The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-06-02
One OF ksiut~rch's Men.

We devote a column or two elsewhere to
Plutarch. The first popularity that will
strike the reader is the manner of the sketch
1t is couched in familiar simple language, such
as every hod. carrier can understand, without
long phrases or learned words: just such style,
in Short as we can suppose the plain honely
narrative of Plutarch appeared to the Greeks.
The great Grecian biographer said all that the
public dc sirod W Know of the greatest heroes
ard Legislators in few pages, about as many
MS there are in q modern sermon; our modern
heroes have not been usually content with so
small pittance. A volume is scant allowance
for them. Our presidential candidates have
all had their volume, though, as q general
thing, the book ends with the beginning of the
noteworthy portion of the mau's life; where
from it may happen singularly enough that the
antiquary who in the ear $3.50 shall explor9
the relics of the old American republic, might
find that there was General named Jackson
who fought battles against the British aud
Creeks, and ran for President, but was beaten
by another man named Adams, after which he
probably died; likewise man named Van
Buren, who was Secretary of State, and ran
for President, after which his name disap-
pears, and he also probably died. Which is
one OF the small inconvenience Of these bio
graphical volumes in anticipation Of mems real
lives Plutarch and the author of the sketch
OF George Law did not write volumes about
their men: q few pages sufficed. and the an
tiquary would see at glance that the life was
unfinished.
1t appears that George Law like almost all
distins uisbed men, was country born and couu-
try bred. His father was known by the name
OF Butter john" from the fine quality of that
nutritious article produced on his farm. George
fed cows, and read Burns, the Bible, and the life
of William Ray till he was eighteen; then
sought bis fortune as d day laoorer at 81 day,
carrying mortar, bricks and stone for masous
His first employer failed owing him all his
wages He could not pay his board bill Harder
than ever he wrought for some one else, saved
the morey and walked forty four miles 10 day
10 pay it. In 1926, he got step in the world;
be received Ids. day; and being twenty, read
Shakespeare, Pope's Homer, and Byron. Very
soon he learnt how to build locks on canals,
and wrought for contractor OF 20s. day:
went to Virginia, took fever and ague. and bad
bad health for year or two, as well as bad pay
from some of his employers, who failed when
pay day came round. Every thing seemed
against the young man. Wrought still, however,
at aqueducts aud canal locks; in 1880, had
So, 500 saved. and bought gold watch for
$500 1t was not till 1887 that he came to
New York to live, and got two contracts on the
Croion water works. Then followed the High
Bridge, which he completed in 1s49. Mean
while, he had been the leading man in The Dry
Dock Bank, the Harlem and Mobawl Railroads
and had been successful in sll. He then went
into steamers: built some, bought others, owned
an immense number; took the lead in the es-
tablisbment of regular intercourse between this
and California; and finally became one of the
most influential capitalists in New York
One thing is certain from all this. George
Law must be a man Of vast administrative
ability must he admirably competent TO
marage men and combine materials. He must
have clear head, and be giSopA with great de-
cisiop, energy, and powers Of calculation; or
he never would have become what he is from
what he was.
Itso happens that Of all the qualities which
are a present required for the chief magistrate
q MI. republic, none is so much needed as his