The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-02-20
Ne.c YORK. Correspondence. !

Ne.c To1h, Correspondence.
The Merchant Princes Of New York.
New YORK, February Is, 1S67.-It
is so much 4 matter Of interest, and
of startling wonder to everybody,
to learn the history of the great
firms of New York who start in
business here, with apparently a
small capital, and in few short years
become merchant kings, at whose
will the whole commercial world can
be made to tremble, that [ have
thought it would be matter of no
ordinary interest to make known
the rise and progress of the represen-
tative dry goods house of the world,
II. B. Clahin u Co.
Upon entering the portals of this
immense establishment, the visitor is
absolutely appalled, at the extraordi-
nary scene before him. Here are pre-
sented to the view huge piles of dry
goods, of every conceivable variety,
placed upon low tables, with hun
dreds of merchants rushing from one
stack to the other, hastily glancing
at the pattern and quality, and then,
as 1t were, attacking another pile.
The statesmen appear to be ubiquitous,
and with the utmost politeness and
attention seem to spare no effort to
show their visitors every possible
variety of goods. The scene is one
of the most animated 1 ever looked
upon; and of course, were not the
most thorough and complete system
adopted, no such immense business
could be done.
This is on the ground floor, which
is the principal one, and is where
the grand gathering of merchants
takes place the year round. Here it
is where merchant meets merchant
who have not met in years before;
here it is that the hum and buzz of
the hundreds of voices, and the
rustling noise Of the waste paper
npon the floor, gives the stranger
the idea of "chaos come again.
This constantly moving mass of peo-
pie, and the rapidity with which
these merchants select their goods,
and the accuracy with which the
clerks take the number and style
this moment talking with one, the
next with another-gives one grand
idea OF American character in all its
various AND peculiar business phases,
showing that rapidity is our national
type, come from what part of the
country we may.
On this floor domestic goods are
principally located, and it may be
interesting to know that these goods
may be said to be the barometer of
the dry goods world, for, as they rise
or decline, so does dry goods of every
description. The floor is devoted eX-
clusively to domestics, prints, dress
goods and silks.
In the first place, let me give the
reader some idea Of the personnel OF
the gentlemen composing this re-
markable and successful firm.
The head and leading member is
II: b. Cladin, Sr. He is a gentle
mon just in the bloom of commercial
life; not too young to be hasty in his
conclusions, nor too old to be effect
ed IN a shrewd perspicuity in all his
business relations. He is about fifty
years of age. Mr.. Clafiin was born
IN small village near Worcester,
Mass, and as soon as he was old
enough to engage in business, en-
packed IN that Of dry goods, which
has been his hobby through life.
He kept a small retail store at first,
but. by his indomitable perseverance,
torethought, and genial manner of
doing business, soon secured hosts of
friends, and very rapidly became the
leading spirit of Worcester.
Mr.. CIaflin is of light complexion,
about five feet eight inches in height,
and is of nervous, quick tempera,
ment, deciding almost instantly upon
all matters of Importance, and is
very seldom caught astray in his
Judgment. He is extremely affable
in manner, and is approachable tc
the humblest employee, or person OF
the street. From his boyhood up
there has been vein of ingenious
ness, and, at times, rollicking humor
evinced in his character, with not
one censurable act to darken it.