The farmer and mechanic., 1903-09-15
Farquhar On Success.

Farquhar On Success.
In a recent address on the subject OF
Success Mr.. a B. FarQuhar, dealer IN !
agricultural implements at Wrightsville |
Pa, and member OF the National Manu-
tacturers' Association related some IN
tercStng "reminiscences. He said:
Il decided when quite young to enter
upon a business career, and recognizing
j that the battle of life Is a hard one, that
every step Of progress must be attained
/ by triumph over difficulties and that q
thorough knowledge OF the way was all
important. | visited New York, then as
now the commercial centre, in order to
interview the great fnanciers there, and
to learn what l could from them It did
not enter my head that any of them
would refuse to the sublime assurance Of
youth and my earnestness (for | was very
much IN earneSt) that | did succeed IN
seeing all on my list. The wealthy New
Workers OF those days nearly half CEN
tury ago. We're w b. Astor A. I. Stew
art the great dry goods merchant; Com
modore Vanderbilt and james Gordon
Bennett, founder and editor Of the Her
aid | had also a list Of able financiers-
john j. Cisco. sub-treasurer: Pascault,
president OF the Board of Brokers: Ste
Vens, president of the Bank of Commerce.
George S. Coe. president Of the American
Exchange Bank, and others. l saw them
, all before returning.
My first call was on Mr.. Astor I
found him at 7:30 a. m hard at work IN
shabby uptown office cit would be called
lar downtown noW); succeeded in run
, ning the gauntlet Of his old clerk, stood
by his chair, until, looking up, he snapped
out, "Well. boy, what do you want
answered briefly that | wished to know
how to make a million dollars. After
; staring at me a moment he was apparent
~ satisfied of my sanity, and said: What
Go you want a million dollars for? To
, make yourself miserable slave as 1 am
not moments peace of mind night or
day always watching to keep some one
from stealing what 1 have or cheating me
out of rent? You could not do a more
absurd thing than make a million dollars;
but if you are determined on it. my ad-
vice would be, work hard and spend moth
ing, and you will be rich before you
! know it. This is about all | learned from
: him that l remember
My next call was upon the great mer-
chant, Mr.. Stewart. He was difficult of
access, but when 1 succeeded in attract
! ing his attention he was very courteous,
and gave much useful advice telling me
thoroughly to understand what 1 was
engaged in, keep my whole mind on it,
and try to do my work better than any
enc else; IN business to trust one
: until / had investigated his credit; If
found him energetic, persevering,
= economical and temperate, with reasonable
ability, | might pretty safely trust him,
e and if | cultivated those qualities l should
find that people would trust me. He
: especially extolled economy as an essential
y to success, adding that economy did not
y mean not spending, but spending to the
best advantage, and wasting nothing.
My next visit was to Mr.. Stevens, of
/ the Bank of Commerce: a lovely old
{ gentleman. He told me he did not know
much about making money only about
Z taking care Of it, but he gave me a let
{ ter OF Introduction to Mr.. Coe, a rising
: young financler This gentleman received
II me brother, inviting me to meet his
{ bank board at the close of its session
II when he introduced me to the several
:, members. [ met there Mr.. Cisco and
= Mr.. Pascault among others, and received
y many valuable suggestions. One old gen
-S tleman-I did not learn his name-plac
II ing his hand on my shoulder, said:
e Young man, wealth consists in char
u acter. You must necessarily keep your
! own company as long as YOU live That
1 company is in your control Have it the
= best, keep it pure; be 4 gentleman al
y ways, honorable, honest frank, manly
do not waste your time; take your en-
n joyments inteligently. You say you love
e. books That is well. Never value a dol
ID lar above u book The love of reading i
r the greatest blessing that can come t.
n man, especially when he grows old
or What he had said made a lasting i'm
Z. pressioin.
ID THE next morning at about 1 calleC
ot at the office of the Herald and saw Mr.
1t Bennett. l shall never forget that inter
re view. Looking at me intently for a mo
re ment he said: Have you had you
at breakfast?' My reply was negative H
I answered: L thought as much no on
I'd should go out before breakfast: he can
w DO himself justice on an empty stomach
"a Go across to the Astor House and ge
1 yourself good breakfast, and when yo,
p come back l will talk to you 1 won
IN deringly followed his advice. When
to returned he said Now, you look bet
as ter | very busy man. If you ar
e. not you ought to be, and my advice wi
sy be short. The most important thing j
ch this world is to take care of your health
You can store up your health as you q
~ a bank account. If you have good healt
or you can do far more work and do it be-
ba ter than your neighbors without it.
be owe my success to my good health MOI
as than anything else
ed
of WHAT IS LIFE?