White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1931-05-07

feed one career that held high promise
and overcane an initial failure TO
achieve his ambition.
This genius in the construction Held
was born in Cracow, Poland, in 1861.
He was the son of Nine Helena Mod
jeska, famous tragedienne. His ia
Their was director of theatrical COM
panies. AS a lad he Travelled with his
parents through the country sections.
Often the troupe made it's journey in
wagons.
1t was hard but an enjoyable and
instructive life. Young Ralph, like so
many children of theatrical folks, was
a juvenile actor of ability. He played
children's roles in either German or
Polish in his fathers companies
He was taught by tutors while tray
cling about the country. He didn't
enter school until he was over nine.
Then he took up his studies in Cra-
COW. There he became piano pupil
Of Cazimir Hoffman,, father Of Josef
HOFFMAN,. Young Modjeski possessed
such high musical talent that friends
of the family were certain he would
mother was on the dramatic stage.
But when Madame Modjeska came
to this country in 1876 and brought
her son with her, Ralph was think
Ing of ether things than music. While
he did not neglect his piano prac-
1 +;on ha xuoo horirrinoe To thir1L n
terms OF construction and to dream
his dreams of becoming an engineer.
The artist in music was making way
for the artist in steel.
The newcomers to America lived
in Hoboken for time because ex-
penses were less there. Then they
went to California and bought farm.
They knew nothing of agriculture.
Their savings dwindled fast. Their first
income from the venture was obtained
when Ralph lasooed neighbours calf
that had gone astray. His reward
i amounted to three dollars.
/ Madame Modjeska learned English.
She made her American debut in San
Francisco to which she and Ralph
moved. There he, too, quickly learned
the language of his adopted land. ALI
the while his mother insisted that he
continue with his music. He practiced
much while he was acting as advance
agent for Madame Modjeska on her
first tour of the United States in the
year 1877.
But his dreams were becoming more
insistent. While he liked the life of
travel, the atmosphere Of the theater,
the company of artists, there was
something lacking. His own career as
a musician seemed promising enough
yet he firally cast it aside to take up
the profession of engineering.
He sailed for France in 1873 to
study for the entrance examinations to
the famous Ecole DIES Points ct Chaus-
sees (Scllool of Bridges and Roads).
He worked hard on his books. Still
he failed in the examinations and
didn't qualify for entrance. 1t was a
bitter disappointment to the young
ster.
Out of that failure grew a deter
mination to conquer the task he had
set for himself. He stuck to his
books, definitely deciding to pass up
musical career for that of engineer
irsg-one of the hardest and most ex-
acting of the professions. His perse-
verence was rewarded. When next he
tried the examinations he stood fourth
on the list. Before the end Of the
year he reached the top Of his class
in scholarship. He maintained that
standing throughout his course.
Graduating with honors from the
Ecole des Points ct Chaussees, he was
a marked young man in the engineer
ing profession from the outset Of his
career as a bridge builder. He has
lived up to his early promise and
today is rated as one of the greatest
engineers in the world.
Il is estimated that Ralph Modjeski
had been the directing genius back of
almost $2OO,0O0,0O0 worth of bridges.
The structures he has designed span
mighty rivers in many parts of the
world.
The Ambassador bridge, connecting
Michigan and Ontario, Canada, the
greatest suspension bridge in the
world, is a monument to his ability.
He built the Delaware River bridge,
supervised part Of the construction
Of the Manhattan bridge and the Que
bee bridge over the st. Lawrence.
With these and many other great
structures to his credit, Ralph Mod
jeski has accomplished what SO many
of us fail to do. He has, indeed, made
his dreams come true to the great
benefit Of the travelling public.
20, by The North American Newspaper Alliance }