The Washington herald., 1914-04-18
From Factory Hand to President.
By EMoRY ). HAYNEs.


81 have known Charlie ever since he came here
as boy" There a peculiar, patronizing smile
upon the features of the elderly mechanic he thus
referred to the present head of the vast corporation
The presidents automobile had just entered the
yard A man with careworn, yet strong and hand
some countenance stepped out before and entered
the building devoted to Offices 1t about the noon
hour and many of the older people exchanged greet
ipgs with their chief officer He seemed not at all
above recognizing many friendships.
If he did call several men by their given names it
was done kindly, without being familiar None of
all those hundreds accosted him as Charlie" but
many of them could talk about him Charlie" in
the tone and the spirit of the first speaker whom
have quoted
The acknowledgment of acquaintanceship seemed
to to leave shadow the faces of the workmen.
Why had he this great disparity of success while the
workman was still but the boss of room?
Countless times this question comes to us all but
it came here frequently. Here hundreds of
worthy men. Heads of Misunderstanding to grow
gray in the honored service of a corporation which
valued them. Their homes neat and paid for.
Their children had done well in the world They were
officers of churches, lodges and even of the city it
self Surely they had led, and were leading, pros
porous lives far beyond the troubled lot in this
troublous world. Yet they put the factory apron
twice day and twice a day took it off. They
simply operatives, and with wages with which they
knew they should be quite content And it will
go on till they are pensioned and till they die
But Charlie is so different. He is millionaire
1t only FIVE years ago that Charlie insisted upon
it that his own father should not work any longer
at the mills But probably not from motives of pride
He thought his father had worked long enough At
place nor time did the president exhibit pride
and vanity. Life too serious for moment OF
such folly.
The extraordinary young man had simply filled
from day day the opening doors OF the added sper
doris OF great mind. He had entered in, and yet
again entered in upon heritage OF abilities which
he knew himself that he possessed until new
door opened in his mind.
He had climbed from the lowest task OF boy
worker the highest place of business whose in
terests touched than nation simply because
he natural. He could not help it unless he
to destroy himself One day after another said Can
you do this" and he had answered: Il can" until
there was nothing that he could do, had not
done. When he appeared before the board and laid
what ought to be done all was patent that there
nothing do but say, Go do it YOU think best
This, OF course, is genius No amount of ambition,
hard work and resolution would enable most young
llSH 10 Walk III SUCH pdln DIdIl Hlu>I DC
for it 1t is the gift of God and that Creator the
owner of such powers must be profoundly account
able
1t is useless to question whether such gifted per-
sonality is happy above his fellows. Probably not.
His happiness is precisely OF the same character as
the with one talent, and that is satisfaction
OF being faithful
He does we'll when he knows that he can do we'll
He excels others because he knows that he excel
them. He has simply to be himself. Often doubtless
the emptiness OF lfes prizes appears plainly his
penetration He how little there is in life but
toll.
The Charlie" of this picture certainly does carry
about pensive and pathetic look in his fine face
Now and then he catches sight of other satisacons
than those that concern his business alone. He
builds himself home which is palace and like a
true poet enjoys its every line of beauty He wishes
that he could stay there and dreams that per-
haps some time he may. He enjoys the music OF the
cathedral and builds He perceivcs the excel
ence in and buys the costly picture inelligently
He listens to the story OF private human and
longs for the opportunity devote himself such
evangels But it is extremely doubtful if these higher
qualifications will be allowed him.
How foolish it is to hold up such q, genius as an
example and exhortation to Young men as a |
wnQe. AS WhOle young men are not III his class.
How impossible it is for the average teacher reformer
Or philosopher to guide such Not that he is
unwilling to be guided. A man like Rhodes, of South
Africa for instance. 1t is the daily hunger of
his soul for guidance be taught, be helped in
the disbursements of his tremendous. wealth and
powers.
The most grotesque failures OF life have been the
careers of men of genius. There is no man who
should hold himself before his Creator "as little
chd' the genius.