The veteran philanthropist, 

William W. Corcoran was born in 1798. He began his business career in Georgetown, but for many years he has been a resident of Washington. At twenty he went into business for himself, beginning as an auctioneer. After several years of successful business, he was obliged to suspend, during the depressed times of 1838.

After this, he was married to the beautiful daughter of Commodore Morris, of the United States Navy, much to the disgust of that gentleman, who little dreamed[119] what an illustrious son-in-law Mr. Corcoran was destined to become.

Some years of hard struggle followed, but at last, it was found that he had won for himself a somewhat extended reputation as a financier, which gained for him a partnership with the successful banker, Riggs.

 This firm began to deal in United States Government securities, which were then at a low ebb abroad. Being a friend of George Peabody, the great London banker, his firm was enabled to materially aid the Government in its financial straits during the Mexican war. 

As the firm prospered, Mr. Corcoran became wealthy, and this money he laid out in Washington real estate, the rapid rise of which made him a millionaire. As Mr. Corcoran prospered he began to think of those old debts. 

When he had failed he secured favorable terms with his creditors

 And legally was not bound for one cent, but he recognized a higher obligation than law made by man: hunting up all those old customers, creditors of his, he paid them not only the principal but the interest that had been accumulating all these years. By this one act, we gain a glimpse of the inner heart and impulses of this great and good man.

Thousands of dollars found their way into the hands of charity, but then his desire to aid and gratify humanity was not satisfied.

On May 10th, 1869, the grounds and institution for the Corcoran Art Gallery was deeded to trustees, and later was incorporated by Congress, being exempted forever from taxation. The gallery is situated directly opposite the State, War, and Navy buildings. It has a frontage of one hundred and six feet; it is built of fine, pressed brick; and is one of the most attractive buildings in the whole City of Washington. The whole building[120] cost $250,000, and the donor placed there in his own private collection of paintings and statuary, valued at $100,000. 

Not satisfied with this he has added an endowment fund of $500,000. Many rare and beautiful works of art have been purchased abroad, as well as American works of rare value. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays the gallery is free; on alternate days an admission of twenty-five cents is charged. When it is considered how many there are who would naturally take advantage of the free days, and then that the annual income is over $75,000, one can form some idea of the attractiveness of this institution. 

Mr. Corcoran's desire was to elevate the American taste in the finer arts

And the thousands of visitors which the institution attracts indicates to what an extent he has succeeded. The lower floor is devoted to statues and to the exhibition of sculpture. The second floor is occupied by several hundred rare and costly paintings, representing the advance of art during the past centuries. The gallery is, probably, all things considered, the finest of the kind in the country.

Another institution of wide celebrity is the Louisa Home, founded by Mr. Corcoran in 1871. It is a magnificent building, conspicuously situated in the most fashionable part of the city, the West End. 

William W. Corcoran Gallery

This is a most worthy institution, designed for ladies who have been reduced from affluence to poverty, affording them a home where they can mingle with a class of people congenial to their refined natures. This building is a beautiful brick structure, four stories high, erected at a cost of $200,000. Visitors are welcome every afternoon.

These are only two of the many gifts and enterprises which originated with the venerable banker. George Peabody and William Corcoran were boys together; how[121] similar their lives have been. Would that there were more Corcorans, more Peabodys. 

Mr. Corcoran has given several millions to charity and art; how we envy him—not for his wealth, but his reputation, or better, would that we could do as much good in the world as these two great men did.

Read More

Does Success has Anything to do with Luck

Some succeed while others fail. 

   This is a recognized fact, yet history tells us that seven-tenths of our successful men have started their poor lives. As our title indicates, we will strive to show "why some succeed while others fail." 

  Knowing that everyone wants success and recognizing the old saying, "The example is the best of teachers", we selected representative characters from the multitude of successful people who have climbed the ladder of success, starting from the bottom round. 

I followed them from childhood to manhood, living long on the traits of character that made them so rich and successful, believing that a careful study will convince everyone that the proverbial "good luck" has little to do with it. On the contrary, one is taught those lessons of self-help and self-confidence, which are so essential to success in life's struggles. 


                                                                                                                                                                         

We are afraid to think about how many of our young people are drifting without purpose in life and not to understand that they owe humanity their best efforts. 




We are all familiar with the parable of the servant slut who buried his talent - everyone can choose to take his example. 
Or be a become a leader of his life and start nurturing those big ideas for a wealthy, prosperous life.

To those who really want and believe that they will succeed, we respectfully present these examples.

Read More

Amos Lawrence - Against All Odds

                  Smoking&Drinking: The most Destructive Habits that Lead to Poverty

If they would examine the lives of a great many of our most wealthy and influential men of to-day, they would be surprised to learn how few even smoke.

If you see a man with a high hat, gaudily dressed, smoking and seemingly inviting your attention at some horse trot, where he is making a great display of wealth in the way of bets, you can set it down as pretty certain that that man is a clerk working for $10 or $15 per week, or at best, a mere curb-stone broker who will never rise to anything higher. 

One would hardly take that plain old gentleman, walking along the street yonder, for other than a country deacon, yet the check of Russell Sage will be recognized and honored to the number of millions. Jay Gould never enjoys himself more than when at home.

Amos Lawrence had not the benefit of the philanthropic teaching of our age, but he had a common sense and a sense of taste and judgment far in advance of his time. These were the principles with which he laid the foundation to that great fortune and enviable reputation which he lived to enjoy, and which his name will ever recall. 

We have seen that good habits were the foundation of his success. He also improved his opportunities. He became perfectly familiar with the drug department of the store. He determined early in life to become a wealthy and influential man. To determine to do anything is half the battle. 

Men who understand these maxims are men who invariably succeed.

• "Doubt indulged becomes doubt realized." 
• "To think a thing impossible is to make it so." 
• "Courage is victory, timidity is defeat." 

 I say invariably—a man may think he understands when he is groping in midnight darkness. A young man who really is destined to succeed, not only intends to become a rich man, or whatever he aspires to be, but lays plans to that end, and is not discouraged if they are blasted. He only recognizes that he is foiled, for the time being, and never doubts his ability to succeed ultimately. There is a difference between blustering braggadocio and quiet, unassuming confidence in one's self. One leads to certain victory, the other, to as certain defeat.

Young Lawrence had served his seven long years of apprenticeship, and had no better opportunity presented itself, he would have succeeded, for he had his plans carefully laid to remain in Groton, and if he had, he would have succeeded. But a merchant who had seen him at the store of his employer no sooner learned of his release than he immediately hired him to come to Boston to enter his store there. 

"Seest thou a man diligent in his business, he shall stand before kings, he shall not stand before mean men." 

Thither he went part of the way on foot; the rest of the way with an accommodating neighbor who was driving in that direction. He determined to make for himself here a record for honesty, and so well did he succeed, that the next year he started a business for himself, his principal capital being his reputation and acknowledged ability. 

Real wealth and distinction never invite your attention. 

He developed a system in his business; he paid every bill on the spot; if he could not pay cash, instead of the regular custom of book accounts, he gave his note, thus no complications could arise to embarrass him. He knew when the money was expected on every bill, and made his calculation, and was never known to be taken by surprise. 

He was reasonably cautious—he never would promise to do what he might possibly be unable to accomplish. 

He prospered—of course, he would. Such business principles, pushed by system as Lawrence pushed them, must bring success to any young man.

Another thing, to anyone who may now imagine he, perhaps, entered the business on the tide of prosperity, we desire simply to say, on the contrary, from 1808 to 1815 was one of the dullest periods our mercantile history can recount. 

No, "luck" did not favor him, but "pluck" did. He pushed his mercantile business for years, amassing an immense fortune. Our country was then new, and he had to import most of his merchandise from England, but as he ever made a study of his business, he concluded that he would start manufacturing industries here.

 Which would prove not only profitable to himself but of inestimable value to us as a nation. In accordance with these motives, he was largely instrumental in connection with the Lowells in building up the flourishing cities of Lowell and Lawrence.

He never speculated in stocks

 Young men, there is no money in stocks to the average man. Not even in legitimate stock dealing, to say nothing of the numerous watered concerns. 

Looking over a paper recently my attention was attracted to a paragraph that explained that in a transaction that involved 8,000 bushels of wheat, it was found that the odds against the buyer were over 22 percent. While wheat is not stocks, still a good rule would be never to go into anything unless the chances are at least equal.

Amos Lawrence once said: "Young man, base all your actions upon a sense of right, and in doing so, never reckon the cost." What a glorious principle for any young man—a principle he would find hard to follow in many stock speculations. 

"Even exchange is no robbery." It is not even exchanging to bet and take a man's money, and it makes little difference whether you bet on a horse's gait or the grain he will eat next month. At another time he said: "Good principles, good temper, and good manners will carry a young man through the world much better than he can get along with the absence of either." 

His sayings are numerous, yet everyone is worthy of attention; all of them have a golden thought for old and young.

Mr. Lawrence did not give away in large amounts to institutions of learning, but he kept two rooms in his house wholly for the storage of articles designed to relieve poor people. 

One contained clothing of every description; the other, food and other necessaries of life. He gave away during his life, over $700,000, and when he died people mourned that he had gone, for there were none left that could take his place. Ah! this is a success. 

Amos Lawrence died on December 31st, 1852.

 The concerning Stats Today:

We spend as a nation now, every year, nine hundred millions for liquor and three hundred and fifty millions for tobacco. Total, one billion, two hundred and fifty million. One billion, two hundred and fifty million thrown away.

 More than twice what we use for bread and meat. Then look at that vast waste of unearned wages. Man can't do two things well at one time. In our large cities, we have, of late, seen drunken men, with pipes in their mouths, carrying about the streets a banner inscribed, "bread or blood." 

They propose to make those who have worked intelligently for money, now divide. Would it not look far more sensible if the banner bore the inscription, henceforth, "I will boycott the tobacconist and will vote for no man who is not pledged to suppress the saloon oligarchy"?

Read More

How to Become more Fearless

Your life would be a lot more interesting and rewarding if you could just be a little more fearless.
Staying in your comfort zone is strangling your life. Just a tad more courage will help your self-esteem, too.

You don’t have to just wish you were bolder, you can be bolder. There is a fearless person lurking inside of you!

Use these ideas to build your bravery:

    1. Avoid worrying about what others will think of you. Unless you can find a way to put yourself into the history books, it won’t be too long until there’s no one left that remembers you. So, what are you afraid of?

    2. Ask yourself, “What’s the worst that can happen?” Unless you’re in danger of falling to your death or losing a limb, there probably isn’t too much to worry about. When you’re feeling fearful, figure out the worst possible outcome. If you can live with that, there’s nothing to worry about.

    3. Deal with smaller stressors and fears. The key to managing big fears is to deal with the smaller ones. Your mind will become accustomed to your new patterns of thought and action. Plus, the skill and confidence you gain by overcoming smaller fears will give you the ability to dominate larger ones.

    4. Learn to relax. The best way to overcome a fear reaction is to relax.  You can train yourself to automatically relax when you first feel fear. Relax your muscles, think peaceful thoughts, and breathe deeply. Again, practice with smaller upsets first.

    5. Play the odds. How many of your fears actually come true? Some studies suggest the number is about 20%. So, there’s an 80% chance your fears won’t come true. If you can deal with the worst possible outcome, and there’s only a 20% chance it will even happen, you have little to worry about.

    6. Realize that fear only happens between your ears. Almost all fears are unique. You might be afraid of snakes, but your friend isn’t. You might be afraid of heights, but your sister finds them exhilarating. In most instances, you are the source of your fear.

    7. Focus on the positive possibilities. Rather than thinking about every little thing that might go wrong, consider what might go right. Allow yourself to feel excited about the possibilities. Imagine how much more exciting your life would be if you give yourself the chance to have something amazing happen each day!

    8. View fear as a challenge. Think of fear as the beginning of a game.
See if you can get yourself to take any action that makes you afraid when you think about doing it.
Of course, be smart and challenge yourself to do things that can actually improve your life.

You can live a fearless life and experience many more rewarding adventures than you do now. Your fears are manufactured inside your head. You can let them go and be bold.

Start today by doing something you’ve always wanted to do but didn’t quite have enough courage. Just relax and do it. Show yourself that there’s nothing to fear.

Read More