The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-09-13
Farquhar On Success.

In a recent address on the subject OF
Success Mr.. A B. Farquhar. dealer IN
agricultural implements at WrlghtsyIlle.
Pa, and member of the National Manu-
facturers' Association, related some IN
teresting "reminiscences. He said:
I II decided when quite young to enter
upon business career. and recognizing
that the battle of life is hard one, that
every step of progress must be attained
by triumph over difficulties and that
thorough knowledge of the way was all
important. l visited New York, then as
now the commercial centre, in order to
interview the great financiers 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 l was very
much IN earnestly that l did succeed in
| seeing all on my list. The wealthy New
Workers of those days nearly half a CEN
fury ago, were w. b. Astor. A. T. 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.
i My first call was on Mr.. Aston. I
found him at 730 a. m hard at work in
shabby uptown office Git would be called
lar downtown now; succeeded in run
ming the gauntlet of his old clerk, stood
by his chair, until looking up, he snapped
out, We'll. boy, what do you want
!, answered briefly that 1 wished to know
how to make a million dollars After
staring at me moment he was apparent
ly satisfied of my sanity, and said; What
do you want million dollars for? To
, make yourself a miserable slave as am,
not a moments peace of mind night or
t day, always watching to keep some one
from stealing what l have or cheating me
, out of rent? You could not do a more
, absurd thing than make a milnon dollars
l 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
t 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
S ing his attention he was very courteous,
G and gave much useful advice telling me
: thoroughly to understand what / was
= engaged in. keep my whole mind on it,
G and try to do my work better than any
{ one else; in business to trust no one
= until l had investigated his credit; if
a found him energetic, persevering,
!, economical and temperate, with reasonable
: ability, 1 might pretty safely trust him,
5 and if I cultivated those qualities, should
t find that people would trust me. He
$ especially extolled economy as an essential
e to success adding that economy did not
e mean not spending, but spending to the
n best advantage, and wasting nothing.
c My next visit was to Mr. Stevens, OF
t the Bank of Commerce; a lovely old
e gentleman. He told me he did not know
S much about making money, only about
: taking care Of it, but he gave me a let.
a ter OF introduction to Mr.. Coe, a rising
t young financier. This gentleman received
n me as a brother, inviting me to meet his
:, bank board at the close OF its session
) when he introduced me to the several
/ members. / met there Mr.. Cisco and
l Mr.. Pascault among others, and received
a many valuable suggestions. One Old gen.
} tleman-I did not learn his name-plac
I ing his hand on my shoulder, said:
v Young man. wealth consists in char
n acter You must necessarily keep your
5 own company as long as you live That
d company is in your control Have it the
Il best, keep it pure; be a gentleman al
ways, honorable, honest, frank. manly;
~ .
n joyments intelhgently. You say you love
q books. That Is well. Never value dol
(, lar above book The love of reading j.
l. the greatest blessing that can come tc
a man, especially when he grows old
e What he had said made lasting i'm.
q PRESTON.
Il The next morning at about I called
o at the office of the Herald and saw Mr.
= Bennett. l shall never forget that inter
q view Looking at me intently for a mo
N ment, he said: Have you had your
$ breakfast My reply was negative H,
II answered: L thought as much: no one
l. should go out before breakfast; he cam
e do himself justice on an empty stomach
e Go across to the Aston House and ge
yourself a good breakfast, and when yor
e come back l will talk to you l won
i derlngly followed his advice. When
q returned he said: Now, you look bet
e ter. am very busy man If you arr
q not you ought to be, and my advice viii
u be short The most important thing in
q this world is to take care of your health
a You can store up your health as you dc
y a bank account If you have good health
S you can do far more work and do it bet
/ ter than your neighbors without it.
/ owe my success to my good health more
}. than anything else"