The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-02-15

Laneasfer Pa.l Ezaminer.


Every now and then we read Of some man who
has been appointed to high position, and who
began life as poor boy. This provokes the
query whether boy now has as good chance
to make successful career as formerly. Among
the personal news items of the papers is record
ed the appointment Of Thomas B. Mcdonnell to
succeed the late Alonzo Wygant as general SUI
perintendent Of the fifth division of the United
States Express Company. That is. Mr.. McDon-
nell viii have charge of the company's large
business in and about Chicago and on all the
lines Of the Chicago. Milwaukee and st. Paul
railway.
Only thirty-hve years ago Mr. Mcdonnell was
a wagon boy. was paid few dollars per week
to carry parcels in and out of houses and run
little errands. From time to time he was pro-
NOTED for faithful service TIL now he is near the
top rounds Of employment BY his corporation
His is typical and not exceptional case, and
refutes the assumption that the conditions of
American life at present have so changed that
boys who begin at the foot Of the ladder have
not the "chance'' as in former days to live life
leading to material success.
In the face Of visible facts such an assumption
Is ludicrous. There is scarcely q business house
in any town or large city where there are not
men in the highest positions who began as Office
boys or in the humblest places There are great
newspaper men who began life as messenger
boys or devils, and rose through various stages
from copy holder to managing editor or editor
in-chief. 1t is all simply question Of charac
ter. faithfulness, native ability, industry and
not "luck" or chance" or mere favoritism.
The fact is. the opportunity for the poor boy
was never greater than now. "Chance" need
not be looked for. Itcomes to every lad There
never was time when the managers of great or
small concerns we're more watchful to discover
the boy who promises to be man Of character
and ability. In every line of trade. business or
zaaahnniaal- art assistants are being looked for
who can be relied upon to do their work with in
telligence and fidelity. If boy cannot get a
place and work himself up at our present stage
of industrial development it Is his own fault.
If such were not the case business would be q
sort of pastime. Andrew Carnegie succeeded so
immensely because he had the fortune to dis
cover the young men he needed. Three-fourths
of his business cares were in searching for the
promising young man. What is true in the case
of Carnegie is true now of every man at the head
of vast corporations or private business.
Industry. frugality, fidelity. zeal to under
stand what is to be done, readiness to do it, pa
tience to wait the call to the larger task. Guilt
walton of knowledge how to deal rightly with
emergencies, and courage in dealing with them
when they arise-these are the qualities that
give the poor boy his chance as In the past
these are the qualities that win material success.
And because the tasks are larger and the
wealth to be won or lost in them greater than
ever before. the poor boys chance was never
bigger than it is today. All he has to do is to be
worthy of it and take it when it comes.