Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1916-11-10

~ IlIbOlpl hIN
new mill and meet other obligations far
beyond the salary paid by the banking
department, For several years he
worked hard to clear his feet-and then
sold out at profit of 100000, This
when forty years old,
His liking for law had not been
overcome by his political experiences,
but the banking field easily over
Swallowed the legal arena, His first
banking position in New York was as
United States bank examiner His
work here attracted notice, and he was
called to Washington as comptroller of
the currency, This proved the stepping
stone to that goal of nearly all bankers,
the presidency Of a New York bank,
When his institution, the Third Ma
tional was taken over by the National
city bank, Mr., Hepburn went along, as
vice president,
Come over and help US or we
perish" was the gist Of message he
received from the directors Of the Chase
National bank two years later.
Having been federal bank examiner
he knew the whole situation, The field
was broad, with inviting opportunity,
So he accepted, with results that con-
stitute a remarkable chapter Of success
full American banking.
"How have | succeeded?" Mr.. Hep
burn repeated, Simply by hard, sys-
tametic work directed by every ounce
of intelligence in me. To my mind it
is true that genius is ninety per
cent perspiration and only five per cent
inspiration. "
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS.
Then he gave me one receipt for sue
cess.
whenever | have studied any subject
or dug out any information have al
ways carefully compiled the data in a
form that would be instantly available.
| have kept memorandum of all facts
| gathered.
Thus, my book on 1.-THE Artificial
Waterways of the World contains many
figures secured when in the Legislature
and when chairman Of the committee
on transportation in the Chamber of
Commerce. My History of Currency
embodies much information gathered
as secretary and treasurer of the Sound
Money league which opposed free silver
all through the Bryan campaign in the
work of which | was constantly en-
gagged.
"By keeping a proper record Of facts
and figures you can turn to them and
use them to help you whenever occa-
sion arises"
Mr.. Hepburn has lived. He has
achieved as much out of business as in
business and has had many honors
showered upon him. He rivals his
friend Andrew Carnegie in the number
of honorary degrees conferred upon him
by colleges DIS, from Middlebury,
Columbia, Williams and Vermont; D.
c. l.. from st. Lawrence University,
etc. Commerce elected him to its high
est office, president of the Chamber of
Commerce. Finance, not to be outdone,
made him chairman Of the currency
commission of the American Bankers
Association on its formation a decade
ago and has kept him in that place ever
since, while he has been president of
the New York Clearing House and the
National Currency Association as well
as chairman Of two State commissions
to revise the banking laws. He has
held the presidency of the st. Andrews
society, the New England society, the
Bankers club and other social organi-
cations. France made him an officer of
the Legion of Honor
His philanthropies have been notable.
Last year he donated Hepburn hall to
his Alma Mater, Mildebury College 1t
consists of two elaborate buildings, a
fve-story dormitory to accommodate 100
students and a three-story commons
building. This year Ogdensburg an
nounced a S130, 900 gift from him for
hospital purposes there, and the A.
Barton Hepburn hospital is now under
way for the use of St. Lawrence county,
the scene of his early struggles and
triumphs. He is also active in the work
of the Rockefeller Foundation, of which
he is trustee.
BOOKS COMMAND ATTENTION.
His books have commanded the atten-
ton of the thoughtful. They include
History of Coinage and Currency"