The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-10-28

the grand establishment went, at a low
rate, into other hands. Such picture
the poet thus affords:
''In cost and grandeur Chandos he'll outdo,
And, burlington, thy taste is not so true.
Tue pile is finished; every toll is past,
ana 1u!l perfection is arrived at last,
When, To- my lord TO some small corner runs,
And grandeur leaves to strangers and to duns."
Another instance is found in lie Grand
LockwoOd's palace, at Norwalk, which
cost quarter million, and can now be
bought of his creditors for one-third its
cost.
wHITLOCK'S FOLLY.
One of the most brilliant and sub
stantial of architectural schemes was
found in the ambition of the late b. NJ.
Whitlock. He was an extensive dealer
in wines, cigars, and similar goods,
which paid large profits, and his trade
made him rapidly rich. He was lavish
in his method of advertising, and one
way of drumming trade was to send
basket of champagne to any one whom
he desired to influence. When a coun-
try merchant, on returning to his hotel,
found dozen of Veuve Clicquot in his
room, with Whitlock's compliments, it
had a powerful effect to bring him to the
store. WhitlOck became very rich, and
then determined to build the grandest
house in Westchester County. He pur-
chased a park of 800 acres, and erected
a palace. At one time he gave ban
quet, and sent the guests home in his
own carriages to the number of nearly
fifty. Such an expense soon brought
down the spendthrift's wealth, and the
first ensuing pressure placed him among
the bankrupts. He afterward became
real estate agent, and his misfortunes
were accompanied by religious influ-
ence He became leader in meetings,
and was, until his death, much more
useful man than during his years of
splendOr. ....... .s... -....
How often such examples remind us
that
''The man who builds, and wants wherewith to
Provides home from which to run away"
GLANCE AT OLD TIMES.
The old-fashiOned merchants of this
city, up to forty years ago, were wont
to live over their stores, paying, in most
instances, not more than $500 for the
whole building. Many Wall Street
cashiers lived over the bank. In those
days clerks boarded with their employ
ers, merchants lived plainly, their wives
and daughters dressed in an ecOnOmi-
cal manner, and a $50 shawl was a mat
ter of surprise. Business was done
safely and money was made in sure
manner. If man had $4,000 he was
rich, and to retire on fortune of $780,
900 was a great success. Many of our
veteran merchants, such as Peter Coop
er, William Z. Dodge, and Sam. Schiffe-
lin can remember this primitive condi-
ton, and they no doubt regret the
change. The success of these men rose
from their education in economy.
MODERN STYLE.
At present the merchant, if a resident
of this city, lives from two to four miles
from the store-but in many instances
he is an out-of-town man. If he be an
in-town man, he pays g, 500 house rent,
and has twice that sum invested in fur
niture. This is a low mark, for when
Howes & Macy failed their furniture
was rated at 54j, 900. If economical, =
modern merchant can live on 81 900 Il
year. He pays from $4,000 to $4,000
store rent, even at present low rates.
The clerk, instead of being under his
employers guardian eye, lives at a
| bOarding-hOuse and becomes a fashiOna-
BILE Young man, who attends the theater
and indulges in other dissipation. If
his salary be not sufficient to meet his
expenses, he will steal. To meet this
danger the merchant defends himself
bv system of "checks,n and hires n
detective to watch his clerks. In al
most every establishment in this city
where theft or defalcatiOn is possible 1t
is ptacticed. New York clerks are
among the best patrons of gaming es-
| tablishments and other places equally
bad, where pleasure is offered at cheap
- CLERKS WAGES.
There are now $4,000 clerks in this
! CITY, one-tenth of whom are out of en-
| plOvment. Those who are 80 fortunate
as to retain their situations are working
at reduced rates. The largest employer
is Stewart, whose payroll, in both
stores. contains nearly l, 900 names, and
requires S12, 900 per week. Claflin is
next in Importance, and his payroll is
equal to g, 900 per week. Entry clerks
receive $500; statesmen, $500 to 81 200.
! Some of these, who sell on commission,
make from g, ZOO to $4,000, the COM
mission being per cent. Book-keepers
receive from $500 to $1,000. In every
large concern there is the head book
keeper, who is in the confidence of the
firm, and draws large salary, general
" 81, 800. Stewart has $50 men who
use the pen, and this department occu-
pies a space in the wholesale house the
size of his first retail store. A half
dozen men are employed to answer let
tiers. Four men FIJI up bank checks,
and attend to finances. About thirty
are at the books, steadily posting and
drawing off accounts, and all these are
under the mastery of a chief accountant,
whose salary is said to be $4,000. A
very large part of the wholesale dOmes-
| tic trade is done IN the basement, which
is very unwhelesome, and yet about
sixty men are here most of the time.
A clerk is At best floating character.
They shift from one place to another,
and generally get broken down early in
life 1t is a mystery what becomes OF
that crowd of youth which every season
fiocks to the metropolis in pursuit OF
wealth, but it may be said that few ever
reach success, and a very large proper
ton 60 to ruin. "a
A CURIOUS FACT.
The greatest merchant in the world
bears one exceptional mark of peculiar
character. will explain by saying that
4. I. Stewart never was a clerk. lie
was, in fact, not bred to any business,
but came TO America an educated young
man, whose expectations were to be.
come 9 teacher. He found employment
in this business until he was instructive
lied to the dry goods trade, which hC
has pursued to his present greatness
Clafin was a clerk near Worcester, anC
4 Subsequently became dry goods retail
| er in that thriving town, whence h,
came TO this city as a partner in tht
firm of Bulkley & Clafin. As Stewar
never had any business education to pre-
, pare him for a mercantile career, W,