The evening times., 1898-12-16
FRIDAY, DECEMBER ls, 1898.
Successful Americans.

The career of the late Calvin s br ce
is another proof that American inst tu-
tions serve their best end in giving 10
every individual an opportunity to devel-
op according TO his capacity and ambi-
tion. No place is too high TO be reach d
by any child born in this country who
has the natural qualities TO fill it. Ex-
Senator Brice was the son of count
preacher, a man without wealth or those
family connections and influences IN t
count for 50 much in the career of the
European, and without which the road
TO prominence is almest impas abe I, ere.
Young Brice entered the public scroos,
which Ohio was the first to deal with IN
a generous spirit, and at an "a ly e
was admitted to the then small Mi ami
University. Possessing good, but not
obviously brilliant, mind he made MS
WAY by hard work and unwaver-ng tel-
acity. He formed distinct purpose $
10 his own education, and followed it
with fidelity. his industry being matter
OF comment among his fellows. With
this preparation. which is far be,ow what
is attainable now in the higher inst tu-
tions of learning he entered into The pro-
fcss,on of the law His was nat d fev T.
ish. biting ambition, but only s-egdy
purpose TO make the best OF ali his
chances. He had TO support h ms5H as
he could during the time he was eng d
in tie study of the law and in The lgng
period Of waiting for clients 50 well re-
membered by most of the men who aIe
H.
school now and then. and did whatever
he could that would not inteI fer vi
his advancement as a lawyer. His op-
portunity came with his employ ne t
In The Office Of a railway sol ci,or. F.om
that on his progress was in his own
hands.
1t was in his schooldays that his for
tune was realty determined. The spi it
which he cultivated then the e3ucat on
OF circumstances which b gan with The
primary school the acquisition Of hab-
its of Industry, prepared him to take
the fullest advantage of the chances al
come to ALL but which so many are not
ready TO accept. In his day any young
man Of ordinary capacity. with his train
ing and habits. could reach the same
goal. ii was in line with his methods Of
living to master the details of whatever
business he might be connected wi h. II
was mere accident that it was rail-
road business If it had been merla ltile
he would have succeeded, though not o
richly, because its rewards are less. II
was a matter OF coure that an enter
prising, well-informed, careful and sensi-
ble young man of his ci-cums iances
should see the way to become rich and
powerful
The large fortunes which have been
won from railroad enterprises are not to
be gained now or in the future. The
time was propitious, and the original
Vanderbilt and Gould and others achiey-
ed what the shrewdest of fnanciers must
hope for in vain. But anybody can make
the best Of his talents-any body can sue
ceed who has the habits of Mr. Br.ce and
is not the victim of q special misfortune.
The really great men OF America have
been indebted to the opportunity our n
stitutions afford for individual develop
ment, and to the early struggles that
form the habit of overcoming obStac es.
Any young man in America may become
anything he chooses to be If he is not
untitled for il by natural incapacity. He
has simply to bend all his energios to
fitting himself to welcome his chances as
they come. 1t is not that he accumulat I'd
an enormous fortune that makes Mr.
Brice noteworthy, but simply that he
realized his ambition. That Of othe S
may be something else than large fo--
tune. and il may be more commendable;
but the point is that here there are no in
surmountable artificial barriers in the
way Of any American who resolves to
succeed