Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-11-22
A GREAT WORKMAN.


strength of character AMI superiority OF
mind, have shown the ability 20 COM
mand, have ever delighted to honor with
the highest marks of favor and appre-
citation the captain who has led their
hosts to victory, or the naval hero who
has raised their flag above the flag Of
nations. The worlds capitals are decked
with heroes, cOnquerors in bronze aud
martinets in marble, as if the nOblest
calling of mankind was the successful
handling of hosts of men in order that
they NAV rid the world OF their broth.
ers. Comparatively few are the mOnu-
ments raised to those who have done the
real work this busy plsnet, whose
brains aud hands have cleared our for
ests, built our cities, constructed Our
railroads, invented new appliances for
human comfort, rendered labor easy
and generally contributed % the
welfare and hapaiuess OF their
country and their fellow men. The
world counts Napoleon BOnapsrte a
greater man than Thomas Brsssey, the
English contractor, aud yet ii viii take
but little 20 prove that this plain, unas-
Stunning worker was not only the peer of
the C0rsican in his knowledge OF men;
that his command and cOuquests eX-
I
territory; that his ability 10 cope with
great events was quite as mastery; but
that his aim was higher one, his life
better one, and his entire character and
conduct far more entitled to the worlds
ht nor and respect. Thomas BTassey,
whose life has just been written by Ar
| thur ps, was one of those men who,
in the nOblesL sense OF ihe term, was
born to rule. a workman himself,
whose mind had graduated IN the dry
school OF details, it was ais noble mis-
sion 70 command wOTkmen, to SUI
pervise and direct the widest
fields of operations which probably ever
| fell to the lot Of any one man. BE
came to the world at a time when rail-
ways were unknown, when engineering
| was confined TO viaducts, canals, docks,
| the extension Of rivers, and the work
| ing of mines. What George Stephen.
| son WAS to the great engineering works
| OF the present century IN Britain, Thorn
| as Brassey WAS to their construction.
| He was born at right time to be lead
| er, a pioneer, aud the great director IN
| the revolution which was 20 dawn upon
| the world OF travel. Although ar
| Brassey came from an old and AgnUrej
! family, aud might fairly lay Claim To be
considered an aristOcrat, his sympathies
were 90 entirely with his fellow
men, more especially the lab0ring
/ norton thereof, that throughout 3
| long and busy life, during which be exc
| cuted contracts al over England, ia
| France, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Australia
and Canada, his sole pride was to exc
cute his task with the greatest possible
| expedition, aud TO provide his country
| men with work and wages. Mr.. Bras
| sey's operations showed an unerring
1 Judgment of men, shrewd and rapid
| power of calculation, inuOmitabie peTse-
verance and pluck. Having made his
estimates, be trusted TO results, leaving
| petty details to his subOrdinates. Trust
| In his fellow-man was the great secret Of
! his success and popularity. Having
chosen his agents, he relied on them
implicitly, and in no case was he ever
| known to be deceived. When he had
under his control contracts ia all parts OF
| the world, and could only act as COLI
| shifting counsel, his visits were hailed as
seasons Of rejoicing. He settled dis
| putes, arranged plans, and laid his finger
upon the sore spot, wherever that might
be. No man was more universally be-
| loved. Caring nothing for money him
| self, he amassed a colossal fortune. The
| loss o, thousands never cost him a
! thought, and re seldom failed to reim-
| burse a sub-c5nlractcr when his work
proved greater than he could undertake.
| No man was mOge cOnversant with the
value aud qualities Of labor in different
countries, and tie acceptance Of his ser
| vices by foreign governments was the
best tribute which could be given to him
self and the nation he represented. Al.
though decorated with several OF
ders from European kings, ne was
above all earthly pomp or show, his soie
| pride lying In his integrity, bis ability
/ and his great human sympathy. Ne
| find his name connected with no less
| than one hundred and seventy great en-
| gineering works, including among
others, the early railways OF England,
the Paris ami ROuen line, the Norwegian
railway, the Victoria docks, London; the
| Dutch Rheinish railway, the Grand
| Trunk Of Canada. the Royal Danish, the
Eastern Bengal, and Victor EmanuePs
railroads; the Rio JaBeiro drainage, the
| North SchlesWig railway, the lime,
| the Thames emb2nkment, and innu-
| merahe works Of the greatest import
| apce ald extent The life of Thomas
| Brassey is one which deserves to be
| made model Unassuming in per-
| sonaI qualities, he rose from obscuTity
70 the position Of perhaps the
busiest and most useful man
in England. We are apt, in our adj
miration for the more snowy qualities
which characterize the ~tatesman, the
soldier, the scholar, the poet, and the
artist, to leave in the shade the men who
do the worlds work. Thomas Bassey
was one OF the greatest of these. His
| ok Id. oh. l.
his achievements speak in the strength
and durability of his finished labors. He
was born on the seventh Of November,
1905, at BuertoD, III the parish OF AldfOrd,
Cheshire, England, and died at Hastings
on December 8, 1870 SiXty-five years,
and noble record. His life is dedicated
to The Queen OF England. Among the
high born and intellectual celebrities
who grace her realm she has no nObier
subject. All honor tn Thomas Bassey.
Inter Ocean.
1t israther late to he savage on Colonel
Jim FisS, but The Nation points s mo al
thus:
World, flesh and devil gave him all they
Wine. wealth. harlots, disbelief in good,
Fame, too, he bought, our modern Kind OF
fame,
| Inc morning fEthluB With MS nam q
| Lifelong he never did his iQsts deny
One pleasure sin could give, or money BUY.
| The alter biiked, q pander's coward shot
sent him where he-nay had forgot,
That's past, at least they so who best should
know,
Put out with milk-and-lVater long ago.
| No retri button. thene Yet, there's something
Than angry justice e'er distilled in verse.
he had (could shame or vengeance this cx-
Living. Geuld's friendship; dead, the tears oil
Tweed
GREAT misfortunes can be borne with
patience, for we feel that they come
from the hand of God, and are designed
to fall upon US for some wise purpose
but It is so difficult to bear with meek.
ness the little trialg aad the little worries
Of life that nine-tenths of the people in
this world have not learned the art
Little worries are perpetually assailing
us, and 40 sphere of life can secure US
from them. Riches, influence, friends,
cannot save us from the constant annoy.
ance. Friend, if you are woman you
know all about these little worries
They be in when your waking hour:
begin, and they follow you through the
) day, and very often sit on your pillow
at night.
FIGARO reports little game Of tbs
Paris tailors. The tailor says to his Gus.
4 toner. stSir, l had the honor TO see vol
! at the marriage Of Mr.. So-and-sO. Tht
coat 1 made for you needs little
CHANGE Naturally the gentleman