The San Francisco call., 1909-09-05

~ OVERTY is prison while you are in it, and
j bessing-disguised- you have escaped
- from it. Given choice most of US would
prefer to be born with golden spoon
Nevertheless the trite fact that the men OF
of the copybook sayings, and which history is
constantly repeating. Sef-made men are as common
today as in the time OF the first Astor, and for the
most part they recall with pride what they endured
at the outset OF successful 1t is the fault of
the reader If the story proves improbable.
clerkship in a country store, the smaller and
more remote the store the better, has been very
common stepping stone among successful merchants.
One who reads the biographies of the great merchant
princes of the country almost convinced that
is greatly handicapped who has not day swept
out one of these modest establishments. John Arch
bold of Standard oil fame conspicuous example of
this numerous company Born of Scotch parents in
Steubenville, o. about GO ago, young Archbold
found himself while boy face face with a
very practical question. He had received school
ing in Titusville Pa Without capital or friends in
the great outside world who might assist him his
opportunities naturally limited From the very
first his ambition enter trade, His work in
the country first of the humblest nature,
as that of boys in country is likely be. His
genius even in such boundaries soon asserted
Itself and he was rapidly advanced.
Meanwhile his Scotch thrift had led him to amass
when oil was struck in this region young Archbold
invested his savings in the oil fields and made money
from the first His capital and his influence grew
rapidly. The grocery store abandoned.
When the Rockefellers came to absorb the small
dealers throughout Pennsylvania Archbod's interests
large enough their attention, while his
record recommended him man worth having
among their forces Archbolds rise within the great
trust has been phenomenal Today his great wealth
and influence in many lines of activity and his many
benefactions charity and education have made his
name familiar the world over
VREELAND A GROCERS BOY
Herbert Harold Vreeland, president of the Metro
politan street railway company of New York, a
congeries of companies that he largely nstrumen
tal in uniting and converting to the most modern
system of electric traction is fond of telling how he
rose from the ranks. He was the son of preacher
poor, of course-n the Mohawk valley the educa-
ton he get from schools was practically over
at Is. when he started driving grocers wagon His
first railroad job loading gravel construction
trains of the Lake Shore railroad Switch tender and
tie inspector subsequent employments; then at
l6 he entered the service of the Long Island railroad
and passed through every grade of the transportation
department to freight and passenger conductor.
The New York and Northern railroad offered him
better chances OF advancement, if not more wages,
and he went with that company conductor. Before
he resigned to himself with the street rail-
way system OF the metropolis Vreeland had advanced
to be general manager of the New York and Northern
This in 1898, and about that time Vreeland met
William c. Whitney.
The association of these men was profitable to
BOTH but Vreeand says particularly to himself for
could know Whitney and remain provincial.
Broadest, most far reaching plans were his province
and he could impress them on people very forciby.
In the younger railroadman he found welcome attri-
butes-the power OF strong sense and an
answering will. That he was far from being a
satellite of anybody, however was quickly and easily
proved by Vreeland. Because he came I'D through
every grade he knows what he is doing when he makes
rules for discipline and system Slack handed people,
inefficient employees and 4 wide range of uncertain
characters can not fool man who has been Through
it all' before them
STEINMETZS BEGINNING
In the electrical world today there is no more
vital force, inventive genius universally ad-
mired than Charles P Steinmetz As the head and
universal genius of the General electric company
with more than $4,000 trained working out his
ideas, his influence scarcely be estimated Other