The concluding chapters of the autobiography have a most valuable lesson for every American, young or old. In them Mr. Bok calls upon us to give a helping hand to the other fellow and to accept in more genuine spirit the gospel of the brotherhood of man. The civic pride that urged him to join in the movement to beautify his home community of Merion and that caused his activity in the raising of an endowment fund of almost two million dollars for the Philadelphia Orchestra is what we would expect of the idealist who sets out to observe the wise precept of his Dutch grandparents: "Make you the world a bit more beautiful and better because you have been in it." Throughout the book the observant reader will note the author's pride in his Dutch ancestry and his consciousness of the fact that he owes so much to the splendid qualities of his forbears. Such pride may be shared by every other progressive American of foreign birth or parentage who feels that he is bringing into our social and industrial life certain commendable traits that characterize the best sons and daughters of his fatherland, whatever that fatherland may be. The admirable dedication that Mr. Bok has prepared for this little volume is addressed to American schoolboys and schoolgirls, but its message is just as vital for the older reader. In the prime of life and on the threshold of his Third Period, Mr. Bok has begun to give practical demonstration of the kind of service that is possible for those who are sincerely ready to serve. He is alive to the fact that as a nation we are still young and eager to learn. We have made serious mistakes in the past and our institutions are as yet far from perfect, but with more of our intellectual leaders accepting the watchword of altruistic service in the spirit of Mr. Bok's conception, there can be virtually no limitations to the part that America seems destined to play in the future. JOHN L. HANEY CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL PHILADELPHIA CONTENTS EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION AN INTRODUCTION OF TWO PERSONS CHAPTER I. THE FIRST DAYS IN AMERICA II. THE FIRST JOB: FIFTY CENTS A WEEK III. THE HUNGER FOR SELF-EDUCATION IV. A PRESIDENTIAL FRIEND AND A BOSTON PILGRIMAGE V. GOING TO THE THEATRE WITH LONGFELLOW VI. PHILLIPS BROOKS'S BOOKS AND EMERSON'S MENTAL MIST VII. A PLUNGE INTO WALL STREET VIII. STARTING A NEWSPAPER SYNDICATE IX. THE FIRST "WOMAN'S PAGE," "LITERARY LEAVES," AND ENTERING SCRIBNER'S X. THE CHANCES FOR SUCCESS XI. LAST YEARS IN NEW YORK XII. SUCCESSFUL EDITORSHIP XIII. BUILDING UP A MAGAZINE XIV. MEETING A REVERSE OR TWO XV. ADVENTURES IN ART AND IN CIVICS XVI. THEODORE ROOSEVELT'S INFLUENCE XVII. THE PRESIDENT AND THE BOY XVIII. ADVENTURES IN MUSIC XIX. A WAR MAGAZINE AND WAR ACTIVITIES XX. THE THIRD PERIOD XXI. WHERE AMERICA FELL SHORT WITH ME XXII. WHAT I OWE TO AMERICA