“That is smaller, of course, as establishments grow larger and more
valuable. It is all bosh for every man to expect to become a Vanderbilt
or a Rockefeller, or to be President. But, in the long run, a man will
still rise and prosper in almost exact proportion to his real value to
the business world. He will rise or fall according to his ability.”
“Can he develop ability?”
“Yes, to a certain extent. As I have said, we are not all alike, and no
amount of cultivation will make some minds equal to those of others who
have had but little training. But, whether great or small, everyone has
some weak point; let him first study to overcome that.”
“How can he do it?”
“The only way I know of is to—do it. But this brings me back to what
I told you at first. A good mother will show one how to guard against
his weak points. She should study each child and develop his individual
character, for character is the true foundation, after all. She should
check extravagance and encourage industry and self-respect. My mother
is one of the best, and I feel that I owe her a debt I can never repay.
If I have one thing more than another to be thankful for, it is her
care in childhood and her advice and sympathy through life. How often
have I thought of her wisdom when I have seen mothers from Europe,
where they were satisfied to be peasants, seek to outshine all their
neighbors after they have been in America a few years, and so bring
financial ruin to their husbands or even goad them into crime, and
curse their children with contempt for honest labor in positions for
which they are fitted, and a foolish desire to keep up appearances,
even by living beyond their means and by seeking positions they cannot
fill properly.”
“You must have been quite young when you began to build boats?”