Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-03-04


Harper for March contains the follow;s .
about the Merchant Prince of New York:
Accident made him merchant. Where
he vas 10 be in coRnes ion with an expert
cnced business man and to contribute CAPS
i,al he suddenly found himself principal
alone, charged with the rent Of store, and
with the whole responsibility devclving c.
him. With that indomitable will and won.
derful energy which has marked his whole
life Re ri once mt back 10 Ireland. COM
veft.. into money the moderate fortune he
had inherited invested that fortune in goods;
principally the laces which we're manufac>
tured At and around his birthplace and
then returned to New York and opened his
store.
And in his connection may be mentioned
an incident Of touching intersst-ons Of
many showing, perhaps somewhat II tina.
Scottish blood h bic veins, which, II il rare
" fosg ~ a enemy, never fesgets trend
A young lady whose aequaintancs he had
made said To him on the day psscsdiag the
opening Of his store: "You must not cell
anything on the morrow till come and
make the first purchase for I will bring
luck True to her promise, she drove up
in her carriage early in the day, and pur :
chased goods to nearly 1900 in value. PIin-
cipally lrish iaecs. Long years past; the
lady married and removed With her husband
70 an European city. Mr.. Stewart Was in
that city on business, and there learned
that his first customer MAS still living, but
ia very reduced circumstances. Her hes
band was dead, but before his death had
squaudered her fortune. Procuring good
apartments, he caused them to be furnished
In style corresponding with her forme,
position in life. Then calling upon her and
renewing his acquaintance, and after con-
versng on cid times aud former friends,
asked hei TO take drive with him around
the city in his carriage. which stood at the
door. After looking at some objects Of in
tescst he took her 10 the new residence, say.
ing: "This, II il meets your appreciation, ID
| y0ur future home" He settled On annuity
upon her. aud during the residue Of her
life she lived not only in comfost but Ia
comparative sffiusncc, supported entirely by
his bounty. Truly. IL she brought luck u
the young merchant. that 6rst morning q
purchase was lucky one for her.
But there vas another incident connect'
ed with the sales Of merchandise on tina,
first day. Of fer more importance in its re-
suite, though apparently triang in its char
Acter. One Of the clerks stated 70 . pur
chaser, that piece Of calico vas Of . Ger
tain quality, that the colors were "fast' and
aud wsu d no. wash out. aud if not 90, this
article would be taken back and the money
returned. The remark was overheard ~
Mr.. Stewart, aud he called the clerk 10 him
and spoke 9th indignation: "What do you
mean by thus saying what you know to bs
untrue 7" The clerk, perhaps astonished
At thus being called Ia account, replied thai
the woman would not return the goods, and
Il she did she could sas'ly be put of by sta
ting that she must be mistaken, and the
purchase must have been made at some
other store. But no; that Was not the
point. A lie bad bsen told to induce pur
chase; end no goods must be sold in hi,
store or III his name under any misrepre>
scntntiOn Whatever. The clerk could con.
form 10 that rule or st once vscate hi.
place This interview between him and
one Of his first clerks vas narrated TO Tho
writer few years since, when in famil .,
conversation the direct question was asked
ITO what do you attribute your great kuc
ce-s as merchant THAT have conduct
I'll INV business from the first on the basis
OF truth. 7ruth. huth." he added With
grea, emphasis, us the talisnanic word
and !! have any ono earthly wish or de
sire Er. atci than another, il i that Ia this
respect my example may be- commended
aud followed by Young men entering into
business, and especially by young mer-
chants "
there is IN his business one price for oil
From thus fixed price n person .mpioy.d
IL permitted to depart and ever purcha, t.,
Of merchandise, whether Of the value ol
shillngs or Of tens Il thous ,nds OF dollars
pets The precise articles sold No deceit =
misrepresentation AZ To the condition or
quality Of the goods il tolerated, and henc.
The unbonnded confidence which he has
obtained in every State aud almost every
village and country TO carry out such a
svstem requires n rigid discipline and il
sometimes occurs thar young man Of an
casy conscience finds the restraints too se>
we're. Tho exceptions are rare. and when
found out. ~ they are, sooner or later, uev
er pass without rebukc, and generally the
offending party IN dismissed. There is q
military precision required aud cxacted, and
II is thus that the whole vast machinery
works, rs il where by electric touches.