World-Famous Bachelors
At a Time When Contemporary Writers Are Pointing Out the Men Who
“Have Been Made By Their Wives,” a List of a Few Men Who
“Made Themselves” May Prove Worth While.
Compiled and edited for The Scrap Book.
“He travels the fastest who travels alone,” sings Kipling. In other words, the bachelor has the advantage in the race for fame and fortune. The truth or falsity of this viewpoint depends upon the road which a person travels; it also depends upon his harness mate—who very often helps him along much faster than he could go by himself. Even were it universally true, the average man would undoubtedly prefer to jog along comfortably with a mate beside him.
It is worth while, however, to note that many great men have remained single; some from choice, some from indifference, some because of early disappointment. Especially among those whose work requires the most concentrated reasoning is the single state frequent. In the following nutshell biographies of famous bachelors it will be observed that a majority of the men named are philosophers. The great philosopher seldom marries—for is not the experience of Socrates a warning?