HIS LIFE AND WORK 



words that annoyed him most was to-morrow. 

 He wanted things done to-day. With regard 

 to every important piece of work, it was his 

 instinct to "do it now." He abhorred delay 

 and dawdling. Even as a boy, when sent on 

 an errand, he would set off upon a run. Walk- 

 ing was too slow. And although he was in 

 France on many occasions, the French phrase 

 that he knew best was "Depechez-vous." 



His plan of work, so far as he could be said 

 to have a plan, was this One Thing at a Time, 

 and the Hardest Thing First. He followed the 

 line of most resistance. If the hardest thing 

 can be done, he reasoned, all the rest will follow. 

 And as for all work that was merely routine, 

 he left as much as possible of it to others. 



He was not an organizer so much as a creator 

 and a pioneer. His problem was not like that 

 which troubles the business men of to-day. He 

 was not grappling with the evils of competition, 

 nor with the higher questions of efficiency and 

 "community of interest." He was making a 

 business that had not existed. He was clearing 

 away obstacles that are now wholly forgotten. 



[141] 



