Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-09-02
Once a Power i'm Politics,
Turned His Talents to Bush
ness and Is Successful.
A Poor Irish Lad, Who Came Ia
This Country Alone When
But Fourteen.
MAYOR OF new YORK FOR TWO TERMS

Henry Irving Dodge contributes to
Success a very interesting story of the
wonderful career of poor Irish boy now
know to fame as William X. Grace, ex-
Mayor of New York, and one of the
greatest business men of America. MIR.
Dodge says:
Today the ships of w. r. Grace and
Company are known all over the globe.
They do the greater part OF the carrying
trade between the United States and the
west coast OF South America. The dis
lance covered by one of the firms steam
ers on a regular, scheduled "round y
voyage is equal to the girth of the world.
The complete revolution of what might
be called the American intercontinental
trade is due to the brain and daring of
this remarkable man. l say daring"
because many of the enterprises in which
he has engaged were dazzling in their
financial magnitude, and involved the
exercise of almost incredible courage.
But it is a characteristic of Mr.. Grace
that nothing is too big for him to under
take, so long as he has faith in it, and
his faith is not lightly won. Results OF
unreasonable consequence to the whole
commercial world have been attained by
a man who, fifty-three years ago. landed
in New York without money and friends;
and who, at that time, little dreamed that
lie would be twice Mayor of the leading
liz. - tt,a XNaetar, Ha,,;ephara. although
even then, his ambitions seem to have
been almost Napoleonic. Some men &C
quire large fortunes in extremely narrow
channels, and are little known and of
little benefit TO the world at large. Mr..
Grace was actuated by the ambition not
only to acquire wealth, but to be great
broad influence in the commercial world.
lie has won both, and today is the
most influential figure in the commerce
between the two American continents.
Mr.. Grace is sixty-seven years old, and
comes of highly respectable Queens
County ireland family. His father lost
a part of his fortune in Venezuela dur
ing the early part of this century, and SC
the lad, like many American boys, while
of frst-class antecedents, started with an
empty purse.
AS a boy, Mr.. Grace was very ambi
tious, and ran away from home wher
ouly fourteen. He came over here anc
knocked about for awhile, doing any
thing he could. He recollects at one
time, during his first stay in the United
States, boarding with a shoemaker, work
ing for printer, and, in fact, turning
his hand to anything that was reputable
and at all renunerative. The possibili
ties of a serious career did not weigi
very heavily upon him at that time, Blu
he was greatly impressed with the oppor
tunities that were offered to young MAJ
who was willing to grasp them. After
stay of few years young Grace returned
to the old country, and through tn
financial aid of his sister he went t.
Callao, Peru.
An incident that happened within
few days after his arrival in Peru per
haps helped a great deal to form hi
principles. There was an argument Il
progress one evening between som
American and English sailors. Sailors
arguments, at that time, were grea
deal as they are today-that is they usu
ally wound up with fsticuffs. Tn
Americans seemed to be getting tn
worst of it, and Grace pitched in an
helped them, with the result they carrie
the day. But when he got to his ROOF
that night he made up his mind firml
that it was not to mix i'll sailors Draw
that he had come to Peru, nor to wasi
his time as he saw the majority OF III
foreign residents doing; and this, b
says, formed one of the principles he ht
always followed since, that is, that sticl
to-it-iveness, or industry and strict
tention to the main object in life, wha
ever that may be, would bring success.
Almost anybody who followed the'
principles in Peru at the time he wei
there, so he says, would have been su
cessful, because opportunities were nj
merous, and il needed only man wi
could catch an opportunity quickly di
pose of it, and be on the lookout all Il
time for others.
Shortly after young Grace reacht
Peru he obtained clerkship in shi
ping house of fair standing, and within
short time became a member OF q
firm, and later secured control OF
From this house the firm Of Grace Brot
ers and Company finally grew, attainil
one of tile most prominent positions
any of the houses, of whatever nations
ity, in Peru. Mr.. Grace spent a gre
deal OF his time travelling in the intere'
of his business, to which he was alwa
very attentive, and finally, when bis !
sition in Peru was assured, he conclud
to make New York the base OF his 'ope'
tons. and to enter into the trade ire