Great Fortunes, and How They Were Made | Page 7

Yale
College--Becomes an artist--His masters--Visits England--His first
attempt--"The Dying Hercules"--Opinion of Benjamin West--Wins the
medal of the Adelphi Society of Arts--Ambition as an artist--His cold
reception by the Americans--Mr. Tuckerman's comments--Organizes
the National Academy of Design--Visits Europe the second time--The
homeward voyage in the "Sully"--News of the experiments at Paris
with the electro-magnet--How the electric telegraph was
invented--Morse is made a professor in the University of New
York--Completion of his model--An imperfect telegraph--His first
experiments--The duplicate finished--First exhibition of the
telegraph--Morse applies for a patent--Visits Europe to introduce his
invention--His failure--Seeks aid from Congress--A disheartening
effort--A long struggle--Independence of Morse--Despondent at last--A
sudden lifting of the cloud--The experimental line--The trial--A curious
Cabinet Minister--Success of the telegraph--Establishment of
companies in the United States--Professor Morse wins fame and
fortune--The telegraph in Europe--Honors at home and abroad--A list
of his rewards--Morse originates submarine telegraphy, and predicts the
laying of an Atlantic telegraph--Personal characteristics.
IV. PUBLISHERS.
CHAPTER XXI.
JAMES HARPER.
The Brothers Harper--Birth and parentage of James Harper--The Long
Island home--James Harper goes to New York--Becomes a

"devil"--Winning his way--How he gave his card to a stranger--Arrival
of "Brother John"---Good habits--Sets up for himself--"J. & J. Harper,
Printers"--How they started in business--Integrity rewarded--First
job--Their first effort at stereotyping--The Harpers become publishers
on their own account--Their early ventures--Feeling their way to
success--Their publications--Character of their books--How they drove
the "yellow covers" out of the market--Their prosperity--Admission of
new partners--The great fire--Destruction of the establishment of
Harper & Brothers--Energy of the firm--Re-establishment of their
business--Their new premises--Description of the buildings--Personal
characteristics of Mr. James Harper--Religious life--Liberality of
sentiment--His industry--Elected Mayor of New York--Kindness to his
operatives--Physical Vigor--"The Lord knows best"--Accident to Mr.
Harper and his daughter--His death.
CHAPTER XXII.
JAMES T. FIELDS.
The old "Corner Book-store" in Boston and its associations--Carter &
Bendee employ a new clerk--Birth and early life of James T.
Fields--His literary talent--Governor Woodbury's advice--Enters
mercantile life--Determined to rise--His studies--The result--Associated
with Edward Everett at the age of eighteen--His business talent--Steady
promotion--Becomes head clerk with Allen & Ticknor--Establishment
of the firm of Ticknor & Fields--Success as a publisher--High character
of his house--Relations toward authors--Publications of Ticknor &
Fields--Removal--Organization of the firm of Fields, Osgood &
Co.--The new book-store--An elegant establishment--Mr. Field's
literary success--Statement of a friend--"Common Sense"--His
contributions to the periodicals of the firm--Travels in
Europe--Personal appearance.
V. EDITORS.
CHAPTER XXIII.

JAMES GORDON BENNETT.
Birth--Intended for the Romish priesthood--How he was induced to
come to America--Arrival in Halifax--Comes to the United
States--What came of a shilling--Employment in Boston--Reaches New
York--Attempts to establish a school--Becomes connected with the
press--Success of his Washington letters--Services on the "Courier and
Inquirer"--Leaves that journal--Removes to Philadelphia--Establishes
"The Pennsylvanian"--Ingratitude of his political associates--Returns to
New York--Establishment of "The New York Herald"--Early
difficulties of that paper, and how Bennett surmounted them--The first
"Herald" office--A determined effort to succeed--First numbers of "The
Herald"--How one man carried on a newspaper--A lucky hit--The first
"money article"--The office burned down--The great fire--Bennett's
reports of the disaster--Success of "The Herald"--His first advertising
contract--Increasing prosperity--The journal of to-day--How it is
conducted--The new "Herald" office--Bennett's pride in his
paper--Personal characteristics--His independence.
CHAPTER XXIV.
ROBERT BONNER.
Birth and parentage--Emigration to America--Becomes a printer--A
first-class compositor--Engaged upon the "Evening Mirror"--The
"Merchant's Ledger"--Bonner purchases the paper, and changes its
name to the "New York Ledger"--The new literary journal--Predictions
of failure--Bonner confident of success--Engages Fanny Fern to write
for him--A handsome price for a story--Wonderful success of the
"Ledger"--Skillful advertising--Popularity of the paper--How Bonner
silenced the critics--"Edward Everett writes for the 'Ledger'"--How
Bonner treats his contributors--"Henry Ward Beecher writes for the
'Ledger'"--Immense circulation of the paper--The new "Ledger"
building--Private residence of Mr. Bonner--His stable--His love for
horses.
VI. LAWYERS.

CHAPTER XXV.
JOHN MARSHALL.
The model American lawyer--Birth and early life of John Marshall--A
devoted father--Early education--The young patriot--Troubles with
England--Marshall becomes a soldier--The "Culpepper Minute
Men"--Marshall's popularity in the army--Finishes his law studies--His
journey from Williamsburg to Philadelphia--Commences the practice
of the law--Elected to the Legislature--Establishes himself in
Richmond--The power of a powdered wig and velvet coat--Marshall's
services in the Virginia Convention of 1798--Becomes the champion of
Washington's Administration--Refuses public honors--Is made Minister
to France --Public reception in New York--Elected Member of
Congress--His memorable speech--Enters the Cabinet of President
Adams as Secretary of State--Is made Chief Justice of the United
States--His record--His "Life of Washington"--Personal
characteristics--His generosity--William Wirt's pen and ink sketch of
him--His courtesy and kindness--Fondness for manly sports--The quoit
club--How he carried a proud man's turkey home--The supper
party--The Chief Justice loses the wager--Mode of traveling on his
circuit--The scene at Maguire's Hotel in Winchester, Virginia--The
unknown champion of Christianity--A brilliant defense--Last illness
and death of Judge Marshall.
CHAPTER XXVI.
JAMES T. BRADY.
Birth and early life--His "big head"--His kindliness of
disposition--Enters his father's office to study law--Merry nature--How
he studied law--A model for ambitious youths--His father's opinion of
him--Admitted to the