The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-08
The Boss and the PIutocrat-A STUDY
in Arrested Development.

Forty-four years ago Mr.. Andre
Freese, then principal of the Cieveland'
High School. began to keep a scrap book.
in which were preserved he most strik-
ing compositions OF promising boys
under his charge. From this collection the
New York World has extracted two
of the earliest essays known to have been
written by John D. Rockefeller and Mar
Gus A. Hanna. These compositions" are
now held up for an admiring public 20
read, in the light Of the subsequent
careers of their authors. Mr.. Hanna's
essay was on the subject of England and
the United States,' and Mr.. Roclsefeller's
on The Caracter of st. Patrick
Mr.. Hanna's remarks breathed a patriot
ism which was unsullied. and a spirit of
democracy which was without flaw. They
prove without a doubt that ne was a
well-brought-u boy. familiar with the
phrases and sentiments of the orthodox
Fourth of July orator, and anxious to
emulate that gentleman in the fervor Of
! eloquence of his diction and the patriotic
| enthusiasm Of his emotions. Considering
! his years, it must be admitted that the
young Marcus succeeded fairly well in his
| imitation. His essay follows:
ENGLAND AND THE UNITED STATES
''when we compare the respective standing Of
! these two great nations the point Of civiiza-
tion il would he difficult to give preference TO
either without weighing carefully their progress
I in the arts ard sciences. 'Tis true that England
has been for many years the unrivaled nation Of
the earth ibut the United States has been like 4
! soaring eagle. gradually but rapidly mounting
| on their upward fight to fame, md that she
| has reached exalted position in the eyes Of
the world. she sazes with indifference upon her
! mighty rival,
England saw too plainly the advantages Of a
/ free Republic and tried to nip it in the bud and
in that Way prevent the rapid progress of her col
! onies, but the American people had too clear a
! conception OF the advantages of free govern
! meut to be thus quietly held back from their
! rights and. with the immortal Washington at
| their head. they gained their liberty, though not
without many hard-fousht bartle. Tue
! United States. though their manufactures. when
! compared with those OF the mother country IS
yet in their infancy, furnish goods equal if
| not superior 10 those OF England.
I'm England the land is held by wealthy Lords
4 and mobiles who spend their time and money to
crafty their selfish desires, while hundreds
1 of the poorer classes struggling hard to gain
| a living and enduring all the privations that Pow
erty nhict. Not SO in the land of liberty.
| Here every man is free and all enjoy equal rights
and privileges and every honest and industrious
man can gain comfortable livelihood.
| "Why is il that many OF the subjects o!
| England and indeed, nearly every country are
| fccking to the American shores? Ii is because
| trey are forced 10 seek shelter from the iron
grasp Of despotism and continual life of bondage
| and suffering. and, knowing that America is an
| asylum for the oppressed, they hasten 10 place
| themselves under its protecting Well may
| the proud Peers OF England scratch their hrlds
| ami look grave they behold the upward flight
| of the proud eagle OF America, which, not con-
| tent with the common spirit Of the nation, is
! seeking wider field of glory.
and she now looks down from her pinnacle
Of fame with the utmost contempt upon the de-
| graded situation Of Despotism and tyranny"
! To the benighted Englishman who may
F, chance 10 peruse this essay, and in the
next newspaper column find an account Of
| the numerous strikes now taking place in
| this asylum for the oppressed, there may
seem to be a certain discrepancy between
| Mr.. Hauna's early teaching and his subsc-
quent business methods: between his dec
laration that 1.-The United States. though
their manufactures is yet in their infan-
| cy. can furnish goods equal II not superior
| to those Of England and his present adj
! hesiveness to principles which prohibit
free competition between the two nations
! Such contradictions between the moral
training Of the embryo citizen and the po-
UticaI methods OF the adult boss are indeed
calculated to make the proud Peers OF
England scratch their heads"
Not less instructive is Mr.. Rockefeller's
composition" 1t is not quite certain that
| the present oil king was inspired by the
| career OF st. Patrick TO devote a small
part Of his millions to the education Of
needy young men for the Baptist ministry
but the idea is not beyond the limits of
possibility. Here is his essay:
THE CHARACTER OF ST. PATRICK.
| ''The first account that history gives Of St.
| Patrick Is about the year four hundred and fifty.
| 1t is supposed BY historians that he native
| of France.
| In his youth he was carried to Ireland and
| afterward made slave. Here he occupied for
several years in keeping sheep. but he at length
made his escape uA sRp,ist hiussii very jill