The true northerner., 1897-10-12


ards of living by originating enterprises
and developments which give TO thousands
new occupations and larger returns for
their labor.
Commodore Vanderbilt is conspicuous
example of the product and possibilities of
our free and elastic conditions. His father
was small farmer with a large family,
and it became necessary for the son TO look
out for himself when very young. Ordi
narily his career would have been TO work
on until he could take little farm for
himself, run in debt for it and labor half
his life in the effort TO pay off the mort
gage. But he knew Of some and read of
many who from the same beginnings had
become successful in business. He was
healthy and strong His mother had con-
firmed him in good habits and principles.
He had little education, but marvelously
clear head and sound judgment At 10,
borrowing 500 from his mother, he began
the battle of life, and he died the richest
man in the world, with the reputation of
having made more money than was ever
before accumulated In a single life He
had an exhaustless capital of courage and
common sense. His motto was simple
and straightforward, like every act in the
wonderful drama of which he was the
chief actor What other men have done
can do" was the handspring of his exer-
tions -
A Life of Warfare.
For 66 years Commodore Vanderbilt
was in perpetual warfare. He neither
asked nor gave quarter. The same coun-
try, the same laws, the same open avenues,
the same opportunities which he had be-
fore him, were equally before every other
man. The keenest competition and the
earnest rivalry of able and ambitious op-
ponents met him at every step In his career.
Wary adversaries were watching for weak
ness In his schemes or failure of his
plans. Each day renewed an old fight or
began new one He was often checked
sometimes forced TO retreat and take an
other position, but he was never defeated
He ultimately remained master Of the field
1t Is not just to Judge men by arbitrary
standards. A few broad rules are applica-
BILE to all, and after that there must be
great liberality. The preacher the teach
er, the politician, the professional man,
the soldier, the man of business, may each
think the other to have lived a narrow or
useless life. We must estimate the career
and work of Cornelius Vanderbilt upon
principles which are common to very few
maker. He delighted In money making,
but, like all masterful men, he loved DOW
er. He said to me- II sometimes do a
foolish thing knowing it is foolish, just to
prove that can make even foolish move
ment successful. He invested his 500 In
little sailboat, or periagua, TO carry pas
sengers between Staten Island and New
York on farsighted Judgment that there
was q public demand for better service be-
tween these points. IL was this instinct
or insight which made him resistless In
competitive business. Old and experienced
masters Of transportation had controlled
the steamboat traffic Of the Hudson river
and Long Island sound for years, but in
short time, though he had less capital ne
drove them of these waters. He saw far
In advance of his time the results which
could be obtained from ocean steamers.
There were prosperous lines plying be-
tween New York and the isthmus of Pan
anna and the isthmus and the Pacific ports.
Their managers were conservative old
fashioned, old fogy and rich They looked
with amusement and amazement at this
adventurer In their domain who sinqly
and alone boldly challenged their suprem-
acy. Thirty years afterward 1 heard an
old merchant lamenting that the commo-
dore forced his company to sell out to him
its Atlantic line and pay him two-thirds
the profits on the Pacific to keep of that
ocean.
From Steamboats, TO Railroads.
His entry into the railway world was
the result Of the same foresight and wis