Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-10-21
tEditortaI Correspondsnoo. j


..... New YORK, October 10, 1885.
Twenty five years ago a man, then about
thirty. five years of age, kept a small
dry goods store on Broadway, near Chamber
street, nearly opposite where the princely
SrEwART's lower mercantile palace now
stands. He did small, but honest, business.
One day he ordered of Wholesale dry good,
house, in Beaver street, a quantity of cotton
sheetings and shirtings, and directed them
to be sent to his little store. The bill
amounted to about two hundred and fifty
dollars. The salesman, to whom we are in
debted for this incident, informed his EN-.
ployer that this retail trader had selected
the goods referred TO. and had ordered them
sent to his store without paying for them,
and inquired what he should do. The sales
man was instructed to accompany the car.
man with the goods, and before they were
removed from the car to demand payment
for them. Mr.. Salesman obeyed instruc.
tions. The modest retailer, whether sur.
prised by the sudden exaction Of the whole.
sale dealer, or not, paid the bill promptly,
and the goods were delivered. That retailer
continued to do cash business. He devoted
his attention and talents to the development
of trade. He studied men and things closely.
He allowed no opportunity to escape him
where he could "turn IN honest penny. -
Reader that comparatively poor retailer was
ALEXANDER T. STEWART, the merchant
prince Of to-day, who occupies the great
mercantile palace alluded to above, as well
as the still more magnificent and elaborate
ediice corner Of Broadway and Tenth street,
and whose agents to-day are stationed in
every important city and manufacturing dis
trict in the world
This simple statement, without entering
into details, presents to the reader one Of the
most remarkable men of the age. Much OF
the unparalleled success which has at.
tended Mr.. STEWART, in his business
Is attributable to wonderful nervou.
temperament which always inct9s to activ
ity and industry, to an indomitable will
and perseverance, and an unswerving hon.
esty Of purpose. But there are other secrets
for the development and exercise of that i'm.
mense power which Mr.. STEWART has at.
tained and now exercises upon the business
world with so much ability. Mr.. STEWART
Is gifted with great intellectual powers. He
has industriously cultivated those gifts until
he has attained the highest point in scholas.
tic eminence. He is great lover of the
poets and poetry. He has from early life
been devoted student and patron of the Gps
arts as his rare and costly collections ol
paintings and statuary attest, He illustrate.
his taste for the beautiful in the architectural
designs Of his stores and other buildings. lie
is a master of the languages. Few professed
linguists In this country can compete with
him. He revels in Greek with as much seem
ing delight and satisfaction as bee would
linger upon bed of honeysuckles. Few men
with such refined taste and superior quail
feations, and so competent to enter the more
intellectual, finished and delicate professions
would be inclined to delve in the trade mart.
But Mr.. STEWART seemed to take to it natu-
rally. 1t assisted him in developing those
wonderful powers he has since manifested
and now exercises. Mr.. STEWART possesses
one peculiarly happy trait, which perhaps
has contributed as much to his success as
any other. 1t is, that he reads men quickly.
He understands human nature He applies
common sense to everything. lie is to the
trade world what AGAssIz is to the mineral
kingdom. He can see place for every man
who is industrious and honest, and a use fol
everything worth penny. He exhibits won.
derful powers Of discrimination in employing
and dealing with men. In organizing and
disciplining men and analy zing and executing
business he is what GRANT is to the army
His daily labors require the exercise Of the
peculiar talent of the diplomat, the compre'
hensiVe genius and careful judgment of the
most expert administrative and executive
officers of national government His thor.
Ongh knowledge of the languages enables
him to deal directly with his foreign agents,
where the English language is not spoken.
He cannot, therefore, become the dune of
unprineipIed interpreters. In brief, Mr.
STEWART comprehends the whole subject Of
trade.
GEORGE Fox and Mr. FRANCIS WARDEN
both Of whom reside abroad. the former IL
ENGLAND and the latter In Paris. European