It is then of the greatest possible importance that the men who control during their lifetime, and create endowments when they are dead, should share the best civilization of their age and country. It is also of the greatest importance that young men whom nature has fitted to be leaders should, at the beginning of life, take to the steep and thorny path which leads at length to mastership.
Most of these chapters were published originally in "The Ledger" of New York, and a few of them in "The Youths' Companion" of Boston, the largest two circulations in the country. I have occasionally had reason to think that they were of some service to young readers, and I may add that they represent more labor and research than would be naturally supposed from their brevity. Perhaps in this new form they may reach and influence the minds of future leaders in the great and growing realm of business. I should pity any young man who could read the briefest account of what has been done in manufacturing towns by such men as John Smedley and Robert Owen without forming a secret resolve to do something similar if ever he should win the opportunity.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
| David Maydole, Hammer-Maker | [9] |
| Ichabod Washburn, Wire-Maker | [18] |
| Elihu Burritt, the Learned Blacksmith | [27] |
| Michael Reynolds, Engine-Driver | [36] |
| Major Robert Pike, Farmer | [43] |
| George Graham, Clock-Maker, buried in Westminster Abbey | [51] |
| John Harrison, Exquisite Watch-Maker | [58] |
| Peter Faneuil, and the Great Hall he built | [65] |
| Chauncey Jerome, Yankee Clock-Maker | [79] |
| Captain Pierre Laclede Liguest, Pioneer | [89] |
| Israel Putnam, Farmer | [96] |
| George Flower, Pioneer | [104] |
| Edward Coles, Noblest of the Pioneers, and his Great Speech | [117] |
| Peter H. Burnett, Banker | [126] |
| Gerrit Smith | [133] |
| Peter Force, Printer | [140] |
| John Bromfield, Merchant | [148] |
| Frederick Tudor, Ice Exporter | [156] |
| Myron Holley, Market-Gardener | [163] |
| The Founders of Lowell | [170] |
| Robert Owen, Cotton-Manufacturer | [180] |
| John Smedley, Stocking-Manufacturer | [188] |
| Richard Cobden, Calico Printer | [195] |
| Henry Bessemer | [206] |
| John Bright, Manufacturer | [212] |
| Thomas Edward, Cobbler and Naturalist | [224] |
| Robert Dick, Baker and Naturalist | [232] |
| John Duncan, Weaver and Botanist | [240] |
| James Lackington, Second-Hand Bookseller | [247] |
| Horace Greeley's Start | [254] |
| James Gordon Bennett, and how he founded his "Herald" | [264] |
| Three John Walters, and their Newspaper | [275] |
| George Hope | [288] |
| Sir Henry Cole | [294] |
| Charles Summers | [300] |
| William B. Astor, House-Owner | [307] |
| Peter Cooper | [313] |
| Paris-Duverney, French Financier | [332] |
| Sir Rowland Hill | [342] |
| Marie-Antoine Carème, French Cook | [349] |
| Wonderful Walker, Parson of all Work | [355] |
| Sir Christopher Wren | [363] |
| Sir John Rennie, Engineer | [372] |
| Sir Moses Montefiore | [379] |
| Marquis of Worcester, Inventor of the Steam-Engine | [385] |
| An Old Dry-Goods Merchant's Recollections | [392] |
PORTRAITS.
| ICHABOD WASHBURN | [Frontispiece.] |
| CHAUNCEY JEROME | [79] |
| GERRIT SMITH | [133] |
| MYRON HOLLEY | [163] |
| JOHN BRIGHT | [212] |
| JOHN DUNCAN | [240] |
| PETER COOPER | [313] |
| SIR ROWLAND HILL | [342] |