Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-02-05
A. H. REvsLi, the SELF.MADE MAN

Alexander II. Rcvcll. the newly elect |
"a President of the Union League Gun.
has had an interesting career. The |
story of his life is one that should make |
me pulses Of every American boy beat
nigh with ambition and hope.
lie was born In January. 1858. In
ISIS he laid the foundation for an I'm.
ncnse and profitable business. starting
with a capi,al of $500. the result Of two
years savings. In January. 1S!'S. he Is
elected President of the Union League
Club Of Chicago. probably the most In
fiueraal club In the United States.
Mr.. Revell Is a typical Chicago bust.
moss man. He Is not only that. but he
is thinker. Il reader. and II student OF
civic affairs. His election rs President
of the Union League Club insures a
policy Of vigOr and Of stirring cnthusi.
asm.
lie IL a man Of broad sympathy. AZ
minated in his address. his admins.
,raaion will not be marked by narrow
partisanshlp. The Union League Club,
by its articles Of association. stands
committed ITO secure honesty and ef.
Lclency IN the administration Of nation.
al. State and municipal Affairs" Mr..
NevcIl's career gives ample assurance
that this tenet of faith will not he ne.
elected In club activities. He has re-.
peatetily devoted his time and talents
IN the interest Of good national and mu.
nicipal government. and has stcatlfast.
IS declined public recognition or re.
ward therefor.
Alexander Rcvell has an immense
fund Of energy. hut It Is not bustling.
schcming and feverish energy. He IL
% quiet man. He sits anu thinks and
smokes. His face II full Of repOse. He
does not hurry. He never hurr!es his
| clerks. lie even neglccts to punch up
| the messenger boy.
Twenty-Five years Of strenuous nc-
tivlsy have left him a splendid ply
| siQuc. There II not gray thread In
his hair nnh beard. Mr.. Revell. how.
ever. II still a hard worker. lie reaches
his office at $40 In the morning and
rarely leaves before 5:3O In the after.
noon. With all his multifarlOns inter
ests he finds time for reading. lie
has a fine library In his home on the
North Side ana not book In 1t hns
been bought for show. II II said thu:
he spends more time In u certain Wa
bash avenue book store than any Other
business man In Chicago. He IL fond
rs every book lover II, Of scanning
the table for new matter or for hand
some editions Of favOrite authors
Even his business office betrays hi'
literary taste. for the walls IRE huni
with portraits Of the poets. In reading
his preference II for history M,
poetry.
MI. Rcvel has travelled extensively
having vet foot In every quarter Of TIL
globe. He IN an athlete. member o
the Chicago Athletic club, an excellen
boxer, and a good swimmer. His var
led tastes include love for Milltar,
affairs, and he has carried a rife u
Company d, First regiment, ]. n. q
He was formerly president Of til
Marquette club. During the World
Fair his position ~ director and chail
man OF the committee on publicity an
promotion Identified him closely wit
the success Of that undertaking.
He IL a member OF the board Of tru'
tees ut the Northwestern universit!
sunday morning finds him always
7. his pew ut church with his family. ]
1880 he married Miss Maude Richar,
son, daughter Of Samuel II. Rlchar'
son. He has two children, Alexand'
II. and Margaret, aud lives In a ple'
sant hsme on the North Side.
Mr.. Revell IL Il popular man. II
always has a hearty handshake for h
friends. He IL kindly and genial, al
enjOys.a Joke. He remembers O
days, ana has a warm place In h
heart for young man who has b
fortune TO make. His face II un,lsua
1t il gentle, and It il strong. His mil
blue eyes, Quixxical and kind, offs
his stubborn chin. He has a Roma
nose. His hair and heard are sur
and bright brown. His hands are g
tremely well shaped, but large, al
d eloquent Of the days when he drove
wagon and handled boxes Of freigi
His manner Is markedly unassumiI
and frank. He talks slowly, and thin
twice before answering questions. II
HuguenOt blood of the sixteenth &C
fury that thought no sacrifice too gre
for principle, shrewd Irish wit, al
American pluck, have united In 4
character OF the Union Leagues YOU
leader.
Mr.. Revell has both ends Of lrelal
In his constitution. His mother w
from the south aud his father from I
north Of the island. Mr.. Revell hims'
- a ChlcagOan. He was born In II
city, not far from where the Uni
League Club now stands. His fath'
David James Revell. cane to this coi
try from Belfast, Ireland, In the eai
W los. Up TO the time Of the great II
W IN 1871 Mr.. Revell led the happy u
Of the ordinary boy. His father he
n grocery store, and dealt consideral
in real estate. The family was in 90
Portable circumstances, The bye;
old son attended the Jones school u
engaged In an occasional lark. He W
not what the older people called
steady boy
a. He was Industrious and quick, but
had no particular love for school.