Chapier Six 
HARD LUCK AND HUMAN NATURE 
TO UNDERSTAND FULLY the relation of Cyrus Field to his 
times, and something of the nature of his fame, it is well to 
stop and survey his career to this point. In 1835 he had come 
to New York at the age of fifteen—a country boy with no 
particular advantages. His education had been limited; the 
experience acquired in a backwoods village dominated by 
puritanical standards had not particularly fitted him to be a 
world figure. 
Nevertheless, twenty-three years after his arrival as a green 
youngster, he was the toast of Broadway and a hero of the 
civilized world. ‘This eminence had not been obtained easily. 
During much of his twenty-three years since leaving home, he 
had been in debt or financial straits. The achievement that 
made him famous had proved to be one of the most difficult 
and discouraging tasks ever attempted. He had contended 
with repeated crises of both nature and human nature. Finan- 
cial and engineering problems of unprecedented variety had 
confronted a young man whose training had been provincial 
and narrow. 
Cyrus Field was naturally a likable man, though his prog- 
ressive ways sometimes offended stodgy or jealous persons. 
By nature he was frank and optimistic, with engaging man- 
ners and persuasive conversation. It was these attractive char- 
acteristics, coupled with the reliability and determination 
bred in him, that won him early success. It was, unfortunately, 
this same trustfulness and simplicity that eventually brought 
sorrow to his home. For a full picture of the man, it should be 
added that his health was never robust and that, being sensi- 
tive, he was often discouraged; but he revived quickly. 
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