The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-10-24
Pluck Not Luck.
How a Southern Boy Rose to Emil
nent Success in the Business
World by His Own Energy and In
tegrity- Opportunities for Young
Men Never Greater Than Today.
Manufacturers record.

Manufacturers Heeord.
Eight years ago a Southern boy
10 years OF age, whose mother had
struggled to give him a fair educa-
ton, went to New York ard secured
IL position at about $S IL week involvl
ing the superintendence OF laborers |
putting down pipes in the streets. |
Notwithstanding the expense OF liv- |
ing in New York, this boy paid his
way, putting up with many incon-
veniences and hardships, and found
time to devote many hours to study.
He determined to know everything
that could be learned out Of books
about the line of work in which he
was then employed. He was at the
bottom OF the ladder, but he deter
mined to REACH the top, ii study and
: efficiency could accomplish the result!
Unaided. with no backing except his
. own honesty, sobriety and devotion
1 to his work, he spent his evenings I'D
; the libraries of New York fitting hln-
: self by constant study for whate1rr
!, higher position there might possibly
r be ahead of him. 1t was but short
: time before his efficiency brought a
: voluntary offer OF an increase OF sal
2 ary to 81, 200 year. When he had
e been connected with this one COM
+ pany for four years the general 81
perintendent, who was managing the
q lconstruction of the largest plant ol
n Its kind in the world, involving the
A. expenditure of a great many millions
OF dollars, resigned to take position
+, elsewhere He was asked to nnd
I successor, and he recommended this
Young Southern man, then 20 years
of age. The owner said he was too
Young to be given such responsibility
but the superintendent said he kne"
m more about the business and wa
No more fitted to handle it than an
other man in the concern. Ana so
. 23 he was advanced ana give
charge of the construction OF III
great plant and his salary advance
to $1,000 a year. A year or tw
tllater one of the great manufacturlh
.E | concerns of the country which SUI
ed piled a large part OF the material Il
the construction OF this plant l,
came 50 much impressed With II
,e business ability and efficiency of I'd
- younr man that after conslaefaD
- persuasion they induced him TO
~ sign and take entire naanageme1t
. their concern, which employs oy
l 900 skilled mechanics and CARR
A. on large business operations throug
ont This country and abroad, offerll
him as an inducement salary
$4,000 a year and an interest
the business At 27 years OF age,
EIGHT wears after he left his Southe
onize home. with no equipment except
vice. gOO0 cHdfdCIei anu %
hairs cation, this young man is partner
tary. one of the most important buslnt
houses of the country, managing
TT great operations and oulloihs
himself not only fortune, ouO
. name for uprightness, integrity a a
honor, which is above all price
'o,r mother who struggled in his ca
rT life to provide for him such edu'
81 tiona! opportunities as he had L,
Dox finds in this boy devotion TO J.,
let and his brothers and sisters equal
r. strength to the character when
.AJ has displayed in the development
The Manufacturers Record t
90 tbis story without using names
n order to emphasize the fact that
It'll aciency honor and dsvotl9n 1sward and to fi
wise to point to the fact that
,o NJ. case but illustrates that the opl
pepsia: tunities for young men were ht
nsc'ss ss; Xss Greater than today. People
49, about the lack of opportunity az
emocR shocRR the inability of Young men to hno
direct yancement unless Dackeu ny We
sQsfss. : %iss and nd powerful friends. but this IS
ple. no oud if is but an ILLUSTRATION VI
be had. +hors DroveS that Op
ess. bad dredS Oh OVheio, ~ ,::t ,,d
Shoops tunitieS are without llLHll anu
r eSs.F. sSsI. the boys own character is wort
~ the M struggle for advancement,
more than money or rich friend
"a whom to rely.