The evening world., 1921-06-04
Worlds Greatest Workers
At Their Best BetUeen
SIS and IS Years of Age


the succeeding ten years he became
tic most dazzling figure in American
railroad history He accumulated a
fortune OF between s75,ooo.ooo and
500, 900. 600 between the ages CT fifty
and sixty-two.
james Hill did not begin his rail-
road career until he had passed forty.
Theodore N. Vail. who retired from
tho American Telegraph and 1ele-
phone Company when he was fifty-
five. took up the management OF the
corporation again when he WAS SIX
ty-tivo and did the greatest produc-
tive work of his brilliant career be-
tween the ages of sixty-five and sew
enty Ave.
The most important railroads of
the country are directed by men
over fifty. Judge Lovett, head Of
the Hartman Lines, 10 sixty-onc; Al
fred II. Smith OF the New York Cen
tral is firty-cight; President Willard
W the 3. e. o. is sixty; President
True sdalc OF the Lackawanna Is sew
enty, and Howard Elliott, now hold
ing down the biggest job of his ca
recr, the Presidency OF the North
ern Pacific, is sixty-onc.
Charles M. SchwIb is the most
conspicuous exception to the rule
that the men whose names have
lowered highest in the affairs OF the
United States made their mark after
middle age. He was only thirty-nine
when he was made the rrst President
OF the United States Steel Corpora
ton but his great accomplishments
have been reached since he passed
forty-tive and now as he is approach
ing the period bordering on old age
he Is taking up more important tasks
than ever before.
Henry p. Dawson was only forty
when he was taken into j. p. Morgan
& Co. but the greatest work with
which his name will be associated-the
organization and administration of
the Red Cross during the war-was
accomplished after he had passed
fifty.
Frank Vanderlp was made Presi-
dent of the National City Bank when
he was forty-f five. His real fame has
come since that time.
Mr.. Forbes gives the names of a
dozen leaders in finance and industry
who had achieved their leadership
between the ages of forty and fifty,
but as they reach and pass the half
century mark their records become
more notable.
BIG MEN WHO BECAME BIG
AFTER FORTY.
Getting back to the men whose
late in life, Mr.. Forbes points TO
George Washington. who had reached
the age OF forty-threc before he be-
gan TO make history; Oliver Crom-
we'll, who was obscure at forty-tw !:
Abraham Lincoln, who was a country
lawyer at forty-nine: Commodore
Vanderbilt, ran a fortune of $4,000
up to 100000 900 after he was forty
the first John Jacob Aston. who made
his mark late in life: John D. Rookie
Teller, who did not begin to aInass his
great fortune until he was close TO
fifty; Henry Ford, who has made
ten years-he is now fifty eight-and
Edward L. Doheny. the oil magnate,
who vas flat broke at forty.
Mr.. Forbes cites the leaders in the
great war. who were nearly all old
men In the popular conception OF the
term. The only relatively young
leader was Lloyd George. Clemen-
ceau, Foch, Joffre and Kitchener were
around seventy in their war activl.
| ties. Gen. Pershing was fifty-seven
when he went to France. Hinder
| burg. Mackenson and Ludendorf and
Field Marshal Haig were old men.
Inventors generally have turned out
their most important conception
while young. but the most lasting
literature and music has been writ.
ten by men over forty. Mr.. Forbe.
quotes A. Barton Hepburn, the BANK
er, seventy-eight years old, and The
head OF the Chase National Bank. i;
saying:
| THE foundation may be. indeed
must be. properly laid and buttressec
before forty-five, but the fruitior
comes with increasing volume ate
that age"
Mr.. Forbes does not include in hi
article-although he might have don,
so had II occurred to him-eIample!
of physicians and surgeons whose
greatest services TO humanity hav
been accomplished when they ha,
reached advanced age. OF lawyers ant
judges who are the present leader
of the bar and bench at 60 and over
and OF elderly clergymen who are tn
leaders in the religious world.
The author concludes that If ma,
gathers, digests and masters knowl
edge in his early years-in the year
before 40-his wisdom should mature
his vision become keener his judg
ment clearer and more reliable as hi
years accumulate. Provided he ha
taken proper care OF his health,
mans mentality should he better a
, l65 than at 40.