The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-11

road train was tall, lean
farmers boy from Delaware.
He had never seen New York before.
and when he alighted from the ferry
he followed the crowd to Broadway
and for q time "gawked around" as
he expressed 1t. staring at the
buildings, wondering at the thou
sands passing and repassing and try
ing to realize the fact that at last he
was here in this great city starting
out on the serious business OF life. 1t
was pretty serious too just then. for
he had mighty little money; he had
no friends here, and he had to get a
job right away.
Before shutdown he had landed a
job at washing bottles. running err
rands, sweeping and cleaning in a
retail drug store at q salary Of 81 a
day-because three days week he
was on the job from A. NJ. until 10
at night and also every other Sunday.
At the end Of his first year his wages
were raised to IS a week. Beginning
with his third year he got 50 week.
BY the time he had been working in
that drug store nine years he was
earning $25 a week; and at that time
tie u
in the business for $4,000.
In less than twelve years from the
time when he first landed in New York
this farmers son was elected presi-
dent Of a great corporation which is
now doing a business of from sl5.OO0,-
900 to $4,000. 900 per annum. And a
few days ago. at the age of AZ years,
he retired from active affairs. having
made all the money he cares to
possess.
Reads like a romance. doesn't it?
Reminds one Of tales about the early
Forty miners and their successors in
the Klondike. in South African gold
fields, Of the time Of petroleum dis
covery in Pennsylvania fifty or sixty
years ago.
Immediately come the questions.
who is this man? How did he do 1t
in this crowded city, full Of those who
are straining every nerve. using all
their wits. planning, scheming, hoping
somehow to win at the game of for
tune?" Answers to these questions
were not easily secured. for one OF
this mans characteristics Is modesty.
He Is well known in financial and mer-
camille circles throughout the con-
tirent, but his name has seldom APP
peared in newspapers. He never has
sought the spotlight Of social dlstinc-
ton. or any other spotlight for that
matter. He has in fact attended
strictly to business.
Alfred II. Cosden Of the Riker-Hege-
man Corporation lived as a child on a
farm not far from Dover Del. In the
winter time he as we'll as his three
brothers and sister went to school
for two or three months--a typical
crossroads country school where the
Counse Of instruction was confined TO
the simplest elements. The four Co.'S
den boys and their sister thought II a
great privilege to spend eight or nine
weeks every winter IN attending
school. Notwithstanding that there was
plenty Of work TO be done at home
before they left in the morning and
after they returned in the late after
noon.
During the rest of the year young
Alfred arose at day6reak. did his
chores, ate breakfast. hurried t. the
fields and worked until shutdown. came
hack to the house for supper and
tackled other chores until darkness
came on, when he tumbled into bed
and slept like a log until dawn again
showed in the east. There were few
holidays on that Delaware farm. for
20 wrest a living from II required in
ceSsant toll AS he grew from child
hood into youth young Cosden trad
dreams Of some day owning n little
farm of his own because ne liked III
outdoor life.
But this dream was not to be real
lied until many years passed; and
then the farm he was destined 10
purchase was not $50 acres down in
Delaware with little old fashioned
buildings. a few cows, two or three