The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-04-08
SUCCESS.

No one can rest the proceedings OF
the Stockholders meeting of the Nash
vile and Chattanooga railroad without
drawing therefrom a useful and prac-
tical lesson, which, if rightly improv-
ed, may be the means of accomplish
ing much good. The question is Of
ten remarked; which succeed best in
the world, the SONS of the rich or poor!
We will not read homily on the de-
generating effects of wealth, for it
would be affected. coming from peO-
pie whose aims are always turned to-
wards the accumulation of wealth.
But We cannot but notice in this one
instance, out of So many, the result of
patient enduring industry. Said Pres
ident Thomas to Superintendent
Wrenne, Your close application to
business for twelve years, and your
aptitude in your place entities you to
a reward. So come up and take the
place l have just left" Patience and
industry for twelve years are always
sure of reward; sometimes greater
but often less than that given to Mr..
Wrenne. This young man, for he is
still young for such responsible and
exalted place, had no aid from infiu-
ential friends or wealth, to hoist him
in a place for which he had no merit,
but he did it himself, by his own
strong arna and faithful, brave heart.
That is one example of what may be
done by application and pluck. But
where is the man whose place he has
taken? Gone up little higher; and
he, tso, has carved his own destiny
from the rugged paths Of life. He,
too, is shining example of industry
and sticking closely to business.
Whatever of success he has achieved
is due alone to his own exerIions. Do
not such men deserve success? They
somehow always get it, while the fat
uous man who waits for something to
turn. up still sits astride the fence
waiting. But our illustrations go =
step higher still. What about the
gentleman whose voluntary retirement
makes room for those below? His
name is so familiar to the people of
not only Nashville or Tennessee, but
of The whole United States, that it is
necessary to do more tEan mention
him. Beginning as a boy in the hum
bic capacity of clerk of a store at a
salary Of one hundred and fifty dol
lars year and no,board, Col. Cole has
step by step attained Il name. fame
and fortune ample enough to satisfy
the ambition of most men even of
large desires. We once asaed this
gentleman the secret of his success.
When | was boy ut salary of one
hundred and fifty dollars a year !
had 10 sweep the pavement US wide as
our store, and made it my pride to
sweep my pavement cleaner than the
boys on either side. | made the same
exertions in the store, but that Was
no: seen like the pavement, and peo-
pie got to noticing how much cleaner
my pavement was than other parts.
This brought me into notice, and so
never lacked u place"
The moral of this is, he did what he
was told to do with all his might, and
this has stuck to him through life, un-
ill now he can rightly claim that the
goal is won.
Moral: Any boy, in business or out
of business, can do the same if he will
90 to work and stick to it with all his
might and main.
We hope our friends will excuse
the freedom taken with their names
wher they see our intention is TO slim
ulate our youth to untiring exertiOns
in the race VI life. The examples, all
in one office, are too striking not to be
sed.-NashriAe Banner.