The record-union., 1897-07-18


why did you not inform your peo-
pie OF the accident" Because |
thought I would come here and get
my arm fixed knew if I went home
that they would send for you, and so
1 came right here to save time L
held the upper arm at the elbow while
the painful operation of setting was
I performed There was a slight tremor
of pain as the surgeon drew the arm
into line in the operation of replace
ment, but no outcry.
When the operation was completed,
and the boy sent home, the surgeon
told me that he was Fred Crocker, the
son of Charles Crocker. In this in
cident. there are many indications Of
| character which identify the boy with
the rnaa,-the quiet undemonstrative
endurance, the self-reliance, the plain
common sense view of the whole sit
uation. the consideration of the ques-
tion-what was the right thing to be
+ done, and the immediate action when
the conclusion of the proper action was
reached. In school, in business. in the
domestic circle, in friendship, in short
in all the relations OF life, these traits
have been manifest.
below the medium hight, with full,
round form. which conferred the ap-
pearance of robust health and vigor
His manner was deliberate and readily
invited confidence. His method of con-
versatiOn was unrestrained, easy and
free of ostentation. His methodical
habits of business were suggested by
the obviously careful arrangement of
J 1,te- 11a
choice of words he never accepted that
proffered by his auditor, but proceeded
with his own selection and when it was
put forth the auditor perceived that
the hesitation was not the result of
! seach for a missing word. but rather
| the deliberate choice between many
words nearly synonymous in the mind.
Mr.. Crocker was we'll informed upon a
| great variety of topics. His taste in
reading ran in the line of history, es-
! say and cOntemporaneOus literature. 1t
was one of the charms of conversation
with him that his opinions were origi
| nal and real. This is referable in part
| to the absence of those attributes of
! character which constitute the politi-
/ clan. He was not assailed by politi
! cal ambition. His opinions We're there
q
He was particularly familiar with the
political issues Of his own country and
the leading ones of the world He
would have achieved a high degree of
political success with great facility
Real influence resides in character The
/ faculty of attracting and holding the
! confidence Of the masses of men has it's
root in the stability of friendship and
I hn nnFafi ,I1if Af 20
possess instinctively a knowledge of
what some men may do under stated
circumstances and there is no devia-
tion of confidence from real integrity
and high purpose.
In thus retracing briefly the career of
a young man born to fortune the writer
is not unconscious of its departure
from the monotonous features of
American biography. Nearly all of our
countrymen who have achieved sufti-
cient eminence TO justify the presenta-
tion of biographical sketches to the
public have arisen from obscurity. The
early disadvantages of our great men
is the favorite theme of the eulogist
! The contrast between the poverty and
the obscurity in which their young life
was passed and the ultimate eminence
achieved by them is constantly dwelt
upon. We share in the admiration for
men who by the force of manly char
acter have raised themselves from the
obscuring levels of our common hu-
manity to the SUBMITS of true great
ness. We share in the proud admiration
i for the broad liberality of American in
stitutiOns which interpCse no obstacle
to the achievement of the highest dis
tinction of every field of human ac-
tivity. At the same time it should not
be forgotten that it is less difficult to
acquire self-reliance and strongly in
dividualized character in the school
where necessity is master than to ac-
/ quire the more solid elements of manli-
ness against the demOraliZing tenden-
cies of great riches. The way from
poverty to wealth is much easier than
| from wealth to substantial character
| The philosopher who said that men ac-
quire wisdom in solitude but character
in the stream of life has furnished a
key to the success of men of eminence
whose lives had their source in poverty
| and obScurity. Necessity confers self
| reliance, concentration and earnestness
| of purpose. The man whose bOyhood
was passed amid the diScomforts, the
| apprehensions and even the terrors of
poverty may readily refer the strength
and tenacity of his character to its
| formative influence. Even the natural
affections of the poor boy are power
fully enlisted on the side of his deter
mination to rise from conditions which
| offend every aspiration from the COM
mOnest ambition to the dearest affec-
| tion the human heart can know. When
/ life begins in a complete competency
| or in great wealth there is no spur of
necessity to prick the ambition of aim
less eXertion. The history of a thousand
distinguished men proves that poverty
is the great cos structor Of character
| while wealth is its most insidious de-
| stroyer. The consciousness that the
means Of the qualification of every de-
sire are practically limitless has the
poison of surfeit, and the possessor of a
| great fortune in youth is beset by the
danger of morbid tendencies. The am
| bition to acquire a competency is most
| worthy. and If the most honorable
place in life is in the ranks OF honest
industry the most honorable place in
these ranks belongs to him who. stand
ing shoulder to shoulder with his fell
iow-men in the great industrial army,