The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-17
OBITUARY.
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF A GOOD MAN
MATTHIAS w. BALDWIN.

VIA HAS W. BALDWIN.
In order to pay a small tribute of respect TO
the memory OF q great and good man, as we'll az
to satisfy demand made upon us by numerous
patrons, We transfer the following elegant and
truthful eulogY upon our late fellow-citizen TO
our own columns, f1om the North american and
Un'ted States Gazette of Thursday last:-
If it was good and wholesome thought IN
SOLD Mortality" to deepen and keep legible the
scripuons upon the tomb-stones of those who had
honoIed their country or their religion, and thus
keep alive their memories, they little less en-
titled to good consideration who first chseed
those names,r and placed on stone a record of
the virtues that reflected credit their possessor,
and produced desire to initiate the admitted ex-
celltn nee. Hence benefits are conferred upon So
ciety when mention is made of the excellence OF
those whose lives have illustrated the virtues that
belong 10 their condition, and whose deaths have
done honor TO their profession.
The death of our late townsman, Matthias W
BALDWIN, has been mentioned in all the daily ua-
pers of our city, and reference has been made 10
the means by which he acquired his. position in
business ana became the master of princely
wealth. The lesson of MI Baldwin's life even in
that regard must be profitable to the young, who
are considering how they may ascend, and a
minute notice of the particular steps which lead
on TO fortune would be instructive to all who are
seeking encouragement in their efforts to achieve
place. Not less, nay even more so, would be fair
statement of the difficulties encountered in the Sc
lection of means and the judgment evinced in the
abandonment of those that did not, on trial. equa
expectation, and the still greater judgment that
comprehended in advance the movements of the
times and provided a supply of that which wa
only about to be needed.
The foresight of Mr. Baldwin, his promptness
| to seize upon the suggestion of sound Judgment
and his patient abiding of the harvest OF liberal
| sowing and careful culture, his buoyant hopes
amid difficulties and his admirable use of sue
cess are instructive, and should be made familiar
to the young They are part of the jewels Of our
| city, they illustrations of the character o.
our people.
But the writer of this is unskilled in those enno-
bling arts by which Mr.. Baldwin achieved his
great distinction as a manufacturer. He leaves,
theretore others, who comprehend the difficulties
the trade and the high genius by which those diff
fculties were surmounted, to give the instructive
| lesson which they ought to convey, and make
| Matthias W. Baldwin the subject of volume that
shall be to the young mechanic and merchant their
| "I5est Companion"
Fifty years acquaintance with Mr.. Baldwin,
and frequent association with him the discharge
of public duties enable the writer to speak of him
| as Conscientious man; and in that enno5ling
quality lay the secret of his great success What
| he undertook, he believed to be right What he
SAID, he knew or believed to be true. What he
completed bore upon 1t no less the mark of a
master mind and master hand than an impress OF
strong moral integrity, and we'll regulated con-
science. If Mr. Baldwin was seen in his earlier
days connecting new business with that which he
had first undertaken; if he startled his brother
manufacturers by passing from one pursuit to an
other, time served to show that he was reaching
out to that means of distinction for which his
t genius and skill had fitted him, and making him.
self ready, by taking a first step, to take those
which his progress should suggest His new
views were attained by ascending, and his foot.
hold was made secure ON each attainment by the
correctness Of his judgment
He who leads public enterprise must sometimes
wait the progress OF the many, or be left alone
4 He who provides in advance for others may often
find his provision neglected and his hopes disap.
pointed. Mr Baldwin understood that from ex.
perience, kbut when he became public benefactoI
by anticipating the large demand for locomotive
engines, his enterprise and judgment were re-
warded by that success which is the artisan, >,
great object, and finally by that wealth which il
the almost certain result of foresight and enter
prise directed by sound judgment and pure con
science.
Asuggestive theme for a public address or AZ
essay might be found in the business abIIitias
char acter and success of Mr.. Baldwin; and som,
one who would make the lesson attractive will
|
ment to undertake with prudence great matters
and pursue with earnestness whate yer their hand
find 10 do, and not 10 be deferred by small obsta
| cles, and especially not to cease from enterpris
| because single path to success has been closao
There is power in genius that mouIds events Il
! | its own purposes, or accommodates itself to ney
| circumstances II is certainly good for any MAJ
who has TO achieve his own pecuniary indepen
| dence that his taste and education should b
| moulded to the requirements of a pursuit upoi
| which he is to enter. But 1t is better that hi
| powers of mind should be so directed that he ma
seize upon new suggestions, and profit by a chang
=. which chance or progress may make The dis
coVeries OF science, the inventions of genius ant
the advancement of the arts are constantly pre-
| senting new objects for enterprise, upon whicl
men OF character in their pursuits may seize ant
d. make them subservent to immense success MI
Il Baldwin comprehended that, and he profited b,
the changes which railroads produce and rose L
{; distinction upon business that had no existenc
when he commenced business life
Mr Baldwin then was prominent in his occupa
= tion. He understood the art which he practised
j. and he knew how to make science subservent
c that art and so he became great as business mar
b | But the distinction and wealth which Mr.. Baldwi
II acquired were less TO him than that serenity
= temper by which the hours of business or of SC
n cial enjoyment were illuminated, and the wealt
-e which he acquired seemed chiefly valuable TO hiI
,e as means OF gratifying refined taste, and pre-
noffa obi ne gNrTor