The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1875-10-07
4. T. STEWART.
A Sketch Of the Greatest Busi.
ness Han of America.

How He Rules His Army OF
Clerks and SdbOrdinates---
The Grand System of
His Business.
NEW YORK, Sept. l5.-The fact is be-
coming apparent that A. T. Stewart is alb
sorbing real estate faster than any other
man in this city. / do not say that his
purchases are all made here, for he has be-
come the owner of a town on Long Island
and is one of the greatest proprietors in the
Saratoga Springs. Heis, however, purchas-
ing either in this city or in first-class
country resorts with a rapidity unqualified
since the DAYS Of old John Astor. The only
difference is that Stewart began later in
life. Had an equal start been given him
he would have equaled that wonderful
German. As it is, however, Stewart now
owns more property in Broadway than the
Astors, notwithstanding the early chance
which that family enjoyed Stewart is now
only seven years younger than Aston was at
the time Of his death, but he is vastly more
competent for business than the latter when
at the same age. The last fifteen years OF
Astor's life were chiefly spent at his country
seat at Hell Gate. He had placed the care
OF his immense property in the hands OF
his son William, who was then about forty
five, and was the general agent Of the estate.
The old man was much worried, however,
concerning his wealth, as most rich men are
4 arI 1auf L.. 81, 1x-
crazed by the fear OF poverty.
As BUSINESS MAN.
In this respect Stewart has no equal for
his years. This leads me TO the remark that
lie is somewhat DESTROYS to keep his age at
the lowest possible figure. No one of his
employees will dare to make statement on
this point. He is from seventy-three to
seventy-seven perhaps seventy-five would
be the most accurate figure, but he really
appears more capable than most men OF
sixty. Ii is to be observed that all others
OF our rich men have had the stimulus OF
patcrnal care 10 drive them 10 accumulation.
They have also had children TO assist them
in the burdens OF old age. Stewart il the
only one Of this number who never had any
children and he does not seem 10 feel the lack
veen in this latter day of life. The fact is
Stewart is not Ike o,her men. He seems con-
trollei by destiny into which is merged
all the powers and affections which, in
other instances, embrace the family circle
He is not so much flesh and blood as he is
the embodiment of the spirit of trade 1t
Is not so much that he loves wealth that
he acqrires il. The reason OF his success
is that wealth comes to him in obedience to
certain laws. 1t is not specially his desire
l. Int fail
they place themselves in the way Of his i'm
mense machinery. Stewart is not to blame
ior the misfortunes of Others. He, too,
woJld 60 TO ruin if there were a greater
man than he.
THE MAN OF SOLITUDE.
II is said that he has a small social cir
Gle, but il so, ii is a very limited in its ex-
teut. As business man Stewart has always
been Il man oi solitude. He is naturally self
reliant, and has not called Others INTO
communication with him, simply because
his Own resources were sufficient. He has
Iecn solitary, because nature required il.
To such a man the presence OF Others, ex-
cept when used as tools, was only annoying.
This feature however, was not accompan-
led by rudeness. Stewart is constitutionally
IS polite as he is reserved He has spec-
when a retailer, he loved 10 wait on them.
This arose from his peculiar faculty OF
anticipating their tastes. His sense OF pro-
priety in the outfit Of the female sex was
the first point OF distinction which marked
the little shop that he opened forty years
ago with a capital of 81 GOO. 1t was his
constitutional independence which kept
him from taking any partner during the
FIST twenty wears of his business career,
and those who have since been admitted are
subordinate 10 an unusual degree. Stew arts
privacy l. almost as much observed by them
as when they were clerks, They enter not
ihto his plans, but merely carry out the de-
tail assigned Them. he only reason, in
deed, why there is any partner is to facili-
tate the settlement OF business In case of his
illness and death.
HOW IT WAS MANAGED.
Stewart employs in both establishments
nearly one thousand persons Of whom none
are allowed TO speak to him except the
heads Of departments. This rule is a neces-
sity in order 10 defend him from trifing APP
plications. About 10 o'clock in the fore
noon carriage stops in front of the retail
warehouse, ard as the coachman opens tie
door out steps quiet-looking man, standing
about five feet nine inches, and weighing,
as one might guess about one hundred and
fifty pounds. There is a slight stoop in the
shoulders, which is partly the effect of time
and partly caused bv sitting at a desk, for
when first saw him he was perfectly erect
His countenance indicates calmness and
order, and he might he taken for physi-
clan of high rank-sIIch is the expression
of ripe Judgment that he wears, but not of
ouc. The latter Is the portion OF common
men. Stewart never shows trmTiment, which
Is different thing from thought. Having
entered the warehouse. which covers two
and half acres, and is a palace of fashion,
he takes 4 quiet survey OF the whole No
one SAYS good morning." or goes into COM
pliments, and his arrival attracts no mark
ed notice. He Immediately goes the
rounds of the departments, and conyerses
in low tone with the manager of each. |
He seems TO comprehend the condition of
things at a glance. Prices ale reduced or |
advanced, as the case may be, and orders |
may be given 10 slaughter certain STYLES. |
Not point OF detail passes unnoticed.
THE OTHER PLACE
An hour is spent in the palace of fashion,
and the orders Of the day having been Civ |
On the proprietor drops the establishment |
from his mind and is driven a mile down |
town TO the wholesale house, which he |
enters at a side door and Immediately goes |
up stairs to his office. This is about fifteen |
feetsquare, with glass partition and seats |
Tor hardly more than two persons. Into |
this sanctuary no one may enter unlimited. |
Just outside sits page TO answer the CALI
bell, and near at hand is the desk of his |
private secretary. He now calls for state
nents of important features of traffic. The |
amount of stock of certain STYLES; the |
amount in the custom-house the amount |
of sales for the week or month the reports /
from different mills, each taken in order |
the amount of credits issued, specifying |
each state; the stock in the Boston or Phil |
adelphia branches the amount Of unfash-
ionable or unstable goods. As these state
ments are called for, each is rapidly glanced |
over, and orders are issued 10 meet any ex-
igency. Every man that may be wanted |
is sent for, and few words with each is |
generally sufficient. Important letters and |
kilograms are submitted, and are rapidly
noticed, and in this manner an hour NAV be |
passed. Then comes walk down 10 the |
main floor, and brief utterance to the |!
chief of his assistants. No one seems con-
scious that the master is nigh, for to do |
this were violation of the regime of the
place