The Washington times., 1922-11-12


plants for quite a long time.
This Is encouraging news.
one bleak November evening a
poor but ambitious young London
clerk, who I'm his spare moments
had contriyed to learn shorthand,
stood on the dingy underground rail.
way platform at Kings Cross
waiting for train to take him to
the home of Thomas Gibson Bowles,
proprietor and editor of Vanity FAIR,
where the youth eked out his two.
dollars-a.week salary by earning a
few shillings as stenographer after
his regular days work was done.
TO vile away the time during the
drab ride in London's Sewer" the
lad resolved to buy something to
read. and this choice fell upon an
American magazine, the old Scrib-
ner's now the Century Magazine.
Ii chanced TO contain an article on
the electrical experience and achieve
ments OF one Thomas A. Edison, then
hardly known in Europe. The writer
was Francis II. Upton. one of Mr..
Eidson's aides. and the story he told
was fascinating.
Not very long after this the real
estate agent and auctioneer for
whom the clerk worked decided
that he could cut expenses by en-
gaging an 'articled" clerk-an ap-
prentice who would serve for moth
ing. So the paid CLERK answered a
situation Vacant" advertisement in
the London Times.
The advertiser turned out to be
Col. George T.. Gouraud. the Eng
lish representative of Edison and
the resident director in London OF
the Mercantile Trust Company Of
New York. then owned by the
Equitable Life. Colonel Gouraud
was favorably impressed by the
youths enterprise and experience,
for in addition to his daily task
and his shorthand writing for the
famous Bowles. he had found time
to do secretarial work for Sir
George Campbell. a noted member
Of Parliament.
He was engaged as Colonel
Gouraud's secretary-and then re.
solved to strive TO become secre-
tary to Edison himself. the wonder
working hero of the magazine
story.
In his new position with Colonel
Gouraud. he not only did his full
days work but, as a possible step.
ping stone toward his goal, made
himself useful at night to Edison's
technical representative in England
T.. II. johnson, who was then assist.
ing in the formation of the Edison
Telephone Company in London. To
Mr.. johnson he confided his ambi
ton.
The abilities, the enthusiasm and
the inordinate energy Of the young
secretary began to be noted by
Americans visiting the Edison head
quarters, and before long he received
an attractive offer from the most
prominent international banking
house In America to come to New
York. Acceptance would have di,
verted him from his purpose. so he
refused the proffered position.
One day the cable brought the
message he had waited for and
worked for. Thomas A. Edison
wanted him as his private secretary
Who do you think the youth was?
Samuel insult. who became Edi.
sons right.hand man. and who is
today one Of the most powerful
business men in Chicago. Mr.. In
| sull has developed the Common
| wealth Edison Company into the
| most gigantic central power station
In the world; he stepped in when
| things were critical and took hold
| Of Chicago traction problems with
| a skillful hand: his services as a
director are in demand by the big
gest enterprises in the city: and
when the Chicago Opera threatened
to hit the rocks 1t was Sam Insul'
who took the helm and boldly
steered 1t toward the high goal il
now promises TO reach.
Edison was once asked by
learned society to I'LL in a blank
concerning Insull. who had beer
proposed for membership. Wher
1t came to the space Universities.
Mr.. Edison wrote in. The Univer
sity Of Hard Knocks" At on,
time the knocks both Edison and
Sam were receiving were so hare
that they threatened to become
fatal. but Edison blithely remarked
to his loyal associate, 'lf tn,
worst comes to the worst. Sam:
can go back to the telegraph In
strument and you can resume youl
stenography." 1t Is a good thinl
for all Of us that the hard knock.
were overcome.
Mr.. insult was in New York yes
terday and delivered a mos
thought compelling address at th'
Bond Club on raising capital local.,
for public utility enterprises.
What do you expect after 1922
a big business man asked me.
I replied: IF knew what crop'
we will have next year and wba
will happen abroad. would risl
| prophesying. Otherwise, not"
He would be bold man VIII,
would venture to guess whether
Improvement In business will con
tinue into 1924. Let us first gc
through 1923.
I hear that Thomas w. Lamon
let himself go in . talk he mad,
This week to a large group of y
NJ. c. A. young men at the Chamber
Of Commerce auditorium, and .tol,
them several extremely intimate
chapters In his own career and o
unwritten financial history.
| The only sovereign cure for mos
OF our economic, political and othe'
ills Is the proper education OF th'
whole people, grown.ups as well NJ