The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-10-05
MESSENGER BOY CLIMBS HIGH.
Part of Boyhood Spent in Columbia
Not Educated But Ambitious.

To be a messenger boy at Ii anu
a master of finance at 21 olttlctlons
the widest flights of the late Ho-
ratio Alger, who threw an impress
sive but impossible glamour around
the struggles of the Ragged Dick
heroes who came to the metropolis
to do and to dare.
But a young man who spent part
OF his boyhood days in Columbia, S.
c.. has turned the trick. He is Geo.
F. Breen and just few days ago ne
arrived at mans estate, although in
appearance he is still a boy.
Today he is the Junior member OF
the firm of James O'Brien & Co.,
stock brokers.
Just ten years ago young Breen
came to New York. He was II years
of age, but he was full of boyhood
enthusiasm and ready to grapple
with life in the busiest mart in the
world. At first he was bewildered,
for he was alone and he had $500 in
his pocket-all that stood between
him and begging, but Breen is not
the type to beg.
Starts as Messenger Boy.
He had only smattering of book
knowledge and after going from place
to place to secure any kind of work
that was offered he finally secured a
position as messenger boy in the
firm of Hayden, Stone & Co.
The busy life of the street--and
those undercurrent stories of tabu-
Ious fortunes made overnight
thrilled him and fired his imagina-
ton. He lived at home for self
supporting boys on Tenth street and
he saved his. money. He soon learn
ed that to win success it was neces-
sary to create an atmosphere of sue
cess and so his savings went toward
replenishing his wardrobe, and in
this way, coupled with his alertness,
he attracted the attention of his en-
ployers.
He was induced to go to Y. NJ. c..
A. night school and here he began
polishing up his education. He was
soon taken into the Office in cleri-
cal position, but he didn't remain
, long. .:
Made Private Secretary.
James Phillips, Jr., big financier,
singled him out and took him into
his office and later made him his
private secretary. 1t was under this
.financier's shrewd tutoring that he
began to learn the maze of intricacies
that one must know of high finance
before one can be successful in Wall
street.
Once Phillips was called to Europe
and he left his affairs in charge of
young Breen. There were days OF
darkness in Wall street-and houses
were going to the wall with every
ominous click of the ticker. Breen
faced such situation for his en-
ployer and by several shrewd and
well-thought-out moves saved the
financial life of his chief. This was
the test that showed his mettle.
O'Brien Reaches New York.
In 1915 James O'Brien came to
New York. He was the son of a
prominent family in Montreal and
!. was starting out to make his way in
the world. He was interested in
mines and worked as miner in Arl-
Zona and Alaska, learning the busl-
ness from the ground up. His rise,
too, was spectacular and in casting
about for some one to help him share
the burdens and responsibilities he
was attracted to young Breen-then
in the first flush of his prosperity.
He went after him and he placed him
in his Office and made him junior
member of the firm.
Thus at 21 Breen becomes, through
his association with O'Brien, one of
the youngest financial giants in New
York. During the past year he has
more than trebled his fortune.
He has been so busy making money
that he has not had time for the finer
sentiments and so it is that he is
single.
Neither Smokes Nor Drinks.
He is a well-set-up young man
with a clear eye and firm hand
grasp. He does not smoke and he
does not drink and he declares that
he never will.
''In my few short years in Wall
street." he says, Il have seen good,
strong, clean-cut young men start
out drinking a cocktail before lunch.
They came back to their Offices full
of what Broadway is pleased to call
<pep.' Soon they were requiring two