Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-04-11
THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY


Another striking illustration of the boundles opportunities to
be found in this country has been brought fcrcibly before the people
in the death of F. W. woolworth, the founder of the famous chain
Of five and ten cent stores.
Mr.. woolworth started life S a poor farmer boy. He had no
greater opportunity to amass a fortune and achieve fame than mil
lions of young men today.
AS a boy he liked to talk with the itinerate peddler who haunted
the roadside in those days. The idea of selling things fascinated
him. At the first opportunity he got a job in a store and worked
for several months for nothing, just to prove that he could make
good.
Finally, with fifty dollars he started a little notion store of his
own. He did not seek out the large city or any particular place, but
merely opened up in the nearest town, which happened to be Water
town, N. Y.
Thus began the great chain of stores eliminating in the great
est building in the world.
1t is merely one of the great many of the stories of the achieve
ment of the ordinary boy in this country with plenty of ambition
and a determination to succeed.
He was not afraid of long hours or hard work. He did not
hang around street corners smoking cigarettes; he did not spend
his evenings in dance halls.
He never peeved because someone else had all the advantage
and he had to struggle for what he got. He merely struggled on,
doing the next thing as it came along, but always aiming to make
II E next thing a step in advance of what he was already doing.
The point is, there is no limit to what a man can do in this great
country of ours, if he has the determination to do it. The opportu
nifty is here; it is up to each one to do S he will with it.
We have many instances right here in Perth Amboy of what
pluck and perseverance will do. Not a few of our leading citizens
today ire lei who came to this country not so many years ago
practically penniIess.
Seeking this land of opportunity they have made the most of it
and have advanced far more than they could ever have advanced
in their native land because they have seized the opportunities that
lie all about; instead of holding aloof, content with following their
cid customs, they have made themselves familiar with their new
eaxirsnzHe6ts and, with the same pluck and perseverance that was
so manifested N the success of F. W. Woolworth, they have made
their own mark
Instead Of railing against the government, finding fault be-
---. .l:-zH i'll 80 Coll into +b;r ans they have worked them
selves up into influemsA positions and are occupying positions Of
power and influence.
This SAM opportunity is open to every one. 1t all depends
upon the man himself.
We have the greatest government in the world for the ordinary
man Il he will only make the most of the opportunities it affords
him.
There is no class distinction here.
The immigrant Of yesterday is our leading merchant or bank
president today, and the boy struggling for al education IN the pub
lie school today is to be our President tomorrow.
If those persons who are continually finding fault with this
government and, in some instances, scheming to have it overthrow
would only devote their energies to take advantages of their OPP
portunites. they would soon find that the very things that they
Thought were obstacles in their path were really the stepping stones
TO honor, wealth and fame.
There is a wonderful lesson for everyone in the life of F. W
Woolworth. Especially in these times when governments in Europe
are being overthrow and when people who have been op
pressed by autocracy and held down through class distinction, are
struggling to secure the same opportunities that are open to every
mar here, should the career of F. W. Woolworth be an inspiration
and a guide.
We have every reason to cherish all the more strongly the in
stitutions under which we live; we can but wish for our brothers on
the other side of the ocean the same opportunities and the same
! blessings that we here are now enjoying.
We have just passed through a great war. 1t has been a great
world upheavai. Naturally, we have got to feel some of the effects
But by keeping our heads level and our feet soidy on the ground
we can pull through with honor gaining the respect of the whole
world. 1t is for us to make all the more safe the advantages that
we have enjoyed for our children and our ehildrens children.
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