SELF-MADE MEN WHO HAVE SUCCEEDED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 7 September 1907, Page 4

SELF-MADE MEN WHO HAVE SUCCEEDED.

In all ages and in every land, men have won fame in spile of humble birth and poverty, and in the face of circumstances.

No handicap is too great for the man who means to win. Here are some notable instances.

Sir Richard Arkwright, inventor of the cotton-spinning frame, was a barber.

John Bunyan, author of "The Pilgrim's Progress," was a travelling tinker. Robert Burns, Scotland's lyric poet, was the son of a poor nurseryman, and [ was himself a small farmer and revenue officer.

Christopher Columbus, discoverer of the New World, was a sailor, the son of a wool-comber.

Daniel Defoe, author of "Robinson Crusoe," was the son of a butcher. Charles Dickens was a label-sticker in a shoe-blacking factory. Ben Jon-on, on whose grave in Westminster Abbey is the famous lniieription, "0 rare lien Jonson," was a poor boy, the stepson of a bricklayer.

John Keats, author of "Endymion," was the son of a hostler.

Linnaeus, the great Swedish uaturilist, was a poor student who mended his shoes with paper and often depended on chance generosity for a- meal.

Thomas Moore, author of the "Irish Melodies," was the son of a country grocer.

Napoleon was a penniless second lieutenant ill 178j; ill ISO 4 lie was crowned an Emperor. Samuel Kichardson, tin; first famous novelist, was a journeyman printer, the son of a carpuuier.

William Shakespeare was the son of a glover in a little country town; both his grandfathers were husoaudmen. (ieoige Stephenson, the inventor of the locomotive, was the son of a fireman at a colliery, and began lite as his father's helper. 'i'rajan, perhaps the greatest of all Home's Emperors, \va= ilia: sou of a common soldier, and began has career ill the ranks.

James Watt, inventor of the condensing sleaui-eugme, was the sou of a small merchant who Jailed in business.

Cardinal Wolsey. iieury \ ili.'s famous i'rinio iliuisler, was the son of a butcher.