Family — How Educated- — Beginning of his Career as a ker — Inherited Advantage — J. P. Morgan & Company — What Lr. Morgan Does — Secret of His Power in Financial Circles — in Incessant Worker — Personal Appearance — Method of Transacting Business — His Wonderful Knowledge of Men — Reorganizer and Constructer — His Noteworthy Achievements on Behalf of the United States Government — Art Collector — His Fondness for Yachting — Gifts to Public Institutions — Characteristics. How Great Things are Done,

CHAPTER XXVIII. Uohn Waxamaker, ......... 593

On How to Succeed — Date and Place of his Birth — Parentage — A Country Boy — At School — Early Industry — " Everybody's Journal"— Secretary of Y. M. C. A. — Begins his' Mercantile Career — Steady Expansion of his Business — New York Store — In Politics — Postmaster General under Harrison — As a Citizen — His Religious Work — Other Enterprises — Keynote of his Success — As an Exemplar.

CHAPTER XXIX. Thomas Alva Edisox, ......••

What Brings Success — Boyhood of a Genius — Newsboy, Editor, and Chemist at Fifteen — Heroic Tuition Fee— Not a Prig — Among Tramp Telegraphers — In Louisville — Astonishes Eastern

N j,; CONTENTS.

Page Operators First Patent In New York — Capacity for Work — Personal Appearance —His Estimate of the Patent Pirate — A Closer View of Edison — Indifference to Plaudits — As a Business Man A Sensitive Nature — Place Among Scientists — At Work The Phonograph — Economic Features of his Inventions — Non-Electrical Experiments — His Principal Inventions — Achievement of the Twentieth Century — Edison the Man. The Vut'i hi w [dea, ........ 624

Chapter XXX

On the Important Elements of Success — His Hank Among the Captains of Industry — His Great Wealth — Place of his Birth Parental Qualities Inherited — -His Boyhood Marked by Industry and Economy — Removed to Cleveland — Interest in Church Work -Education — Beginning of his Industrial Career — His Introduction to the Oil Industry — The Standard Oil Company — other Business Enterprises — His Personality — Homes and Home Life - To What his Wonderful Success is Due — Philanthropies.

I in l.i m, ii: of Economy, ........ 645

CHAPTER XXXI. Jameg Pekome Hill, ......... 652

Where Opportunity Lies — Born in Canada — Ancestral Stock — How Educated — From County Clerk to Railroad President — Reorganization of the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad — Transformation of t he Northwest Fortune Fairly Earned — The Great Northern of To-day -His Methods — The Training of Young Men — Mr. Hill a Many-sided Man — His Home at St. Paul — Interest in Agricultural Pursuits — Philanthropies — Something of his Personal Achievements.

I in Victory i\ Defeat, 66-1

CHAPTER XXXII. Charges Michael Schwab, ....... 677

On the Fundamental Elements of Success — Highest Salaried Man in the World In the Prime of Life — Birthplace — Boyhood — How Educated Begins Life as a Clerk in a Grocery Store — Stake-Driver Early Promotions — Head of Steel Works — An Illustrative Anecdote — How he Works — Secret of his Power — Interested in Young Men -How he Regards Organized Labor — Not a 'IN rani .

Manners \\i> Dress, 688

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

William McKinley, ......

Photograph by Clinedinst.

Lincoln at Gettysburg, .....

President Roosevelt in the Cabinet Room, .

Photograph by Clinedin-'-t.

Senator Frye as President of the Senate, .

Photograph by Clinedinst.

WiLliam J. Bryan at Home, . . . .

Photograph by Townsend.

Secretary Long in the Navy Office,

Photograph by Clinedinst Portrait of Senator Daniel, .

Photograpli by Parker.

Senator Hanna at Work, .

Photograph by Clinedinst.

Charles Emory Smith at his Df.sk,

Photograph by Clinedinst.

Portrait of Ex-Senator Towne,

Photograph by Marceau.

Portrait of Senator Allison,

Photograph by Parker.

Admiral Dewey at Manila, .

Front painting by H. T. See.

Portrait of Senator Bkveridge, The Doctor. .......

Editorial Room of Henry Watterson,

Photograph by Klauber.

Portrait of President David Starr Jordan.

Photograph by Marceau.

Portrait of Cardinal Gtbbons,

I'll )tograph by Bachrach <t - Brother. Edward Everett Hale in his Study,

Photograph by . I Iden.

Gen. Lew Wallace at Work in his Library,

Photograph by Lacey & Nicholson.

Colonel Conwell in Car and Gown,

Photogropli hy Gutekunst.

Frontispiece .

Facing p.

Facing />■

25 43

82 105 123

147 169 191 214 240

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PoHTKAn of Dr. S. Weir Mitchell,

Photograph by Meynen.

Portraii OF Charles William Eliot,

Photograph by Notman.

Joseph Jefferson as " Bob Acres,"

Photograph by Sarony.

Portrait of Bishop Vincent,

Photograph by Girder & ( 'ook.

Portraii "i James Whitcomb Riley,

Photograph by Marceau.

Portrait <>i Thomas Brackett Reed,

Photograph by Dupont.

I Hi New York Exchange,

Photograph by Eockwood.

Portrait of Andrew Carnegie,

Photograph by Eockwood.

Portrait <>i Marshall Field, .

Photograph by Steffens.

Portrait of William A. Clark,

Photograph by Marceau.

Portrait of J. Pierpont Morgan,

Photograph by Mendelssohn, London.

Portrait of John Wanamaker,

Photograph by Gutekunst.

Thomas A. Edison in his Laboratort,

Photograph by Brady.

Portrait <>i John 1). Rockefeller,

Photograph by Dana.

Por i R \i i of James J. Hill.

Photograph by Pach.

Portraii of Charles M. Schwab,

Photograph by Duals.

Page

Introduction

TN this stirring age it is difficult to find a sincere advo- X cate °^ me diocrity. The vast majority desire self-devel- T opment and self-advancement along the lines which their ambitions mark out for them. The impulses toward betterment come from so many sources, are so comprehensive and so widely prevalent, that the whole modern world is, as it were, infected with a desire for improvement. This desire to excel, whether in a professional career, in business, in statecraft, in artisanship, or in the humbler walks of life, is ennobling, and deserves the highest stimulation, for out of it have come the ''shining marks" of history and the most worthy examples of private life.

The simple possession of a right desire is not sufficient in itself to procure all that such a desire implies. It must be accompanied by action, and often by the most heroic and self-sacrificing effort. It is true that in the career of every man there are some incontrollable elements, but these bear only a slight proportion, either in number or importance, to the elements which he can control. In other words, the character, the career, and the fortunes of every man are largely in his own keeping. He is what he makes himself. He can have what he desires if he will pay the price. He must take a mental inventory of himself and determine whether he possesses the qualities, either actual or potential, that fit him for a leader or a follower. If it is to be the former, he will need all the heroic virtues — courage, persistency, application, self-recognized honesty — that may come to him as a natural heritage or through acquirement.

Shakespeare says, "Some men are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon

INTRODUCTION.

them." If this were paraphrased by the substitution of the words successful and success for the words great and greatness, il might form a fairly exhaustive scheme of explanation covering the various causes of success. The point must not be overlooked, however, that success is by qo means a correct synonym for greatness.

Bj far the greatest number of successful men .have become such through their own achievements; the other two classes mentioned in our paraphrase seem to reach success through a manifest destiny. What, then, are some of the elements that enter into success when self-achieved? Obviously the first essential toward success is a dominating purpose— one that has so fastened itself upon the ambitions that the person so possessed recognizes no obstacle too great to be overcome. To this must be added the executive agencies of courage and industry. John Kit to, an eminent writer, expresses himself in these words: -I am not myself a believer in impossibilities. I think that all the fine stories about natural ability, and so on, are mere rigmarole, and that every man may, according to his opportunities and industry, render himself almost anythin- he wishes to become." This view may possibly be extreme, if taken literally, but the emphasis put upon industry is certainly borne out in many concrete examples.

■ It is the worker who dignifies the task, and not the task

thai ennobles the worker."

Maik the following facts from the biographies of the

world's celebrities : —

Th 11 ilow Weed walked two miles through the snow with

pieces of rag carpet about his feet for shoes, that he might

borrow a book.

Samuel Drew went on with his studies when he was too

poor to l»n\ bread, and when he could appease the pangs

of hunger onlj bj tying a girdle about his body.

Lord Eldon, England's greatest Chief Justice, being too

INTRODUCTION. 21

poor to buy books when a boy, borrowed and copied three folio volumes of precedents, and the whole of Coke on Littleton.

John Scott, after working hard all day, studied long into the night, tying a wet towel around his head to keep awake.

Hugh Miller hammered an education from a stone quarry.

Henry Wilson worked on a farm for twelve long years for a yoke of oxen and six sheep.

The immortal Lincoln walked forty miles to borrow a book which he could not afford to buy.

Goethe spent his entire fortune of over half a million dollars on his education. Let the reader notice the difference between his success and that of Jay Gould.

Milton wrote "Paradise Lost" in a world he could not see, and then sold it for fifteen pounds.

John Bunyan wrote "Pilgrim's Progress" in prison, at the behest of conscience and in disregard of the edict of his accusers.

Euripides spent three days writing five lines, and those lines have lived centuries since his language has ceased to be spoken.

Sir Isaac Newton spent long years on an intricate calculation, and his papers having been destroyed by his dog Diamond he cheerfully began to replace them.

Carlyle, after lending the manuscript of the "French Revolution" to a friend, whose servant carelessly used it to kindle a fire, calmly went to work and rewrote it.

Napoleon waited for an appointment seven years after he had thoroughly prepared himself.

Blucher, although he lost nine battles out of every ten, still pressed on witli an iron determination which won for him the title of "Marshal Forward."

Cyrus W. Field risked a fortune and devoted years of

INTRODUCTION.

seeminglj hopeless drudgery, amid the scoffs of men, to lay tli" Atlantic cable.

Handel practiced on his harpsichord in secret, until every key was hollowed by his fingers to resemble the howl of a spoon.

George Stephenson worked fifteen long years for his firsl successful locomotive.

Richard Arkwright, founder of cotton manufacture in England, began life by shaving people in a cellar at a penny a shave.

These citations might be prolonged indefinitely, but sufficient have been produced to show the practical power of the will over the environing circumstances that oftentimes apparently block the way of ambitious youth. Difficulties call out great qualities and make greatness possible. If there were no difficulties there would be no success. The spark yi the flint would sleep forever but for friction; the fire in man would never blaze out but for antagonism. The moment man is relieved of opposition or friction and the track of his life is oiled with inherited wealth or other aids, that moment he often ceases to snuggle, and, therefore, ceases to grow. ''The real difference between men is energy. A strong will, a settled purpose, an invincible determination, can accomplish almost anything, and in this lies the distinction between great men and little men.*'

The second element in success, though closely allied with the first, is courage. Courage may take on many differenl tonus, and any one of its many attributes may he emphasized as tin; particular element of success. No more forcible illustration of this is needed than a careful reference to the utterances of the sages and men of action of all ages. ''The education of the will.*' says Emerson. •is the objeel "f 'Mil' existence. For the resolute and the determined there is always time and opportunity.*' "To

TXTR O D 17 C TION. 23

think a tiling impossible/' says another, "is to make it so. Courage is victory; timidity is defeat." Napoleon says. " The truest wisdom is a resolute determination," and to this President Porter adds. "Invincible determination, and a right nature, are the levers that move the world." "Little minds," interposes Irving, '"are tamed and subdued by misfortunes, but great minds are above them," while the dramatic dictum of Bulwer rings out in clarion tones, " In the lexicon of youth, which fate reserves for bright manhood, there is no such word as fail." Another says, "Intense, ceaseless activity is the law of life": and still another, "It is defeat that turns bone to flint: it is defeat that turns gristle to muscle ; it is defeat that makes men invincible.'' So, armed with this quality of the soul, — courage, — we need never fear the consequences in the presence of opposition ; defeat may be only the threshold of victory.

Life is the arena of many forms of courage ; as many, in fact, as there are lines of human action. There is physical courage, which dares to meet and overcome physical opposition. This form of courage is by no means low ; but there are higher forms of courage. To be a martyr, one must have something more than the resignation to meet physical torture and death. He must have the courage to think the unthought and speak the unspoken, and not only to think and speak thus, but to do it amid the jeers of hatred and the hisses of calumny. But for this form of courage no triumphant vessel would to-day move upon the waters : no engine would jar the earth with its iron tread ; no magic wires would belt the globe. History would be unstained with blood, it is true, and the simple record would be a colorless legend of submission — a world of rayless midnight, perhaps without stars.

The darkness of the past has been illumined by the fagot fire kindled at the feet of courage. No grand libra-

24 INTRODUCTION.

ries would adorn our cities, no inspiring canvases make living the walls of galleries of art, had not moral courage dared to depicl its story. The steps of the world's progress have been over the red altars of human sacrifice.

Physical, intellectual, and moral courage have heen the grand leaders in the ceaseless conquest of thought. All honor to the martyrs of science and religion and human freedom! "Who falls for the love of God shall rise a star."

No age of human history has offered such a grand reward to courage in its highest sense as the present. The supreme need of human society to-day is a bold and fearless spirit of individuality. In both politics and religion we see a disgusting cowardice that makes men slaves to base schemes and cunning tyranny. The call of the hour is to duty. The courageous performance of duty leads to nobility ; and this quality is not only one of the highest in human character but even an attribute of divinity itself.

If you would, therefore, make the most of life, oo not seek the " path of least resistance " ; rather welcome the difficulties in your way. Do not be frightened by them or ili^eouraged because of them. They are your opportunities for winning success. " He who refuses to make use of, or flings away, his opportunities, flings away his manhood."

Part One. Leaders In Public Life

LINCOLN'S ADDRESS AT GETTYSBURG.

Chapter I. Theodore Roosevelt

ON SUCCESS SKETCH OF HIS LIFE A LEADER FROM YOUTH FROM

WEAKLING TO ATHLETE ENTERS PUBLIC LIFE CAREER IN THE ASSEMBLY

COMBINED WRITING WITH HUNTING EFFORTS TO REFORM GOTHAM

IN THE NAVY DEPARTMENT LEADER OF ROUGH RIDERS THE FIRST BATTLE

HIS TRIUMPH AT PHILADELPHIA PRESIDENT. DECISION OF CHARACTER.

Success must always include, as its first element, earning a competence for the support of the man himself, and for the bringing up of those dependent upon him. In the vast majority of cases it ought to include financially rather more than this. But the acquisition of wealth is not in the least the only test of success. Successful statesmen, soldiers, sailors, explorers, historians, poets, and scientific men are very much more essential than any mere successful business man can possibly be.

The average man into whom the average boy develops, is, of course, not going to be a marvel in any line, but, if he only chooses to try, he can be very good in any line, and the chances of his doing good work are immensely increased if he has trained his mind. If, of course, he gets to thinking that the only kind of learning is that to be found in books, he will do very little ; but if he keeps his mental balance,— that is. if he shows character,— he will understand both what learning can do and what it cannot, and he will be all the better the more he can get.