The Indianapolis journal., 1903-09-06

of those days, nearly half a century ago,
were w. B. Astor, A T. Stewart, the
great dry goods merchant; Commodore
Vanderbilt and James Gordon Bennett.
founder and editor of the Herald. l had
also list of able financiers-John j.
Cisco, subtreasurer; Pascauit, president OF
the Board of Brokers; Stevens president
of the Bank of Commerce; George ;. Coe,
president Of the American Exchange Bank,
and others. L saw all of them before re-
turning.
My first call was on Mr. Astor. found
him at 1880 a. m. hard at work In shabby
uptown Office Qt would be called far down.
town now; succeeded in running the gaunt-
let of his old clerk, stood by his chair, until,
looking up, he snapped out, well boy,
what do you want?' L answered briefly that
/ wished to know how TO make a million
dollars. After staring at me moment
and said: What do you want million
dollars for? To make yourself a miserable
slave as L am, not a moments peace OF
mind night or day, always watching 20
keep someone from stealing what l have
cheating me out of rent? You could
not do a more absurd thing than make a
million dollars; but il you are determined
spend nothing, and you will be rich before
you know it, This is about all / learned
from him that i 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 me much useful advice, telling me
thoroughly TO understand what i was en-
gagged in. keep my whole mind on ii, and
try to do my work better than any one
else in business TO trust no one until i
energetic, preserving, economical and tenn
perato, with reasonable ability, L might
pretty safely trust him, and II cultivated
those qualities, L should find that people
would trust me. He especially extolled
economy as an essential to success, adding
that economy did not mean not spending.
but spending to the best advantage, and
wasting nothing.
NV next visit was to Mr. Stevens of
the Bank of Commerce, love.y old gen
tleman. He told me he did not know much
about making money, only about taking
PRODUCTION to Mr.. Coe, rising young fnan-
cier. This gentleman received me as a
brother, inviting me to meet his bank
board at the close of its session, when he
introduced me to several members. L met
there Mr.. Cisco and Mr.. Pascault among
others, and received many valuable sug-
gestions. One old gentleman did not
learn his name-placing his hand on my
shoulder, said: Young man, wealth con-
sists i'm character. You must necessarily
keep your own company as long as you i've.
That company is In your own control. Have
it the best; keep II pure; be gentleman
always, honorable, honest frank, manly;
do not waste your time: take your enjoy
books. books That Is We'll Never value a dollar
above a book The love OF reading is the
greatest blessing that can come TO a man,
especially when he grows Old What he
had said made a lasting impression.
1.-The next morning at about 1 called at
the Office of the Herald and saw Mr.. Ben
nett. 1 shall never forget that interview.
Looking at me intently for moment, he
said: Have you had your breakfast? My
reply was negative. He answered: i
thought much; no one should go out
before breakfast; he can't do himsef JUS
tice on an empty stomach. Go across to
the Astor House and get yourself good
breakfast and when you come back 1 will
talk to you / wonderingly followed his
advice. When 1 returned he said: Now
you look better. / am very busy man.
If you are not, you ought to be, and my
advice will be short. The most important
thing in this world is to take care of your
health. You can store up your health
as you do a bank account. If you have
good health you can do far more work
and do it better than your neighbors with
out it. owe my success to good health
more than anything else"