artner in his business. He was a man of much force
and ability, who became in a few years the practical head of the
concern, finally its sole proprietor, and left it to his sons, who
have carried it on with success for about half a century longer.

[Illustration:

John Bright.
August 10. 1883]

Four years ago, on the celebration of John Bright's seventieth birthday,
he stood face to face with fifteen hundred persons in the employment of
his firm, and repeated in substance what he had said once before, that,
during the seventy-three years of the firm's existence, there had been,
with one brief exception, uninterrupted harmony and confidence between
his family and those who had worked for them.

He made another remark on that birthday which explains a great deal in
his career. It was of particular interest to me, because I have long
been convinced that no man can give himself up to the service of the
public, with advantage to the public, and safety to himself, unless he
is practically free from the burdens and trammels of private business.

"I have been greatly fortunate," said Mr. Bright, "in one respect--that,
although connected with a large and increasing and somewhat intricate
business, yet I have been permitted to be free from the employments and
engagements and occupations of business by the constant and undeviating
generosity and kindness of my brother, Thomas Bright."

The tribute was well deserved. Certainly, no individual can successfully
direct the industry of fifteen hundred persons, and spend six months of
the year in London, working night and day as a member of Parliament.
Richard Cobden tried it, and brought a flourishing business to ruin by
the attempt, and probably shortened his own life. Even with the aid
rendered him by his brother, Mr. Bright was obliged to withdraw from
public life for three years in order to restore an exhausted brain.

John Bright enjoyed just the kind of education in his youth which
experience has shown to be the best for the development of a leader of
men. At fifteen, after attending pretty good Quaker schools in the
country, where, besides spelling and arithmetic, he learned how to swim,
to fish, and to love nature, he came home, went into his father's
factory, and became a man of business. He had acquired at school love of
literature, particularly of poetry, which he continued to indulge during
his leisure hours. You will seldom hear Mr. Bright speak twenty minutes
witho