The San Francisco call., 1896-02-16

NOCH EMORY, the merchant
IL prince of the great Amur Tegier
of Siberia, is living example o
IL what may be achieved by ar
American boy gifted with pluck
grit, energy and enterprise.
The story of his rise from a humble
boyhood IN a Massachusetts, country vii
lage 10 position of vast and commanding
influence IN the Cars Asiatic dominion!
may be an incentive to some of our youth
to-day to ''be up, and stirring" and on the
the sharp lookout for the opportunities
that are constantly presenting themselves
and then fitting away forever. AS the
ancient bard has it,
Time wears all his locks before,
And behind his scalp is bare.
Arthur A. Smith and Thomas Freeman
OF the shipping and commission house of
Freeman, Smith & Co. of San Francisco
each had hand IL shaping the destiny OF
young Emory, although they did not begin
to toreSee such results as the years have
brought with reference to the beardless
boy they started out on the path 10 fame
and fortune.
Somebody may observe that Emory's
success was due to accident in the begin
ming; but it must be remem bered that it is
not every body who possesses the foresight
accident.
Both Freeman and Smith were Bos-
tonlans before they launched in business
on the shores of the Pacific. Shortly after
the Civil War they established themselves
at the seaport of Nlkolsevsk, at the mouth
OF the Amur River in Siberia, shipping
goods thither from America, and engag-
ing in general supply trade with the set
Elements along the river aforementioned
and its tributaries. the Amur province,
while il is the smallest in Siberia, vet en-
braces q territory of 173, $50 square miles,
and ten years ago it was credited with q
population of only 10000. 1t has rich
grow in the short, hot summer; hilly tracts
covered with forests, and mountains rich
IN gold and other precious metals. That
province would easily support popula
tiOn OF many millions. The firm of Free
man Smith landed supplies at Nikola-
evsk and from there shipped goods up the
long river by boat in summer and by sled
In winter when the stream became track
OF ice. They prospered even beyond their
anticipations, but the Siberian climate and
the remoteness from the English-speaking
world were things they didn't propose
long 10 endure.
In the year 1886 both mem bers of the
firm returned to this country on a visit,
combining business with pleasure as
the common saying goes. While in Boston
they met mutual old friend IN the person
of Mr. Emory. The latter was accom-
panied by his son, Epoch, a lad of l6
years. The Emorys resided in a little
town on Cape Cod. The tale of wealth in a
comparative wilderness on the other side
of the world was listened to with avidity
by the youth, and he had no sooner
reached home than he begged permission
OF his parents TO go along with Messrs.
Freeman and Smith TO Siberia. In a way
akin to jest the parents consented, trust
ing, doubtless, that Enoch's sudden fancy
would die out in few days and be for
gotten. The boy was determined, how
ever, and he wrote to Mr.. Freeman OH the
subject, telling him of the parental will
lngness, making known his strong desire
TO 60 to Siberia and asking for position
in the firms establishment at Nikola-
evsk.
Freeman consulted his partner, and then
wrote Immediately TO Enoch that posi-