Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-20
ABOUT NERVE AND LUCK
Percy w. GdmuNds and HE Old
Papsrs-Andy Carnegie and Tom
Scott - Bob Pltealrn, Whe
Was carnsols's chum and
Side Partner
By OEOR0E NOx MCCAIN

i uncut copy Of the nrst edition OF the
Edinburg Scotsman yesterday. ..eg.
Il was eight pages. beaItiisliy at,1,y 2sintsc
tional emblem Of Scotland, ,jdst a. the leek
Is of Wales.
In the scroll or principal heading were
the words, ''The Scotsman" and below or
Edinburg Political and Literary Journal"
2S, Is ia7, 7,'u' was ''''D s'''
In ali the years that have elapsed since
that first copy was issued this greatly hated,
vet cherished, critical journal has never
They are the same today as they were 105
In that respect they differ from every
other newspaper publication in the world.
do not know Of any Journal whose criti-
cisms on literature and politics have been
those Of the Edinburs Scotsman. ,.s
An uncut copy is a remarkably scarce
thing in these days.
DERCY W. EDMUNDs is the unusually
L fortunate possessor Of this copy, pos.
sibly the only one in this country.
It is worth @ while while ,'ts noting that that The Edin'
Pittsburgh is a victim Of this peculiarly
Robert Pitcairn, colleague and CO worker
with Andrew Carnegie. fellow Scotsman
and Pennsylvania Railroad official, with the
Gentlemen St the h, =. they
to the cognomen Of the Smoky City.
bob" Pitcairn was "braw Scotsman"
From a subordinate position in the Penn
sylvania Offices ut Pittsburgh he grew to be
one of the, dominating forces, in his time,
Robert figured out that as Edinburgh had
final aspirate, which is uncertain, 1t was
proper and becoming that Pittsburgh, Of
which he. was an adopted son, should be
distinguished in the same fashion.
1t was tribute to the land Of his birth,
and SO when he became power in the Penn.
sylvania Railroad sixty years ago the "h"
was added to the Smoky City's title in
honor of the Scotsman.
THIS unique combination of Percy w.
L Edmunds, Scotsman and former operatic
Railroad operator, and Andrew Carnegie,
millionaire iron and steel MASTER recalls
some interesting incidents about each of the
trio.
Mr.. Edmunds in his earlier years was an
operate singer, the son Of Edmund Ed
Balfe, the composer.
Mr.. Edmunds' father was likewise per.
sonal friend Of Tom Moore, and to him was
accorded the distinction Of trying out"
many Of Moore's melodies.
Bob Pitcairn is remembered to this day
by white haired employees Of the Pennsyl.
vania Railroad on the Pittsburgh Division
as one OF its most masterful characters.
l knew Robert Pitcairn in those days,
iorty years ago. He was railroad super
intendent while was city editor of the most
influential newspaper in Pittsburgh.
When 1t came to political deals for the
benefit OF the Pennsylvania Railroad, Chris
Miiitem MMaEee; MsH M%Billy" Finn; Bob, Pitcairn
'"Tony" Heating and Barney" McKenna
worked together despite their Republican
ana democratic antagonisms as the most
beautiful bipartisan machine that ever
operated IN Allegheny County.
Andy Carnegie was then "prominent
citizen,' and not quite q millionaire.
| 0N THE 9th of this month founders day
~ will be celebrated ut the Carnegie In.
stitute in Pittsburgh.
ANDY Carnegie started on his upward
career as telegraph operator for the Penn
sylvania Railroad at Pittsburgh on February
| I, 1853.
His salary was $35 a month.
Ihomas A: Scott was superintendent of
the Pittsburgh division at the time.
Carnegie, with all the Scotch thrift of his
| ancestors, was intent on making money.
| At the same time he was bright, adam.
table, eager, and, as judge from a copy
Of daguerreotype Of him in 1854 which /
have before me on my desk as write, some
what daring and willing to take a chance.
| The fact is that Carnegie was never afraid
to do things on his own initiative.
| The family had some savings. and on Ton
Scott's advice they pooled their issues and
purchased ten Shares of American Express
stock at $50 share, or $500.
| do not propose to follow out the yariou,
episodes in Carnegie's life.
l recall as q boy of ten Andrew Carnegie
a fat.faced, bow:legged German, operatet
the Carnegie, Klomnn & Co. Mills a
Thirty third street, Pittsburgh
In those days he was candy" CarneRie
THE two conspicuous features Of Andrew
L. Carnegie were his superlative egotism
the idea that he could accomplish anything
and fearlessness to- undertake things a
which other men Of his age would hav
hesitated.
All sorts Of incidents have been quoted a
responsible for Carnegie's remarkable an
rapid advancement as a inancier.
I think 1t was entirely due to his fear
lessness and luck. He was not afraid to d
measure Of what is called ''luck.''
Here is a sample Of what mean
c,AMUEL HARDEN CHURCH, secretar
y of the Pennsylvania Lines West, who's
friendship have enjoyed for a great man
years tells this story 1dus Gd Carnegie ;ex.
division superintendent Of the Pennsylvani
road with headquarters in Pittsburgh
Andrew Carnegie, a few months short
being eighteen, was telegraph operate
in Scott's Office.
One morning there was mighty ba
wreck east Of Pittsburgh.
The road was blocked, Superintendel
Scott was not to be found, and instant az
tion to clear the lines and unlock traffic WI
necessary.
In his subordinate position the boy opel
| ator knew what should be done. N
At the same time he was helpless, becau
, he lacked the necessary authority to clei
up the situation. -
He waited until affairs became critics
and then, with the daring of youth and d
conviction Of the right thing to do, he fir
out telegraph messages to subordnates
y charge Of wrecking work and transportatio