possible for people who spring, as he did, from the midst of the people.
In old-settled and wealthy countries we must be content, at best, with
slower and less lofty promotion. But the lesson of Garfield's life is
not for America only, but for the whole world of workers everywhere. The
same qualities which procured his success there will produce a
different, but still a solid success, anywhere else. As Garfield himself
fittingly put it, with his usual keen American common sense, "There is
no more common thought among young people than the foolish one, that by-
and-by something will turn up by which they will suddenly achieve fame
or fortune. No, young gentlemen; things don't turn up in this world
unless somebody turns them up."




VII.

THOMAS EDWARD, SHOEMAKER.


It is the object of this volume to set forth the lives of working men
who through industry, perseverance, and high principle have raised
themselves by their own exertions from humble beginnings. Raised
themselves! Yes; but to what? Not merely, let us hope, to wealth and
position, not merely to worldly respect and high office, but to some
conspicuous field of real usefulness to their fellow men. Those whose
lives we have hitherto examined did so raise themselves by their own
strenuous energy and self-education. Either, like Garfield and Franklin,
they served the State zealously in peace or war; or else, like
Stephenson and Telford, they improved human life by their inventions and