The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-04-13
alexander e. stewart.

remotely descended from a Scottish ancestry.
lie had Inherited with his blood the spirit and
latent power of that Sotch-lrl>h race which has
been dominant IN tie North II Ireland since the
DAYS Of Cromweil. and which has given 10 this
country. as we'll a. To England. 50 many men emf
Hcnt in all the walks of life. Ills letters of in
PRODUCTION from members of the Society of Friends
in Ireland To prominent merchants Of that Society
in New York gave him access 10 the best social
circles. and where he was son distinguished both
for his pleasing address as a gentleman. and his
attainmcnts a. "a fine classical scholar. Ii was
the first visit of Alexander T.. Stewart 70 the city
which for more than forty years has been bis
home. and where he has risen u wealth and
prominence a. Il merchant. and the extent Of
whose business in that pursuit has probably never
been eXceiled. and rarely. If ever. equaled in this
or any other country.
lie was born not lar from the city of Belfast.
Before he was eight years of age an elder sister
and both his Parents died. and he was left an
orphan without any near relatives except his ma
ternal grandfather. This good old man. a mem
Der of the Methodist Society and of great piety,
took the boy 10 hisAome. and his heart yelrue1
towards the youth. his only descendant. II was
his earnest wish and hoIe that the grandson
should become a minister of the Gospel. and with
this purpose in view the boy was at once put
upon 4 course of acldemical studies 10 prepare
him Tor the University. At an early day, and
while At school, the coming man began 70 appear.
Whether in the sports of buvhOOd or in the studies
OF the school lie resolved 70 bc INST lth Il
frame not robust but vet 1.-THE and active he was
foremost in the race. and with a tenaciJy OF pur-
pose never relaxed. 10y diligent study, united with
good natural abilities, lie reached and maintained
the position of = Dun or leader of his class
during both his academical and collegiate life.
lie took his degree at Trinity College. Dublin.
Bat, alas before he completed his course of study
the pi0us old grandfather had followed the parents
10 the grave. The Young, ambitious student was
alone in the world. And he might have repeated
tine lament in the words of Outalissa-
persisted. / alone am Ief on earth.
To whom nor relative nor blood remains
No, not a kindred drop that runs in human veins"
After the death of his glanfathcr a Quaker
friend was chosen and appointed the guardian of
Mr.. Stewart. He was Il friend indeed; and to his
advice and the pious Instructions of the grand
father connected with the successful prosecution
of his studies the great merchant has been heard
to attribute much of his success in aftcrliie. Ii
was through and by this guardian the letters of
introduction were procured when the Young Irish
scholar determined to seek fame and fortune in
the New World. For a brief time after his ar
rival in New York be was employed a. Il teacher,
thus turning To good account his excellent >chol-
urship. And there are those now living who re-
cur with great interest and affection u the period
when they were introduced by him to the Grecian
and Roman classics.
Accident made him a merchant. Where he
was II be in connection with an experienced busi-
ness man and % contribute capital he suddenly
found himself principal alone. charged with the
rent of Il store, and with the whole responsibility
d~cyOlying on him. With that indomitable will
and wonderful energy which has marked his whole
life he ut once went back u Ireland, converted
into money the moderate fortune which lie had
inherited, invested that fortune i'll guOds-Trinci-
pally the laces which were manufactured ut and
around his birthplace-and then returned 10 New
York and opened his store.
And in this connection may be mentioned an
incident az t.-r.liDp iutara---,r,a nf many Al.i.--
iug, perhaps, somewhat of the Scottish blood in
his veins, which. if it rarely forgivcs an enemy,
never forgets Il friend. \ young lady whose ac-
quaimtance he had made said to him on the day
preceding the opening of his store " You must
not sell anything on the morrow till | come and
make the FIRST purchase for | will bring luck"
True t. her promise. she drove up in her carriage
early in the day. and purchased goods t. nearly
two hundred dollars in value, principally of Irish
laccs. Long years passed the lady married and
removed with her husband u 4 European city.
Mr.. Stewart was in that city on business, and
there learned that his first customer was still liv-
ing, hut in very reduced circumstances. Her
husband was dead, but before his death had
sqUandcrcd her fortune. Procuring good apart
lnents. lie caused them To he furnished in a style
corresponding with her former position in life.
Then calling upon her and renewing his acquaint-
ance, and after cJnverslng on old times and former
friends asked her To take IA drive with him around
the city in his carriage, which stood at the door.
-Altcr LOOKING NJ some ohl'ct> Oh interest ic IIbh
her To the new residence, saving This, if il
meets your appreciation. i your future home"
lie settled an annuity upon her, and during the
residue Of hcr life she lived not only in comfort
bat in comparative atiiucnce. supported entirely
by his bounty. Truly. if she brought luck 70 the
young merchant. that first mornings purchase
was Il lucky one Tor her.
But there was another incident connected with
the sales of merchandise on that first day of far
more importance in Its results. though apparently
triiling in its character. One Of the clerks stated
to a purchaser that Il piece of calico was of GER
tain quality. and that the colnrs We're : fast =
and would not wash out, and if not -, the article
would he taken back and the money returned.
The remarks were overheard by Mr.. Stewart. and
he called the clerk to him and spoke with indig-
nation - What do You mean 10y thus saying
what You know 10 be untrue - The clerk. Der
haTs astonishcd at thus bein. called to account.
replied that the woman would not return the goods.
and If she did she could easily Ice put of by stating
that she must be mistaken, and the purchase must
have been made AT some other store. But no
that was not the point. y lie had been told to
induce Il purchase and no goods must bc sold in
his store or in his name under any misrepresenta-
whatever. The clerk could conform u that
or at once vacate ms place. This Interview
between him and one Of his first clerks WAS mar
rated Ia the writer 4 few years since. when in a
in 4 familiar conversation the direct question was
asked "TO what do YOU attribute Your great
as a merchant - That | have con-
lucted my business from the first on the basis of
ruth. Truth, frufh," lie added. with great
emphasis, :. l. the talismanic word and if have
any one earthly wish Or desire greater than an
other, it is that in this respect my example may
be commended and followed by young men enter
ng into business, and especially by young mer-
chants
There l. in his business one price for all. From
fixed price no person employed Is permitted
70 depart and every purchaser of merchandise.
of the value of %shillings or Of tens of
Of dollars, gets the precise articles sold.
No deceit or misrepresentation as to the condition
II quality Of the goods i tolerated, and hence the
Inboundcd confidence which he has obtained in
very State and almost every village in our coun-