New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-15
LIKE POETS. BORN Not MADE.
THERE THE SIMILARITY ENDs-MEN OF EX'
PEDIENrS IN BUSINESS.

Il have been reading with considerable interest
said New Yorker yesterday, the instructive dis
cllsSon that has been ably presented IN the columns
Of The Tribune. the advantages or Disadvantages
which college education confer, upon young man
who has his own WAY 10 make in the world. Leaving
aside for the time being the fact that far too many
people think that in life means either great
wealth or distinction second rate result. both. and
not To be compared TO culture Of the mind and to
health let me that Of all the traits with which
man can be endowed. none will be so helpful TO him
IN any walk Of life that Of being ready with ex-
pcdenis. of being prepared for the emergency. fon
hear plenty Of men who have the average amount of
intellect and education grumbling that they never
get chance 10 succeed and cnvying those who do.
The truth is that they have not that instinct which
opportunities 10 enter where Others sec only an
nsurmoun'ablc vail Of difficulty.
Take the of b. +. Rabbit, who died the other
day, millionaire several times over lie began ifd
blach-miih's apprentice and devoted the best OF
his days and the be- product of his brain to making
soap. Not an exceedingly lofty calling, but he made
a colossal success at It where great many others
failed and Just because he was man OF almost mex
haustble eXpedient. Whenever rival came too near
him in the race. Mr. Rabbit used to sit right down
and think ont some now Bit OF machinery which would
TURN ont the work little cheaper than the old one,
aud then he would 10 work and build IT,.
"'Ah. you say. he lnycntor-fcw men have
the gilt OF Invention.
Invention. my friend. l. only another word for
cApcdicut. H. the ~am" faculty whether expressed
in a machine or a new way Ia bear i lcks,'or a
new way to advertise patent medicine. Its often
amusing to hear men Who have got this faculty,
men who could not be pushed into making money In
any but the old beaten paths, speak with anger
and suspicion OF the success If Others There j.
something positively dishonest 10 these men IN the
cNtlaordn mary adapt abby OF those Others, ana the
power of turning into gold opportunities which are
olutcly Invisible 10 most men seems wizard llkc
and unhoy.
II always has been 49, no doubt and probably
always Will bc. Countless men have strNcn Tor
wealth in this city, since Tn" daNs of the first JOhn
Jacob A>tor until now. They were ready "a take
any and every chance. honest dishonest = ainaSS
fortune. and have been unable Ia do 50, so they
>ollccd themselves somewhat by carplng NJ
Others, who with the same advantages; or less the
same opportunities, honest and dishonest. haNh
steadily rcapcd their thousands and tens of thousands
IN the same fields where Others could nnd only the
,tubble of barr livelihood.
To be able Ia anything from all sides al
once In fact be fertile in eXpcdicat. i the mas
ter fortune and 10 distinction II that Is what
a man sets ont 10 win. IL Is NOT Impaired by an
education either M the cOllcg" or In the shop. but i
born I'm certain individuals and not In Others. of
course few people are born without any III II, and J
think the proper kind Of education might be- evolved
10 develop the embryo that turks IN most of US but
after all this idea Is good deal like the discussion
over the best kind Of food for brain workers. As
some clever fellow In, said. the very best thng Tor
brain worker is brains. and plenty OF thcm