We acknowledge our indebtedness to the publishers of the “Literary Digest,” of “Collier’s Weekly,” of the “American Review of Reviews,” and others who kindly loaned valuable photographs for reproduction, and also to members of the SUCCESS editorial staff for valuable assistance in the preparation of this volume. THE PUBLISHERS. CONTENTS INVENTION. CHAPTER PAGE I. Hard Work, the Secret of a Great Inventor’s Genius—_Thomas Alva Edison_ 17 II. A “Down-East” Yankee Who Dictates Peace to the Nations—_Hiram Stevens Maxim_ 35 MANUFACTURE. III. A Poor Boy Who Once Borrowed Books Now Gives Away Libraries—_Andrew Carnegie_ 51 IV. A Good Shoemaker Becomes Detroit’s Best Mayor and Michigan’s Greatest Governor—_Hazen S. Pingree_ 71 COMMERCE. V. Determination Not to Remain Poor Made a Farmer Boy Merchant Prince—_Marshall Field_ 80 VI. Honesty the Foundation of a Great Merchant’s Career—_John Wanamaker_ 92 VII. A British Boy Wins Fortune and Title by American Business Methods—_Sir Thomas Lipton_ 108 FINANCE. VIII. A Self-made Man Who Strives to Give Others a Chance—_Darius Ogden Mills_ 117 IX. Thrift, the Secret of a Fortune Built in a Single Lifetime—_Russell Sage_ 125 X. Cut Out for a Banker, He Rose from Errand Boy to Secretary of the United States Treasury—_Lyman Judson Gage_ 131 XI. A Young Millionaire Not Afraid to Work in Overalls—_Cornelius Vanderbilt_ 138 TRANSPORTATION. XII. A Messenger Boy’s Zeal Lifts Him to the Head of the World’s Greatest Telegraph System—_Robert C. Clowry_ 144 XIII. Enthusiasm for Railroading Makes a Section Hand Head of the Metropolitan System—_Herbert H. Vreeland_ 152 LABOR. XIV. A Factory Boy’s Purpose to Improve Labor Makes Him a Great Leader—_Samuel Gompers_ 164 PUBLIC LIFE. XV. A Puny Boy, by Physical Culture, Becomes the Most Vigorous of American Presidents—_Theodore Roosevelt_ 173 XVI. A Brave Volunteer Fights His Way to the Head of the American Army—_Nelson A. Miles_ 188 XVII. Making the Most of His Opportunities Wins a Coveted Embassy—_Joseph H. Choate_ 196