The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-10-03

GpluHzbia, yesterday morping, and will
rsmaiA for few days TRis is Mr..
Agne@'s first visit to. Colombia, after an
absence of twenty years. We are in
debted to him for batch of New York
papers of the latest date. The following
article, which We get from q recent num-
Der of the Paterson IN. J.) Gua,Wia,,. is
so we'll conceived, that we have no hesi-
tation whatever in reproducing it in our
columns. There are few men in business
for whom we entertain a higher respect
than the subject of this sketch. He
married in South Carolina. His career
is an anomaly in mercantile life, and it
is altogether of his own creation. It is
an individual case, furnishing itself one
of the most remarkable incidents in the
records of the mercantile history of the
city of New York:
Commencing business in q modest
and unpretending way, Mr.. Agnew
meant to be successful With indomita-
bic will he has bent the whole energie3
of we'll balanced mind, and an active
and we'll developed frame, to the pur-
suits of commerce. Whilst Mr.. Agnew
could have at any time commanded a
line of credits which would stock his
capacious stores from cellar to garret, lie
seems to have understood in its full i'm
port the embarrassments which too fire.
quently result from the credit system,
and has steadily and persistently refused
to do business on any other system than
that OF strictly cash one. In all his i'm
mense mercantile and real estate trans
actions, we are assured that he never
gave note in his life This is, to say
the least, remarkable circumstance.
Knowing full we'll the extent of his own
lndomitable energy, he was entirely self
reliant. This, combined with personal
habits OF strict integrity and propriety,
and the closest application to business,
insured to him competency of this
worlds goods ut an early period of life.
''The chief pleasure of existence with
Mr.. Agnew seems to be the art of making
others happy. AT home he has perfected
little paradise for his family, and whilst
there, this stern, shrewd man of bust
ness is child amongst his children. He
has his artificial lake filled with fishes,
that come up by hundreds, like chick
ems, to be fed, and graceful swans. pleas
ing to the eye of every passer-by, float
upon the silvery surface of the water.
He wants all his little boys and girls to
learn to swim, and his bath house is ar
ranged safely with water just deep
enough, and an enclosed bath, with lat
ticcd sides and bottom, through which
the water flows unimpeded, and in which
it is impossible any accident can occur,
whilst neat little dressing-rooms are ar
ranged over the boat-house, which forms
part Of the structure. The boat-room,
too, with it steps and float, is model.
and with its neat piazza in front, from
which the children fish in the shade,
whilst sitting in full view of the river
and scenery beyond, makes an outpost
OF enjoyment most complete for the
little folks and children of q larger
growth as well. The bath and boat
house cost some $4,000; but what cares
MIR. Agnew for expense, SO long as he
can add to the beauty of the landscape
and contribute to the amusement and
happiness of his children, for where he
goes they go, and every indulgence he
/ enjoys is accorded to them, and if he
can see them in happiness and Joy, upon
the lake, or under the trees upon the
greensward, or romping about the gra-
veled walks, he is content. But Mr..
Agnew does not bury his sympathies
with his own family, for that would be
selfish, and selfishness knows no place
In the heart of the citizen of whom we
speak. He is one of the most self-sacri-
ticing and public-spirited men that we
have. His deeds of munificence in New
York have been far ahead of any man in
his circumstances. He has with us be-
gun to acquire like reputation, and all
who pass his residence feel glad that we
have here gentleman who does so much
to adorn his surroundinos and who 10
studying constantly how to make the
spot pleasant to every one who passes
along the Weasel Road, on the banks of
the Dundee. The road he has raised
and leveled at his own expense, and he
is constantly busy doing some good
thing. His grounds are filled with the
choicest flowers, and every room in his
house has its carefully planned view from
oach window. He is now rebuilding the
mansion, to harmonize it more thorough
ly in proportion with the natural sur
rounding scenery, the growth of the
trees and other matters having made q
larger and more modernized building