The Black Swans 



assumptions. America seems destined 

 now to step into a position among the 

 nations of the earth that bids fair to 

 mean world leadership henceforth. But 

 this should not simply mean possible 

 supremacy in financial or commercial 

 enterprises. Indeed, if in the unfolding 

 of our future, we shall give to history 

 no names fit to match those of Bake- 

 well, Ellman, Tomkins, Cruickshank 

 or McCombie, we shall not have 

 recorded full-rounded progress as a 

 people. These names mean nothing to 

 you? Well, they should; and if you 

 don't believe it, then the next time 

 you come to Chicago pay a visit to the 

 Saddle and Sirloin Club — preferably 

 when the International Live Stock 

 Exposition is in progress — and you 

 may then possibly share with me the 

 belief that not all the great Americans 

 of the years to come — men with brains 

 and sentiment and patriotic impulse — 

 will build their biggest monuments 

 either in Wall Street or in Pittsburg. 



[178] 



