The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-10-12


ards OF living by originating enterprises
and developments which give to thousands
new occupations and larger returns for
khnir lnhor
Commodore Vanderbilt is n conspicuous
example of the product and possibilities of
our free and elastic conditions. His father
was small farmer with large family,
and 1t became necessary for tho 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 md labor half
his life in tho effort to pay off the mort.
gage. But ho knew of some and read Of
many who from the same beginnings had
become successful In business. Hc was
healthy and strong. His mother had con-
nrmed him In good habits and principles.
He had little education, but q marvelously
clear head and sound Judgment. At 10,
borrowing 800 from his mother, he began
the battle Of lifo, and he died the richest
man in the world, with tho reputation of
having mado more money than was ever
before accumulated In single life. Ho
had an e1haustless capital Of courage and
common sense. His motto wns simple
and straightforward, like every act In tho
wonderful drama of which he was tho
chief actor. what other men have done
! can do" WAS the handspring Of his exer-
tions. *-+
a Life of Warfare,
For CO years Commodore Vanderbilt
was in perpetual warfare Ho neither
asked nor gave quarter Tho 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 kcenest competition and tho
earnest rivalry of able and ambitious op-
ponents met him at every step in his career.
Wary adycrsaries were watching for weak
moss 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.
It is not just to judge men by arbitrary
standards. A few broad rules are applica-
Iblo to ull, and after that there must bo
grcat liberality. Tho preacher, the teach
er, tho politician, the professional nan,
She soldier, the uian OF business, may each
think the other to have lived IL narrow or
luscless life. Wc must estimate tho career
and work of Cornelius Vanderbilt upon
principles which are common to very few.
Hc was much more than II lneIe money
maker. Ho delighted In money making
but, like all Iuustorfrl men, ho loved pow
ar. Ho said to me, II sometimes do
foolish thing, knowing 1t Is foolish just to
prove that con nuke cvon u foolish move
ment successful. Flo invested his 500 In
q little eailboat, or perlagua, to carry pms
sengcrs between Staten Island and New
York on II firslghted Judgment that there
WAS u public demand for better service be.
tween these points. It was this Instinct
or insight which nado him rcsistloss In
ooanpetitiyo business. Old and Experienced
masters Of transportation had controlled
the steamboat traffic of tho Hudson river
and Long Island sound for years. but In q
abort tlme though hc had less capital, no
drove them off these waters. He saw far
IN advance OF his time tho results which
could bo obtained from ocean steamers.
There were prosperous lines plying bo-
twcen New York and the isthmus Of Pan
ANA and tho isthinus and tho Pacific ports.
r.heir aanagurs Wero conservative old
fashioned, old fugy and rich. They looked
with amusement ard a1nAZsment at this
adventurer In tLelr domain who singly
and alone boldly Challenged their s,,prUm.
aoy, Thirty years aftorward heard an
old merchant lniaentinS that tho oomlrlo-
doro forced his company TO sell ont to him
Ats Atlantic limo and pay him two thirds
the profits on the PacI1lo to keep on that
ocean.
From Steamboats, to Railroads.
His untry into the railway world was
thu result OF tho sanlc foresight aid wis