The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-05-30
The Lesson>of Two Lives.

MIR. Orton began life poor boy:'': He
enjoyed but little schooling and';the :
friends he'hadt wcreo at the start Of bur
little influence. He wor ked hard and #
faithfully, from all accounts, at whatever
he put his hands to. He was ALWAYS Z
straightforward. always energetic, faith
ful, trustworthy: self reliant. He was con. =
nected at one time with a concern that
did not turn out very we'll, but it was ac::
knowiedged on all sides that the failure
was due to no fault of Mr.. Orton. The :
failure did not make any difference in
the public regard in which Mr.: O1ton.
was held. lie resumed work again, and,
apparently new friends, in addition to
mis- ola ones. gathered about him. He was .
always hard worker. and was a growing
man when'the war broke our He was
given an official position in: New York, .
and the tact, decision and ability he. .dis-i
played called to him the attention Of the
Government, and he was appointed Com )
missioner of Internal .Reyenue.. This
place he occupied only short time, leav:
ing it to 20 into the telegraph business: ,
When he left it he received letter from J;
the Secretary of the Treasury :compli-
menting him on the efficiency with which
he had discharged the duties He was
about forty years old when he began his !,
new work. and though he thought it was
rather late in life to begin to learn new
business, he probably never regretted the,
change. He finally became the head OF a
vast rgaLization, whose interests he at:
tended to with the most scrupulous fde!-
ity and the most unremitting energy.
During all this time not a whisper was !,
ever raised against his integrity. He went
to his grave with a reputation, so far as
we know, absolutely unspotted. y
Wearing the white flower OF a blamelcss life.
and it is to be remembered that
it was this confidence in his absolute
honesty, lis answering integrity as
much as his fine abilities, that won the
esteem Of men. Controlling vast sums of
money, he never used them for his own
benefit. He might have made, by
methods which in these days are we'll
understood, large fortune. He died
worthless than many man who has not
done one-tenth part of his hard work or
displayed hundrcth part Of his ability
But he leaves an honored name, and his
memory "ill be long cnshrined in the
hearts of many to when he was a true
and faithful friend.
Mr.. w. T. Hathaway STATED out in lie
with more advantages than fell TO Mr..
Orton. He was not the son of rich par
cnts, but he had influential connections.
He went to Fall River, and speedily be
came known as the smartcst young biisi-
ness man of the place. Fortune strewed
his way with flowers. She smootbcd the
path for him. She gave him a helping
hand whenever he needed it. lie became
interested in some of the great manusac-
turing concerns of the town, and at last
he undertook to raise the capital to start
mill of his own. He found not the least
difficulty. Everybody liked the young
fellow, theicapitalists lookel on him with
favor. and the laboring men with conf
dence. He established his mill, and
shortly afterward was sent to England as
the chosen representative Of the Fall
River interests. t. : .,i Il r.f..;f
What young man ever. started out, IN .
life with brighter prospects? But he, was,
not pure gold. He didn't have the hon:
esty Mr.. Orton had. Lacking that he, fell
and all the ability and smartness he had
COulu NOT save blm. W neuicF 1llS- StQEy
is taken, or that OF his cousin, S. A,
Chace, matters little. In the one case he
was weak tool. In the othe- he wasSa
crafty betrayer. In either the result IS
the same, the ruin OF kindred; friends and
acquaintance, the loss of reputation;
honor, family, home and freedom. ,.Itis
a sad ending to what might have been a
brilliant life, and to what, according TO :
all human seeing, would have been bill:
liant life, fifth young man had only
possessed honesty in addition to ability.
The contrast between these two lives
need not be dwelt upon. 1t only bas to.
be stated to be realized. Hathaway
could have had money enough for all his
needs if he had but kept his integrity.
His dishonesty was the very poorest in
vestment he could have made. Perhaps
there are some who will heed the lesson
ct these two lives. 1t is very cd one,
but it cannot be too often repeated in
these days of trial and temptation. %