The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-07
CYRUS w. FIELD
Commenced Clerk at Two Dollars q
Week, and Is Now a Millionaire.

cosmopolitan.
Cyrus w. Field lost heavily in stocks last year.
and was forced 10 sell his Manhattan at prices
he thought exceedingly low. His fortune was
greatly reduced, no doubt. and the effect on his
exuberant spirits and demonstrative manner so
obvious for weeks that many OF his acousint-
snees imagined him ruined. The blow TO his
vanity was severer than to his purse; for he had
il is said, been arrogant in the street, and
claimed to be omniscient to operations. IL was
possible for him to lose what might have bank
rupted others. without any particular detriment.
He is still a millionaire-his estate might to-day
be safely set down 1t IS, OOO 900 or $40 600 600
and he is fast resuming the excellent terms on
which he had been with himself until his late
disaster He has often been laughed at On &C
count OF his natural self-love, vastly increased
by his pecuniary success.
Educated in a rudimentary way at bis native
village. Stockbridge, Mass, he came at fifteen
20 New York, bent on making money aud posi-
ton. He began by hiring himself to merchant
at 81 n week, putting up and taking down the
shutters being one Of bis daily duties. But this
was only an apprenticeship; be had capacity
far above that and he knew it He forged
ahead; it was not in the Field blood to be toll
ing for pittance, when fair rewards were
procurable. In few years be was him.
self q merchant, and q prosperous one.
He was only thirty-three when he retired tenn
porarIly from business 10 travel in South Amer
ica- On his return he became interested In the
project or an oceau-crossing telegraph. and ad-
nered TO IT, under many ADVERSE clFcIus'ances,
with commendable zeal Its final success is
largely due to his determination and persever-
ance. He laborsd necessarily for twelve dis
couragiDg, anxious years before the great object
of his life was accomplished. and then he was
overwhelmed with deserved honors. He was
then at the acme Of his reputation. For twenty
years he had been steadily increasing his
wealth, and only lately had he had any re-
verses He is not more DESTROYS to keep up
riches than many others, but he talks so freely
Of benevolence and public spirit that he is
sometimes called hypocriticaL He is orthodox.
q regular attendant at church. and q close OBJ
server OF ecclesiastic ceremonials.
He was one OF the orieinators Of the elevated
railroads, and made millions out of them. But
ne seems to be persuaded that his primary OBJ
ject was to benefit the community and advance
tbs city. The securities of those roads were
favorites with him for years, and he was gen
orally bulling them. though he periodically
bought and sold. as his interest prompted. after
the manner OF all Spectators.
Cyrus Field is now in his eixty-ninth year,
full of fsverish energy aud vigorous health. He
is tall. slender. with gray hair and whiskers, an
aquiline nose. large features and nervous, rapid
movement, usually characteristic OF far younger
men, His town house is in Creamery Park. q
spacious building plain outside, but stuffed
with furniture, pictures, mementoes OF travel
and his own glory.