The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-09

| MEN WHO ARE MAhlNNT AN EtNAN-A
BY B. c. Forbes. The B. C. Forbes
Publishing company. publishers,
| Equitable building, New York.
One of the most interesting books
which has appeared in the literary
field during the past decade is that
entitled Men Who Are Making
America" by b. C. Forbes.
The book is interesting and readable
from more standpoints than one. First,
it is well written. tersely and con-
cisely embodying a recital of the sue
cess of a group of men who are fore
most in todays worlds progress; Sec
| ondly, it is valuable because of the
| example it points out in the lives OF
! these great men-all successful-all
giants in their respective fields to-
day. an incentive to young men start
| ing out on commercial careers
The. author has a broad KNOWLEDGE
OF men and affairs. He writes with
precision and brilliancy. The sketches
are in interview" form, which is the
| most delightful manner in which 10
| tell in a short story the salient points
| in a successful mans career. meet
| ed into these interviews" is Keen
sense of the value of things, a 1laFh
here and there of humor; and the au-
| thor employee colleague canvas OH
which he paints the deeds of men
who count.
i, In an introduction to Men Who
Are Making America" the following
will be read with interest because IL
| gives the purpose and mission Oh the
book in the authors own words
How can l attain success!
That is what every rational human
| being wants to know.
This book tells in an intimate way
how so of Americas foremost bust
ness and financial leaders of the pres
| emit day have climbed the ladder Of
/ success.
! The selection of the so is based on
! the replies received from business
men all over the country to the ques-
| ton; "Who Are Our Fifty Foremost
Business Men, Men Who Are Making
| American" In all but few instances,
based on geographical or exceptional
| circumstances the list represents
| those who were accorded the highest
number of votes Having been thus
| singled out as the most SUCCESSFUL
! American business men now living
| they may be regarded as we'll quail
| fled to speak illuminatingly and help-
| fully on the subject of achievement.
| w no are the 0U men tiiuo iiOAAoA ~
| by the business world?
| In what fields have they made their
| mark?
| Are they moderately young or are
most of them elderly?
| How many of them are native Amer
leans and how many were born IN
other parts of the world?
| Were their parents in a majority
of instances poor, moderately clrcum-
stanced or wealthy?
| The table on pages St furnishes
succinct reply to these questions.
| 1t will be seen that:
| "a were born poor.
| II were born in moderate circum-
stances.
! were born rich.
| 40 were born in the United States
were born in Scotland.
4 were born in Germany
was born in England.
/ Yves born in Canada.
| II begun as store clerks.
as bank clerks.
| 4 as grocery boys.
| The compilation skaters the popu
| lar idea that most of the highest finan-
| cha; and business positions in the Uni
ted States are held by young men.
Only four in the list are under so
years of age. And only a few of the
others at so would have won en-
trance into any such list as this. Not
only is the average age 81, but no
fewer than ~ are 70 or more.
There is encouragement in this fact
for those earnest workers who have
not yet reached places of conspicuous
eminence. If the right kind OF seed
is being planted, the fruit may ripen
by and by. Results are not always at
tanned in a hurry.
( Indeed, one great lesson the lives
of these notable men convey is thai
patience, perseverance, stick-to-itive-
ness and unflagging courage are es-
sentila qualities.
Another point revealed by this an
alysis of the personnel of Americas
ablest business leaders is that neither
birth nor education, neither nationality
nor religion, neither heredity nor en-
y:ronment are barriers-or passports
to success in this land Of liberty
and democracy Worth alone counts.
The only caste in America is merit,
The humble origin of the majority
OF these Men Who Are Making
America" would call for more COM
ment were it not so typical of the ma
TONS annals.
My study of the careers of these
men has impressed me with this fact
Most of them had to pay the price OF
success They worked harder and
longer, they studied and planned more
assiduously, they practiced more self
denial and overcame more difficulties
than those of US who have not risen
SO far.
How can one achieve big things?
What are the necessary qualifica-
| tons?
What course must be followed?
For a full answer to these ques-
lions the reader must turn to the char
acter sketches.
But 1 may remark in general way,
that there would appear to be two