Hidden Treasures

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Transcriber's note:

A large number of printer's typographical errors have been
corrected. In some cases, questionable spellings, tense and
words (e.g.: vindicative) have been retained.

HIDDEN TREASURES

Or,

Why Some Succeed While Others Fail.

by

H. A. LEWIS.

Finely Illustrated.

"Not Failure, but low aim is crime."

Sold by Subscription Only.
Cleveland, Ohio:
Moses, Lewis & Co.
1888.
Copyright, 1887.
by Wright, Moses & Lewis.
All rights reserved.

PREFACE.

Some succeed while others fail. This is a recognized fact; yet history
tells us that seven-tenths of our most successful men began life poor.
As our title indicates, we shall endeavor to show "why some succeed
while others fail." Knowing that everybody desires success, and
recognizing the old adage, "Example is the best of teachers," we have
selected representative characters from the multitude of successful men
who have climbed the ladder of success, beginning at the bottom round.
These we have followed from childhood to manhood, dwelling at length on
the traits of character that have made them so rich and successful,
believing that a careful study will convince all that the proverbial
"luck" had little to do with it. On the contrary, one is taught those
lessons of self-helpfulness and self-reliance which are so essential to
success in life's struggles. It is fearful to think how many of our
young people are drifting without an aim in life, and do not comprehend
that they owe mankind their best efforts. We are all familiar with the
parable of the slothful servant who buried his talent--all may profit by
his example. To those who would succeed, we respectfully present this
volume.

_Every young man is now a sower of seed on the field of life. The bright
days of youth are the seed-time. Every thought of your intellect, every
emotion of your heart, every word of your tongue, every principle you
adopt, every act you perform, is a seed, whose good or evil fruit will
prove bliss or bane of your after life._--WISE.

INTRODUCTION.

Dear reader, it is a grave undertaking to write a book, especially is it
so in writing a treatise on success and failure, as we have attempted to
do in the work we hereby present you. It is a solemn thing to give
advice. Experience teaches that no one thing will please everybody; that
men's censures are as various as their palates; that some are as deeply
in love with vice as others are with virtue. Shall I then make myself
the subject of every opinion, wise or weak? Yes, I would rather hazard
the censure of some than hinder the good of others.

There need neither reasons to be given nor apologies to be made where
the benefit of our fellow-men is our aim. Henry Clay Trumbull says: "At
no time in the world's history, probably, has there been so general an
interest in biography as that which has been shown of late. Just here
lies a weighty obligation upon these who write, and those who read, of
the lives of men who have done something in the world. It is not enough
for us to know WHAT they have done; it belongs to us to discover the WHY
of their works and ways, and to gain some personal benefit from the
analysis of their successes and failures. Why was this man great? What
general intentions--what special traits led him to success? What ideal
stood before him, and by what means did he seek to attain it? Or, on the
other hand, what unworthy purpose, what lack of conscience and religious
sense, what unsettled method and feeble endeavor stood in the way of the
'man of genius' and his possible achievements?" In this volume one sees
the barefoot boy rise to the eminent statesman, the great millionaire,
the honored inventor. How was this accomplished? We believe that a
careful study of the different characters, by the light of the author's
opinion of the characteristics essential to success, as shown in
Department Fifth, will show why they succeeded.

Let the reader follow each character separately, from childhood to
manhood, noting carefully the different changes in the career of each
and the motives which actuated and brought them about. If this book
shall serve to awaken dormant energies in ONE PERSON who might otherwise
have failed, we shall feel abundantly repaid. Doubtless, there are
others who are better qualified to write a treatise on such a subject;
nevertheless, we have done our best, and this done, we have attained
success.

CONTENTS.

ADAMS, JOHN, 129
ARTHUR, CHESTER A., 352
ASTOR, JOHN JACOB, 85
BARNUM, PHINEAS T., 81
BEECHER, HENRY WARD, 404
BENNETT, JAMES GORDON, 77
BENTON, THOMAS HART, 248
BLAINE, JAMES G., 362
BONNER, ROBERT, 45
CALHOUN, JOHN C., 209
CASS, LEWIS, 207
CHILDS, GEORGE W., 72
CLAFLIN, HORACE B., 26
CLAY, HENRY, 256
COOPER, PETER, 95
CORCORAN, WILLIAM W., 119
DISSTON, HENRY, 93
DODGE, WILLIAM E., 27
DOUGLASS, STEPHEN A., 267
DREW, DANIEL, 11
EDISON, THOMAS A., 476
EVERETT, EDWARD, 328
FAIR, JAMES G., 54
FARGO, WILLIAM G., 48
FIELD, CYRUS W., 467
FILLMORE, MILLARD, 281
FLOOD, JAMES C.,
FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN, 429
FULTON, ROBERT, 436
GARFIELD, JAMES A., 342
GIRARD, STEPHEN, 106
GOODYEAR, CHARLES, 457
GOULD, JAY, 30
GRANT, ULYSSES S., 299
GREELEY, HORACE, 61
HAMILTON, ALEXANDER, 179
HANCOCK, WINFIELD S., 293
HARPER, JAMES, 90
HAYNE, ROBERT Y., 216
HOE, RICHARD M., 454
HOWE, JR., ELIAS, 444
JACKSON, ANDREW, 237
JACKSON, STONEWALL, 303
JEFFERSON, THOMAS, 168
JOHNSON, ANDREW, 338
LAW, GEORGE, 101
LAWRENCE, ABBOTT, 271
LAWRENCE, AMOS, 21
LEE, ROBERT E., 306
LINCOLN, ABRAHAM, 312
LOGAN, JOHN A., 357
LONGWORTH, NICHOLAS, 43
MACKAY, JOHN W., 52
MADISON, JAMES, 184
MARSHALL, JOHN, 175
MCCLELLAN, GEORGE B., 297
MILLS, DARIUS O., 103
MONROE, JAMES, 200
MORSE, PROFESSOR S. F. B., 462
PALMER, POTTER, 88
PEABODY, GEORGE, 116
PULLMAN, GEORGE, 473
RALSTON, WILLIAM G., 112
ROTHSCHILD, NATHAN MAYER, 122
SAGE, RUSSELL, 14
SEWARD, WILLIAM H., 204
SEYMOUR, HORATIO, 289
SINGER, ISAAC M., 451
STANTON, EDWIN M., 332
STEPHENS, ALEXANDER H., 272
STEPHENSON, GEORGE, 421
STEWART, ALEXANDER T., 39
TAYLOR, MOSES, 110
TILDEN, SAMUEL J., 396
VAN BUREN, MARTIN, 263
VANDERBILT, CORNELIUS, 16
VASSAR, MATHEW, 84
WANNAMAKER, JOHN, 37
WATT, JAMES, 415
WEBSTER, DANIEL, 218
WEED, THURLOW, 69
WILSON, HENRY, 310
WHITNEY, ELI, 435

WHY SOME SUCCEED WHILE OTHERS FAIL.

SUCCESS AND FAILURE, 481
CONCENTRATION OF EFFORT, 486
SELF-RELIANCE, 490
ECONOMY OF TIME, 495
CAUSES OF FAILURE, 499

QUOTATIONS.

_A man, to succeed, must possess the necessary equanimity of temperament
to conceive an idea, the capacity to form it into some tangible shape,
the ingenuity to put it into practical operation, the ability to
favorably impress others with its merits, and the_ POWER _of_ WILL _that
is absolutely necessary to force it to success._

--THOMAS A. SCOTT.

_Labor rids us of three evils.--Tediousness, Vice and Poverty._

--CARLYLE.

"_Never start upon an undertaking until you are sure it is practicable
and ought to be done, and then let nothing stand long in the way of
accomplishing that undertaking. It is better to deserve success than to
have it; few deserve it who do not attain it._"

"_There is no failure in this country for those whose personal habits
are good, and who follow some honest calling industriously, unselfishly,
and purely. If one desires to succeed, he must pay the price_--WORK!"

_In order to succeed, a man must have a purpose fixed, then let his
motto be_ VICTORY OR DEATH.

--HENRY CLAY.

"_Be liberal but cautious; enterprising but careful._"

"_Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we
fall._"

_Fail!--Fail?_
_In the lexicon of youth, which Fate reserves for a bright manhood,
there is no such word_
_As--fail!_--"RICHELIEU."

_Benjamin Franklin has truly said: The road to wealth is as plain as the
road to mill._

DANIEL DREW.

Here is a great financier. A man of unusual ability; but who is no
exception to the rule, born poor. His success came by hard work and a
thorough mastery of his business. It is surprising how many Wall Street
operators began life on the farm. In the case of Daniel Drew, at the age
of only fifteen, matters were made worse by the death of his father.

At eighteen, he concluded to go to New York; but, after a discouraging
time of it, his money giving out, he was obliged to return to his home.
However, his trip did not prove a total failure, as subsequent events
show. While in the metropolis he heard that fat cattle could be sold
there at a profit over what he knew they could be bought for, at his
country home. He therefore resolved to go into the cattle business.
True, he had no money, he was a poor country lad, but this made little
difference with Drew's determination. As he had no money with which to
buy a drove for himself, he did the next best thing; this was to induce
the neighboring farmers to allow him to drive their cattle to market on
a commission plan. By this one act the reader can understand the
difference between Daniel Drew and the neighboring farm boys, many of
whom were better situated, doubtless, than was he.

Another characteristic he developed was economy; his money was saved and
with these small savings he added cattle to his drove which were his
own, hence, increased his profits; first one at a time, then two, when
at last he abandoned the commission business, becoming a drover on his
own account. Later, he took a partner and the firm of Drew & Co. became
the cattle kings of America. This was the first firm that ever drove
cattle from the West, and Drew, ever watchful for opportunities to add
to his already increasing income, bought a tavern which became, as Drew
knew it would under good management, the centre of the cattle business
in the city on market days.

As time passed, as a matter of course, following such a line of
procedure, he became a very rich man, and his disposition being of an
enterprising nature, he began to cast about him for new investments,
seeking new fields to conquer. The explosion of a boat on the Hudson,
discommoding for a time the existing line, offered to Drew the favorable
opportunity for which he was looking, and as was characteristic he at
once improved his chance. He immediately placed on the river the "Water
Witch"; the old line resumed business; the fares were reduced until the
profits of both companies were eaten up. The opposition tried to
intimidate, they tried to buy out, and then tried to negotiate some
other deals, but all in vain. On the contrary Drew put on the
"Westchester," and instead of stopping at Peekskill, he extended to
Albany. He next bought the "Bright Emerald," and started an evening
line. This was a new feature in those days and as it enabled the
business men to travel without loss of time, it became eminently
popular.

Drew was a man with a fertile mind; he made a study of whatever he
undertook; he was a hard man to beat. He bought the "Rochester," and
next bought out the old line. For a long time he had things pretty much
his own way; then came a new opposition. This time, through
negotiations, he won the opposition over and established the celebrated
"People's Line," naming their first boat after his new partner, "St.
John." Mr. Drew, in connection with others, formed the "Stonington Line"
between New York and Boston, and still later he opened the "Champlain
Transportation Company" from White Hall, New York, to Rouses Point,
Vermont. He next placed his shoulder under Erie, endorsing its paper to
the amount of ten millions. Later still he was elected President of this
company, and as Erie and Central are natural enemies, Vanderbilt and
Drew henceforth became hostile toward each other. Mr. Drew wanted to
extend Erie west. To do this he must get a special act of the
Legislature. Of course, he had Vanderbilt and Central, with all their
patronage, with which to contend, and a bitter fight it proved to be;
but in those days Daniel Drew seemed invincible in court, and the bill
passed, Erie re-issuing stock and extending its lines.

He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and to him is that
religious body indebted for that grand institution, "Drew Theological
Seminary." Many men would have made a worse use of vast wealth than did
Daniel Drew. He was a man who was quiet; he kept his "points," and was a
pleasing conversationalist. In 1879 he died, leaving two children.

RUSSELL SAGE.

This wonderful man was born at Verona, Oneida County, New York, over
sixty years ago. In early life, he determined to earn all that he could,
and spend less than he earned. When he arrived at the age of fifteen, he
removed to Troy, and entered the grocery store of one of his brothers.
Until eighteen years of age he remained here as a clerk when he had
saved money enough to buy an interest in another store of which another
brother was proprietor. Here he remained several years in successful
trade, when the partnership was dissolved. He next turned his attention
to the wholesale trade, dealing in grain, flour, pork, beef, etc., the
most of these ventures proving successful.

His towns' people, recognizing his business ability elected him alderman
for seven years, and later, treasurer of Rensselaer county. His fidelity
in these trusts won for him a seat in Congress, and he was re-elected by
an increased majority, serving both terms with great credit to himself
and party.

In 1860, he had succeeded so well that he could show $200,000 on the
credit side of his bank account. Seeking new fields to conquer, he
naturally gravitated to the money centre, New York. Since that time
Russell Sage has been as favorably known in Wall street as any broker in
the country. He occupies an office in the same building with Gould, and
scores of the leading spirits, with whom he mingles daily. He attends
strictly to business, and never even smokes. Mr. Sage deals in
everything which he deems "an investment,"--banks, railroad stock, real
estate, all receive his attention. He is a very cautious operator, and
cannot, by any possible means, be induced into a "blind pool." He has,
however, been very successful in the "street," and it is said has built
over three thousand miles of railroad. Russell Sage might easily be
mistaken for a church deacon, instead of the keen operator that he is.
However, no one in the "street" will give away "points" to his friends
sooner than he. The _Troy Times_ once mentioned several people who said
that Mr. Sage had pointed out to them investments, of which they could
never have known but for him, each investment having yielded them
thousands of dollars. He often gives friends the benefit of his splendid
opportunities, which makes him a general favorite among all brokers. Mr.
Sage enjoys the confidence and friendship of some of the leading
operators, among whom are Jay Gould.

He is a man of marked ability, and honesty. He never fails to meet any
of his obligations, nor will he allow others to neglect theirs. Of
course, he is careful what he agrees to do, but always does just as he
agrees, regardless of cost. For this reason he is known in Wall street
as "Old Integrity." Russell Sage is a shrewd, close calculator, and is
worth many millions, the result of improving his opportunities. He is a
consistent member of the Evangelical Church, and is very charitable.
Long may such men live, for we have many worse.

CORNELIUS VANDERBILT.

Vanderbilt, a synonym for wealth and luxury. Who indeed has not wished
that he could have at least a small part of the vast wealth possessed by
the Vanderbilts? Yet, when Cornelius Vanderbilt was a boy, he enjoyed
far less privileges to make money than the majority who now look on and
wish; but Cornelius Vanderbilt differed from other boys of his age. One
difference was his strong determination.

It was then, much as it is now, boys liked to spend their money and have
a good time.

It was a common saying in the neighborhood where he lived, 'that when
Corneel. Vanderbilt concludes to do anything it will certainly be done.'
A ship stranded off the shore; young Cornelius' father took the contract
to transfer the cargo to New York city. This was a job requiring many
teams and a force of men to carry the produce to a different part of the
island where they were to be taken by water to New York. Although but
twelve years old, young Vanderbilt was given control of this part of the
work. His father, by accident, neglected to furnish him the money with
which to pay his ferriage. Here he was, a lad twelve years old, with no
money, in charge of a lot of horses which must be ferried over at a cost
of over five dollars. He hesitated but a moment; walking boldly up to
the hotel proprietor he said: "Sir, I am here without money, by
accident; if you will kindly advance me the money to pay the ferriage, I
will leave a horse as your security." The proprietor was a perfect
stranger to Vanderbilt, but he was struck with such enterprise. The
money was advanced, and the horse redeemed within forty-eight hours.

[Illustration: ENTERPRISE. Engraved Expressly for "Hidden Treasures"]

Vanderbilt wanted a small boat. On the tenth day of May, 1810, he went
to his mother and asked for the money with which to buy it. There was a
very rough piece of land on the parental farm which had never been
plowed. His mother told him that if he would plow, drag and plant that
field to corn within seventeen days, she would buy the boat for him. It
was a hard job, doubtless, the mother considered it an impossible one.
Vanderbilt, however, seemed never to recognize such a word, as can't. He
set about the work at once, and hard as it seemed to be, the task was
accomplished, the boat was bought, and Vanderbilt was a happy boy. He
had earned it. Now, as Vanderbilt did not want this boat for pleasure,
he at once began business carrying produce from Staten Island to New
York city. When the wind was unfavorable he used oars or a pole to aid
his sails, thus, his produce was always on time. People said, "Send your
stuff by Vanderbilt and you can depend on its being in season." Now
Vanderbilt had to give all of his earnings during the day time to his
parents, so he worked nights, but his father also required one-half of
what he earned nights, thus his opportunities were not as great as one
might think. He worked very hard and at the end of three years, it was
found that Corneel. Vanderbilt had saved for himself over, or about
$3,000 and the best of all, had earned the reputation of being the best
boatman on the river. While others were smoking and drinking, 'having
fun while they were young, for when would they if not then?' Vanderbilt
was either earning more money working over time, or at least saving
what he had earned, home asleep recruiting for the next day's labor.

He wished to marry a Miss Johnson, but could not unless his parents
would release him from all parental restrictions. He was only nineteen,
yet luckily for the young people the lady was a favorite of the father;
the desired permission was obtained and henceforth Vanderbilt had the
exclusive benefit of his labor. As he had begun, so he continued, and at
the age of twenty-three he was worth about $9,000. In 1817 he became
captain of the first steam boat that ever run between New York and New
Brunswick, New Jersey, at a salary of $1,000 per year. His wife proved
to be a helpmeet in the truest sense of the word, she at this time
keeping hotel at New Brunswick and making no small amount herself. Seven
years passed and Vanderbilt was made superintendent of the company of
which he had been an employe. If a man has ability and applies it, his
talent will not remain hid 'under a bushel.' His ability and indomitable
energy brought the "Gibbons Line" up to paying $40,000 a year. Seeing a
chance, for which he was ever on the alert, he leased the ferry between
New York and Elizabeth, New Jersey, for fourteen years, put on new boats
and it became a very profitable venture. In 1829 he left the "Gibbons
Line," and began to operate on the Hudson and between New York and
Boston; also on the Delaware river. He would start an opposition line,
and either drive off the old line or effect a compromise. In 1849 he
obtained from the Nicaraguan Government a charter for a steamship
company. He next went to England and raised the extra funds needed. He
then went personally and inspected the whole route that was used, and by
a system of cables fastened to trees, shortened the same about seven
hundred miles over all existing lines. He placed steamers on each ocean
and cut the fare from New York to San Francisco one-half. Soon he had
destroyed all opposition and then made immense profits. Afterward he
sold out for two millions.

Mr. Vanderbilt, like all successful men, made finance a study; he
foresaw that there were great profits to be realized in the near future
in the undeveloped railway systems in the country. To see a chance was
to at once set about planning to improve it. He at once began to
withdraw his money from the water and invest in railroads, which were
then coming rapidly to the front. The wisdom of Vanderbilt can be seen,
for at the beginning of the war, which he had been long expecting, his
money was all transferred from the water, and thus his interests were
not jeopardised by the war made upon our commerce. He, however, had
owned so many vessels, that he had long since been known as Commodore
Vanderbilt, in fact few people to-day know him by any other name. He, at
the beginning of hostilities, presented the government with a
magnificent steamship, the "Vanderbilt," worth $800,000. When he entered
the railroad business he was estimated at from thirty-five to forty
millions. He had dealt somewhat in New York and New Haven, and now began
to buy Harlem when it was in a most helpless and depressed condition. He
advanced a large sum to the company when it was in need, and for this,
among other things, he was made its President in 1863. By judicious
management and influences common in 'The street,' he successfully ran
Harlem from thirty to two hundred and eighty-five. Such a man was just
what the New York Central railroad desired, and after this great
'bulling' movement he became President of that road. All that was
needed now was the Hudson River road and this he bought outright,
becoming President of the New York Central and Hudson River Rail Road,
extending from New York to Buffalo.

At one time there was a bill to be voted on at Albany; the bill was in
the interest of Harlem; Mr. Vanderbilt was sure it would pass, but
Daniel Drew, his antagonist, who ever fought Harlem or Central as they
were against Erie, caused a counter movement to be made which defeated
the bill. Vanderbilt heard of it, and of course was disappointed but
made no foolish protests with the treacherous 'friends' at the capitol.
In the meantime these people were selling Harlem short for future
delivery, expecting that the stock would "take a tumble" when it became
known that the bill was defeated. As before said Vanderbilt said
nothing, but quietly bought up every scrap of stock there was to be
found loose. The fatal day came but Harlem stood firm. The derelict
Assemblymen were thunderstruck when they had to buy at a greatly
enhanced price, and many of the would-be victors were ruined. In 1873
the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad was operated in connection
with the Vanderbilt system, making a Palace Car route from New York city
to Chicago. From New York to Buffalo a quadruple track, thence a double
track.

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