SAMUEL SMILES was born at Haddington, Scotland, in 1812. He began life as a physician, practicing at Haddington and in Leeds. Becoming editor of the Leeds Times, he gave up medicine for journalism and essay writing, and in such books as “Character,” “Thrift,” and “Self-Help,” he has almost created a school of his own. His essays are characterized by a wealth of incident and anecdote which makes them interesting and entertaining even when they are most didactic. Besides his essays Smiles wrote a “History of Ireland,” a “Life of George Stephenson,” “Brief Biographies,” and “The Huguenots in France.” From 1845 to 1866 he was an officer of various English railway companies. The whole tendency of his writings is to establish a more efficient faith in honesty and persistent industry as the basis of success in life and business.