The secret of success; or, How to get on in the world

Disastrous consequences of instability—Example from the career of

Lord Brougham-A blur on the photograph-Men in earnest-

Fowell Buxton and Rothschild-"Stick to your brewery"

Lawson's start in life- A man's power should be mainly

directed towards a single object-Good and evil of versatility

-Examples-Avoid the foppery of universality-Fowell Bux-

ton's words-Concentration of aim-The great want of the

present time-Successful men of business-Astor the free-

trader and his steadfastness of purpose-The late Mr. Brassey's

rule-Secret of Faraday's success-A Scotch anecdote-Men

of one aim; what they have accomplished-Distinction be-

tween one aim and one idea-Adhere to one purpose, but

gather knowledge everywhere-Examples-Lord St. Leonard's

and his secret of success-Admirable Crichtons—Mental dissipa-

tion a cause of failure,

THE THREE P'S-PUNCTUALITY, PRUDENCE, AND

PERSEVERANCE.

In what sense the young man may deserve success-In what way he
may hope to win it-Three leading principles must regulate his
conduct-These are specially necessary in business-Examples
-Mr. Astor, Saul Alley, and Cornelius Lawrence-Girard and

CONTENTS.

John Smith-Perseverance illustrated by the life of Walter
Powell-The patience of genius-Examples-What has been
accomplished by patient resolution-Value of persistent effort-
Example-Story of Sebastian Gomez-Early_career of Lord
Eldon-Heroic perseverance of Euler-Henry Fawcett-Talent
versus energy-Thomas Erskine-Palissy the potter-Long-
fellow's "Keramos"-Work should be done in Palissy's spirit-
Mrs. Butler's advice to young men-Bishop Temple on the way
to study-Lessons from the lives of great lawyers-Examples
from other professions - Dr. Adam Clark — Samuel Drew-
Honoré de Balzac-Frederick Perthes, the German publisher
and patriot-An American politician's account of his early
struggles-The thirst after knowledge as an incentive to effort
-Examples-Combined influence of perseverance and patience
is irresistible-Story of Hippolyte Flandrin-What it teaches-
Importance of punctuality-A disregard of it dishonest to others
-Examples and anecdotes,

vii

PAGE

75-103

CHAPTER V.

BUSINESS HABITS.

In the battle of life we must preserve our self-control-What Robert

Ainsworth said-What Thomas Carlyle said-Self-control is

never in a hurry-The Cashmere Gate of Delhi-Lord Beacons-

field-Lord Lytton-Self-control a support in the hour of trial-

"In the reproof of chance lies the true proof of men "-Clear-

ness of judgment essential to success-What is "luck"?-Men

make their own "luck"-Illustrations-Erskine and Taine re-

futed-Gray's well-known lines examined -An inquiry into

supposed instances of "luck"-The strong mind independent

of circumstances-Doing the right thing at the right time-The

prudent man seizes his opportunity, as Lundy Foot did-The

New York merchant-Never find fault with your tools-Mix

your colours "with brains"-Examples-Self-reliance: what it

means and does-Benvenuto Cellini-Heaven helps those who

help themselves-James Halford-Learn to stand alone-The

teaching of sorrow and suffering-Value of effort-Defect of

modern educational systems-Each one of us has his place and

work - Examples-A story from real life-The New York

florist-Self-reliance illustrated in the career of Thomas Brassey

-Mr. Grigg, the Philadelphia publisher-His advice to young

men-Learn to be thrifty-Do not take too much advice-Be

punctual - Attend to details-Eschew selfishness - Accustom

yourself to think vigorously-Some remarks upon tact-Tact

and talent contrasted-Tact and common sense-Men who

have succeeded through tact-Mistakes of men who have no

tact-Tact is practical talent-An illustration-Value of tact

in business operations-Decision an important business quality
-Illustrations of its usefulness-How far it is a physical quality
-How far a habit of prompt resolution acquired by cultivation
-All other business qualities neutralised by its absence-Put
your foot down-Illustration from the life of Napoleon—Irre-
solution the sign of a weak mind-Power and promptitude-
Remarks of Dr. John Brown-Dr. Reid of Peebles-Decision
of a great surgeon - Anecdote of Mrs. Robertson - George
Moore, the London merchant-His success due to decision of
character - Contrast between the Earl of Chatham and Sir
James Mackintosh - The man of decision versus the man of
promise-Upon force of character-Men without a backbone
-Story of the life of George Wilson--Business habits-The

power of habit illustrated and enforced-Necessity of forma-

tion of good habits-Regular habits a portion of the discipline

of life-Greatness results from the cultivation of good habits-

Examples - Habit of accuracy-Quotation from Sir Arthur

Helps-George Washington - Habit of minding one's own

business-Illustrative anecdotes-Men of business as men of

letters, poets, historians, statesmen, and the like-John Jacob

Astor Observing the Lord's day- A sea-captain's story-

Habit of gentle manners-Effect of courtesy in the ordinary

relations of life-Manners and morals-The essence of courtesy

expressed by Wordsworth--Anecdotes and examples-Faraday

-Herbert Ingram-Mr. Winans of Philadelphia-Orators and

their manners-Emerson on a "beautiful behaviour"-Cour-

tesy a safeguard against egotism-Merit and modesty-Con-

cerning the avoidance of originality-Think over "a line for

yourself”—Genius and sense defined—The difference between

servile imitation or copying and catching up a suggestion from

the work of others-Limits within which originality is now-a-

days practicable or possible— Examples — Literary imitative-

BUSINESS MEN AND BUSINESS NOTES.

Shop rhetoric-The_mendacity of business denounced-Illustra-
tions-Douglas Jerrold on the English tradesman-A plea for
honesty of dealing-Story of Lafitte-Fowler the Scotch
brewer-Honesty is the best policy-On the acquisition of
money as a means-A warning against avarice-The generosity
of commercial men-Business and piety-Joshua Watson, a
Christian merchant-William Cotton the engineer-Sir Wil-
liam Brown of Liverpool-Dr. Robert Chambers-The colossal
prosperity of the Rothschilds-The secret of their success em-
bodied in two principles-Anecdotes of Nathan Meyer Roths-

CONTENTS,

child-His business energy and sagacity-Career of John Jacob

Astor-Evils of poverty-Considerations on money-making-

Sir Henry Taylor quoted-How the rich man may be miserably

poor-Making a noble use of wealth-Anecdote of a Boston

merchant-Good deeds of Samuel Gurney-Hardships of the

position of a great merchant or large employer of labour-

Sketch of Mr. William Astor's operations-Colossal occupa-

tions of George Stephenson-Benevolence of Richard Rey-

nolds-A strange character: Mr. M'Donogh, the New Orleans

millionaire-His explanation of the secret of success-The

qualities which secure success in business identical with those

which secure success in art, literature, or science-Examples-

Josiah Wedgwood-Blaise Pascal-James Irving of Glasgow-

Goodsir the anatomist-Establishment of the financial house

of the Barclays-Moral of the life of Thomas Coutts-Anec-

dotes-Romance of the early life of Jacques Lafitte-Ouvrard,

the great French financier-Jacques Coeur, a mediæval mer-

chant-prince-James Hanway, the philanthropist―The Ameri-

can pianoforte manufacturer and the young musician-General

conclusions drawn from the anecdotes and illustrations of the

preceding pages-The work we have to do is the best work,

and the work that ought to be done-The lesson of toil-Ad-

dison's eulogium upon trade-Heroes of peace,

CHAPTER VII.

THE RACE AND THE ATHLETE.

PAGE

183-243

Life compared to a race-No prize can be won without prepara-
tion-1. On physical preparation.-Relations between body
and soul, body and mind-A plea for muscles-Kingsley-
Henry Ward Beecher-The best things are done by men of
sound body-Examples-Physical vigour often synonymous
with intellectual vigour-Examples-Wordsworth's wise poetry
-An hour's gardening a remedy for many ills-The victories
of England due to the hardy training of Englishmen-A work-
ing constitution essential to success, and procurable only by
exercise in the open air-Outlines of a hygienic system-Its
leading points-Temperance-Open-air exercise-Examples
and comments-2. On mental preparation. — Influence of
friendships upon the character-Value of a good wife-Advan-
tages of early marriages under due safeguards-General remarks
on mental training-Economy of mental power recommended-
To avoid defeat " a reserve "must be kept up-Such a "re-
can be acquired only by severe self-discipline-Exam-
ples-Goethe-General Sheridan-Daniel Webster the Ameri-
can orator-Binney's advice to a young clergyman-Patient
study and patient thinking-We must read to think-Albert