The Coolidge examiner., 1931-02-13


ecoming a
great engineer. He sacrificed one
career that held high promise and
overcame an initial failure to
achieve his ambition.
This genius in the construction
field was born in CracOw, Poland.
in 1861. He was the son of Nine.
Helena MOdjeska, famous TRACE
dienne. His father was a director
of theatrical companies. AS Il
lad he Travelled with his parents
through the country sections. often
the troupe made its journey III
wagons.
1t was hard but an enjoyable and
instructive life. Young Ralph, like
so many children of theatrical
folks, was juvenile actor of abt-
ity. He played chiIdren's roles IN
either German or Polish in his IA
theirs companies.
He was taught by tutors while
travelling about the country. He
didn't enter school until he was
over nine. Then he took up his
studies in Cracow. There he be-
came piano pupil of Cazimir Hof-
mann, father of Josef Hofmann.
Young Modjeski possessed such
high musical talent that friends of
the family were certain he would
become as famous a pianist as his
mother was on the dramatic stage.
But when Madame Modieska
came to this country in 1876 and
brought her son with her, Ralph
was thinking of other things than
music. While he did not neglect
his piano practice, he was begin
ming to think in terms of construc-
tiOn 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 a time because eX-
penses were less there. Then they
went California and bought a farm.
They knew nothing of agriculture.
Their savings dwindled fast. Their
first income from the venture was
obtained when Ralph lasOoed
neighbOr's calf that had gone
astray. His reward amounted to
three dollars.
Madame MOdjeska learned Eng
lish. She made her American debut
in San Francisco to which she and
Ralph moved. There he, too, quick
ly learned the language of his
adopted land All 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 finally
cast it aside to take up the prOfes
sion of engineering.
He sailed for France in 1873 to
study for the entrance eXamina-
tions to the famous Ecole des Points
ct ChauSsees (SchoOl 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 disap-
pointment to the youngster.
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 a musical career for that
of engineering-one of the hardest
and most exacting of the profess
sions. His perseverance was re-
warded. 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 main
tanned that standing throughout his
course.
Graduating with henors from the
Ecole des Points ct Chaussees, he
was a marked young man in the
engineering 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.
1t is estimated that Ralph Mod
jeski had been the directing genius
back of almost $200,000,000 worth
of bridges. The structures he has
designed span mighty rivers In
many parts of the world.
The Ambassador bridge, connect
ing 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 con-
structiOn of the Manhattan bridge
and the Quebec bridge over the st.
Lawrence. With these and many
other great structures to his cred
it, Ralph Modjeski has accom-
plished what so many of US fail to
do. He has, indeed, made his
dreams come true to the great
benefit of the travelling public.
(6). 1880. by The North American
Newspaper AllianceO