The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-11-20
PET R COOPER.

Yolk. \ poor boy was servins rs an ap-
prentice to carrage-maker. His COM
rensation was twenty-five dollars a year,
and his board. Poverty had deprived
him of the advantages of an education,
for he had gone to school only every other
day during one year.
He was genius in han ding tools,
and became an expert in carving wood.
BY using his skill in leisure hours, he
earned money to buy hooks and to E,y
for the services of teacher in the
evening.
Then and there the studous appren-
tice determined to devote himself to the
accumulation of wealth, that he might
found an institution where working
boys and girls could obtain free instruc-
ton. Forty-five years after it's conccp-
tion, that resolution gave the Cooper
Union" to the city of New York.
II is a unique charity. Its doors are
open to every working boy and girl will
ling to receive free instruction in the ap-
plication Of science and art to the useful
purposes OF life. apprentice c0nceiv-
ed the germ, Il working man gave it Il
body, and u millionaire endowed it with
life at the cost Of nearly two millions of
dollars.
There is nothing like it in the Old
World or in the New. Its conception,
formation and endowment stamped Peter
Cooper Us the most practical, as well as
the most generous, Of philantlrOpiStS.
ocOntemplate the life of such Il man
Is in inspiration. To know it is to ac-
quire an education. To symyathiZc with
It is to be elevated into that region of ho-
ly purpoS, where Ia who accunuateS
wealth is neither materialZed Ivy its pur-
suit nor vulgarized by its possession
Peter Cooper began life with certain
advantages He WIS by nature indus
triOuS, persistent, honorable and able to
turn his hand to anything which could
earn an honest penny.
But not the least of his early alvan-
tagcs WAS his poverty. 1t taught him
Self-hclpfulneSS, economy, and the art of
attending to details. So thoroughly did
it educate him in these rlldimentS of sue
cess, that for thirty years he carried on u
large business almost alone. He was
his own lDOkkecpcr, clerk and salesman.
Up ut the break of day, he lighted the
factory fires, worked till noon, and then
went among his customers. His even
ings-thOSe hours which make OF ruin
young men--he spent at home, posting
his books. writing his letters, and con-
versing with his wise and children.
But his poverty did him better ser
Sice even than making him selfhelpful
and economical. 1t begat in him intense
sympathy with the poor, and especially
with poor boys struggling to support
themselves. UnconsciOusly he became,
through his own hard fortune, lover OF
his fellowmen before lie knew the mean
ing of plilanthropist.
Tho first five hundred dollars he ac-
e.un,al;ltcd he devoted to the bringing o.
AunShia,~ into his fathers house, darkcned
by the ppse,,ce of debt. 1t was the
esri,est Of y lite of charity AMI good Will,
which Was newer so joyous az when II
found opportunities for expression.
His own wants were few, r"r he lived
in a homely, sturdy, frugal way, tiia: he
suiyht axecute the inspiration Of his
sM1th. But his charities We're many.
For. i.,sprbing us was his life-purpoSe,
it never hiudered hiW from sending
"portions unit, them for whom nothing
is prepared"
Sir. Cooper was gifted Will the genius
OF a4I Inventor. But, unlike m,.,t Of that
class, he soSscsSed the slrew'incss Wh!Gl
looks at fact, in Il cold, dry light.
when he had served his time i'll tll'
carlagc shop, his employers had Surhc0n
iidence in his mechanical si>ill and gom
habits that they offered to set him up il
business,
II yaSa tempting offer To Il poor young
man. isE the Youth declined it. Bor
rOWcd capital. hr saw, would mortgage
his future. Ike ta.pnnd his back on The
temptation. and w.did IN work ut on,
dollar and fifty cents day.
fns short time. events indorscd 4n
Har-siriihdnesS The war with Grca
Britain iac,cHscd the demand for car
ragcS. aro .Ia t.Tmcr employers became
bankrupts. Iile i%cident iutenSilie'
young Cooper's detclmM.2tion to pn
himself in no nu,U'S power by f.iHnin!
into debt. II have :aade it a rule" a.
said, when IN old m;t., 't, pay rs go.
Young men should ponder the life q
this good, sclf-rel!ant. farsighted ma"
whose career represents the lest tctdtH
Gle. of American life. He made
fortune, buf not Il coin fell into hia I'll
that did not ring out, II am here beca,lS
4 MIS- earnestly carncd.' lie worked II
the 'blawing atmosphere of lofty mora
purpose, for above that love of none.
wnich demoralizcs itH yptaricS.
The SIN accumulatcS %ap"r in th
clouds that it may fall i'll rcilt sll!n
showers upon the thirsty land Pete
Cooper worked forty years To arclmulat
u fortune that it might refresh and Sii
Alatc youth thilStin@ for an industrI
taiuRation.
II,umseds of poor boys have loton
Skil,.I artisum, teachers in workshops
and professors ia aii.i0lS. beca'Sra grra
inspiratit,n so mastered a.. npprrntic
that be devoted his life To its rcsd'IS4iD
That life. ut whose expiration New ior
stood with u,uOvrra: head, says to TIL
young nl;sn siftM ~ith business BRAIN
MAKE money, but HWke it under tl
conservation of ii noble pulAr.N; JrviS