The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-11-12
How Some New York Men Make q
Litings

How Some New York Men Make a
Lifting.
Mr.. A. T. Stewart is conceded to he one
of our successful merchants. From the
smallest beginnings he has amassed .
princely fortune. No one would ask
whether Mr.. Stewards method of business
was wise one The secret of his success
lies on the surface. In his little store on
Broadway, opposite his marble palace.
Mr.. Stewart began his trade. He adopted
two or three simple rules by which he pro-
posed to be guided. He gave personal at
tention to his business. He asked fair
price for his goods, and persons could take
them or leave them. If he sold poor ar
ticle to customer, he sold it as poor ar
ticle If he demanded frst-class price
for his goods, they were found to be first
ci 90 when the purchaser took them home.
| He seldom lost a customer, because the
article never differed from the representa-
ton Since Mr.. Stewart opened his little
shop, thousands with capital have started
business with the motto, "All is fair in
trade" Few of these survive. Their
very names as merchants have persisted
| from among men; while MIR. Stewart
without capital and without friends, under
pinning his trade with integrity, stands
among the foremost merchants OF the
world.
In this city there is a young banking
house which buys and sells stocks on COM
mission. Several rules were adopted and
incorpora led in the articles of co.partner-
ship. One was, never to carry stock for
any one without margin; another was,
never to speculate in stocks, but to do
strictly legitimate commission business.
Ifthat led to wealth, the firm would accept
it; if 1t led elsewhere, they would abide
the issue. A celebrated Western capital
list, whose name was tower OF strength,
came into the Office. He requested the
house to purchase for him large
amount of railroad stock. do you
wish us to carry itT SAID
the reply. "Then you must put up mar
GIN" "a margin?" said the millionaire.
a am worth fifty times that amount" 81
have no doubt of it," was the reply. eve
have but one rule in this Office for both
rich and poor. We would not Carry stock
in this Office for Mr.. Astor without mar
gin" The capitalist went out as Ii offend
ed. The firm felt as if they had lost
good customer. Soon a messenger came
up and put on deposit $4,000. The next
day the capitalist called in person. He
said; "Young men, like your rule.
You have begun right. Do business on
that basis and you will succeed. You
shall have my business, for my money is
safe here"
Mr. Sturgis, the rich merchant who re-
Gently died, attributed his start in life to
attending church on Sunday in the city.
When he was young, credit was almost
indispensable to business. Mercantile
honor was at high premium. By some
ance of the late Robert Lennox. Pleased
with the intelligence and modesty of the
young man, Mr.. Lennox invited him to
take a seat in his pew. The next day
Sturgis called on merchant in this city,
and asked him if he would trust him with
bill of goods The merchant looked at
him and said: Ibid you sit in Mr.. Len
nox's pew yesterday in church ?" eyes"
said the young man. 81 will trust any
one," said the merchant, "whom Mr..
Lennox will invite into his pew on Sun
day" 1t was a small thing, but it was
test Of character that could not be MIS-
taken. Let man throw away his tobacco,
his stimulating drinks, exercise proper
economy, and he then can make an invest
ment, however humble his position is, that
will be an advantage to him financially,
socially and morally.
One of our most wealthy citizens is at
the head of one of our largest banks. He
began life with nothing but good princi-
Piles, industry, and perseverance. To aid
a friend he Endorsed notes to the amount of
$4,000 He was called upon to pay them.
! He had $4,000, all he posse ssed on earth.
The bank would have cheerfully taken
that sum and discharged him. 1t offered
him any accommodation by way of re-
newals He was young man. He in
tended to remain in New York, and do
business, and he made up his mind that, if
he lost his money, he would not lose his
reputation. As the notes matured, he paid
them. When the last note was paid, he
was supposed to be very wealthy, as he
kept his own counsels. He could COM
mand any amount of money that he
wanted. The resolution to pay the notes,
though he had derived no benefit from
them, laid the foundation for his great sue
cess. During his long business career, no
note of his has ever gone to protest.
The kind of business man adopts, usu-
ally settles the question of his success. If
he has brains and pluck, is content to wait,
does well whatever he does, is not afraid
of earning his money, makes himself use
full, so that he cannot be dispensed with,
he will succeed. He may black boots, pick
rags, shovel coal, be low porter in store
if he has integrity and talent, he will make
| his fortune One of the richest men in
New York began as porter, and his for
mer master is now boOk-keeper in his
establishment One of the most eminent
bank Presidents in New York to-day,
came to this city penniless boy.
"Do you want a boy, sir ?" he said to a
gentleman who stood in his store door.
"What do you do?" Anything, sir, to
get an honest living "Take those boots
down stairs, where you will find some
backing, and black them" The lad soon
returned with The boots in high state of
| polish. You have done those boots well,
said the merchant. "My mother told me
to do everything well, sir, that undertook
to do" was the reply. That answer
touched the merchants heart. He has
done everything since Is he BACKED the
boots-Neao York Mail
A Touching Story.