The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-12-19
VO7ldepbiLt.

From the wall street Review. N. Y.
If we look into the early history of the lead
ing men of our times we shall find as general
rule that they are "self- made"-that they have
started life in poverty and obscurity Whether
the man makes the circumstances or crcum
stances make the man it is not necessary here
to inquire, but that a remarkable success at
tends the footsteps of some men, arising from
the most apparently trivial circumstances, is
too well known to need repetition in the Reuie,o.
We could enumerate scores of notable examples
to verify this trusm, but will notice one in par
ticular whose name now stands first on the
scroll of Wall street fame--Cornelius Wander
bilt, known among the fraternity as the "Com.
modore.'
G. Vanderbilt was born and "raised" on
Staten Island. His mother, like all mothers
of remarkable men, was no doubt remarkable
specimen Of her sex, although nothing is par
ticularly known of her estimable qualities fur
Their than she was hard working Dutch woman
who, in addition to the occupation of growing
cabbage and corn, became the proprietress OF
a primitive ferry boat plying between the
Island and New York city, which latter brought
her an income of between two and three hun
dred dollars per annum. At the age of fifteen
her son Cornelius, who had grown up wild
harum -scarum boy, without education, was
placed in charge of the boat, thereby LAYING
the foundation of that robust constitution, the
possession of which has enabled him to lead a
long life of activity. From this time he evil
IDENTIFY had an eye to business. for after running
the boat for one year, and finding there was
money in it, he secured, by some means or
other, a smaller though swifter boat, which he
ran in competition with his mother who was
obliged in six months to give up the business.
This success determined his future career =
He would not stay at home and he wsuld not
60 to school. So ignorant wss he that ap to iisl
twentieth year he wrote is-afst naurt -.
with "K" as &C" AS his first money !,
made with boats, he stuck to them, and ii q
or three years he had half dozen different
ferry routes, all of which paid. Then he at
tempted steamboat enterprises with like sue
cess.
When he was twenty three years old he had
accumulated $4,000, which he utilized as cap
ital for subsequent operations. For tie next
twenty five years he built steam boats, bought
and sold stocks. and had finger in everythi q
that promised quick and large returns In
1S49 the California gold fever broke out. He
saw his opportunity, and the next year he es-
tablished rival line of steamers from New
York to Nicaragua. In 1854 he sold out to the
Transit Company at an advance of nearly
million, and little later was made president
of the Company. That was the time he got the
title of Commodore.
In 1860 he dropped everything else for rail-
road speculation, in which he has made the
most of his money. By dint of careful schem-
ing he got possession of the Harlem Railroad.
The great rival of this route was the Hudson
River road, whose owners laughed at and snub-
bed him. In course of time he gained possess
sion of that. Subsequently he pushed Dean
Richmond and his adherents from their stools
in the New York Central office, and became the
autocrat of that road in addition. He is now
estimated to be worth from $50, 900 900 to $40,-
900, 900, and yet he is not satisfied.
Next to money, his great passion is horses,
and some Of the finest trotters in the country
can be found in his stables. Every day he may
be seen bowling along in Central Park, evil
IDENTIFY enjoying the excitement as much as a
boy of fifteen taking his first ride.
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, in new lecture
on politeness, says it is "to fll ones own place
and function, and to exercise ones own right
in the world without prejudice to the places or
rights of other people,"
"A Chinese servant in San Francisco, by
way Of revenge upon his mistress, broke with
pair of pincers a piece out of the edge Of
every dish in valuable dinner set.
Suddenly, at his late residence in Baltimore
county, on Thursday, Dec. II, Of paralysis, Cen
JOHN B. PEARcE, in the 74th year Of his age
His funeral will take place at 2 o'clock T. NJ.
Go1