The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-25
POVERTY!

Carnegie was q telegraph operator
during his early days. often working
twenty-four hours without relief or
rest. John D. Rockefeller was a clerk
in a minor position with no limit to his
hours Of service and few holidays.
Charles M. Schwab. now the head OF
the Bethlehem Steel concern. was a
boy working around the FORCES. Henry
C. Frick. The acknowledged father OF
the steel and iron industry Of the
United States. was barefoot boy on
a farm when other boys Of his age were
at school. So writes John A. Sleicher
in Leslie's, and he continues:
Many Of the presidents of our leading
railroads began az trainmen and some
as hagmen and rose through all the po-
sitions of toll to receive the reward Of
merit. President vanderlip, of the
great National City bank. Of New
York. has told US Of the heads. Of his
institution and Of other prosperous
banks who began AZ boys ON the farm
or clerks in stores None Of these was
ever found complaining Of the long
hours Of toll. They were never sitting
on the doorstep Of the prosperous shak-
ing their fists 18th envy.
They were not crying out on street
corners, or hanging about legislative
halls demanding new laws to take from
those who had and give to those who
had not. These self made men are the
type that master problems. They
achieved success by watching for op-
portunity, by building on foundation
Of industry, thrift and integrity. They
y
credit of a good name and a high char
acter. No great business In this coun-
try or in any other will ever be built
up unless the builders have the quail
ties that win.
The boys who win seek no adventi-
tious aids, waste nothing on luxuries
They depend upon their own resources
When weary, they plod on; falling,
they rise again with grim Cetermina-
ton to overcome every obstacle. They
ask no help. beg no aims, and raise no
mad outcry that the state owes them
q living.
Hundreds Of thousands Of poor boys
in this country have risen solely on
merit, and others are doing 1t with an
indomitable spirit. that envies nothing
but opportunity.
Nearly all our great captains of in
dustry in boyhood lived in the hum
blest homes. Many brushed the snow
from their pillows in cabins on the
plains when they went to bed at night
and reverently thanked God that they
had bed on which to sleep. Their
fare was simple. but never a word of
complaint. These knew what poverty
meant. They have more real SYM
pathy with the deserving and the un-
fortunate than all the demagogues who
thrive on politics. all the muckrakers
who write for 500 a page and all the
bogus uplifters wandering about Chau-
tauqua circles pleading the cause of
the dear people for $500 q plea.
While others are preaching the gos-
pei Of discomfort. let the considerable
hold up the examples of our successful
men as the parents of these success
full men held others up AZ worthy ex-
amples for them to follow. The boys
who have made successful men wero
workers. not loiterers. They wasted NO,
time on trashy books. frothy entertain
ment and tango dances. They read
The Pilgrims Progress" the story -of
the life of George Washlngton, the
achievements Of other notable men In
history. and they did not forget their
fathers Bible and their mothers
prayers.
Woe to those who are progressing %
fastsas - send tho best sthines Of -tho,
PAST into tl.e discard. Woe 70 those
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