The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-05-20
Maxims from J. J. Hill.

ed, the other day, to speak about his
early struggles to succeed in life and
the things that had helped him. In
doing so he said he was moved largely
by the hope that his experience might
be the source from which some Of the
young people of America could draw
their Inspirations to mount the ladder
of life.
Briefly, Mr.. Hill asserts that condi-
tions today present more opportunities
for young men to acquire millions
than when he carved out his fortune {;
that, in his estimation, the Western
Hemisphere is entirely upon an era of
prosperity, in comparison with which
the big things of the industrial world
during the past decade will be the
merest pigmies, and that no boy need
feel that be is required to seek his for
tune beyond the confines of this coun-
try, since, in his judgment, the United
States will be the center Of the indus.
trial wave for some years to come.
"Give the rules which have govern
ed me in my life ? I can't say that I
have had any rules. I attribute 1t all
to work-and measure of good luck"
and Mr.. Hill smiled, as il be did not
take the "good luck" feature seriously.
"Let me see. This thing of laying
down 8 set of rules to govern ones
career, or to run back over a lifetime
of hard knocks. and say just what rule
contributed to my good fortune ia not
easy for me. In the first place, I was
born on q farm-a Canadian farm.
That was in 1888.
"This is a good beginning, for it
means q sound body as q rule. In
other words, it starts a chap right.
That's half of the battle; might say
it is everything, because bad start
means a big handicap in the race.
But as far as rules 60, would say
those that have helped me TO succeed
are: Work, hard work, intelligent
work, and then more work.
"a sound body and a sound miud !;
I had both of these, though I left
school when l43 years old, AND never
got time to see inside sch0Ol-house
again. An education, however, is in
dispensable. do not mean necessari-
ly college training. An education
comes frequently with contact with
the world studying conditions, life as
you see it.
Don't mortgage you future. Practic-
ally have an eye to securing the bene-
fits of what you earn. Look ahead to
the point where you are determined to
get into business for yourself. IF you
are not worth your hire you cannot be
hired, and If you can earn money for
another you can earn more for your
self.
"Be satisfied to start in small way.
Too many young men want to begin
to pile on before the foundation is
finished, and what they accumulate
they cannot retain. A slow beginning
makes permanent business.
."Be economical, but not penurious.
This is not distinction without a
difference. 1t is the distinction be-
tween the mind built on the broad
gauge and the narrow. 1t is the diff
| ference between great things and
! small things, between boundless sue
cess that sheds generous share of its
prosperity Oh the whole community
and q meagre competency that dis
tinguishes the miser from the man Of
affairs.
"Have confidence in your own fu-
ture and conditions generally. Men
prefer the optimist to the pe.simist.
The bright side Of things Is a view
that helps chap forward.
"Even if the worst occurs person
has more strength to meet it from hav-
ing taken complacent view OF the
situation. When fellow has put
forth his best efforts, been thoroug hly
alert, done the best he could, he has
: no room for worry.
"The selection of vocation is quite
important. My experience is that
those things are largely matters of
chance. 7 don't think I ever expect
ed as q young man to get into the
railroad business.
Having chosen profession, l do
not think young man is warranted
in sticking to it when he feels that he
is not fitted for it, or that he sees q
better opportunity to acquire wealth
in another direction.
II was first farmer, then a mer-
chants clerk, then a farmer, laborer,
a clerk, builder of steamboats,, con-
structor of railroads as sub-constrac-
tor, and then stockholder and
owner. So, again comes the question
of confidence in ones ability to discern
that which is best of him and to strive
for that regardless of opposition. In
other words, it Is the confidence that
enables the young man to take risks
without which great things can never
be accomplished.
"Perhaps you might accept these
outlines as the rules which / have OBJ.
served through life. The young man
should not make the mistake to day of
imagining that conditions are not as
| favorable as at any time in the past
century for the poor boy acquiring
wealth.
"The world is in it's infancy, espe-
cially the Western word. Industrial
development is just beginning. Agri-
culture, mining, contracting, shipping,
railroading, land speculating. mercan-
tile life and manufacturing offer every
! inducement for the ambitious youth
today to become man Of millions.
"Money is so plentiful that deter
mined boy of worth can borrow all he
needs. Bankers accept the element of
prospects in lending money as we'll as
ability to pay and there is no more
promising prospect of a monetary
value than youth, ambition and grit,
backed by Western intelligence.
Therefore, the way is, if anything,
more easy, that is, the way to the
top.
1.-THE real struggle is at the bottom.
There is where the ranks are crowded.
The fight is very fierce there. When
you begin to get away from the crowd
it is easier.