Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-05-09
9tlisttIlanp,
AlerdRdeF r. SteWGrt.


From an elaborate article in the New
York Tribune on Alexander I. Stewart,
the merchant prince, the following Is
taken:
About fifty years ago, young irish
emigrant opened shop in Broadway,
with capital OF about three thousand
dollars. He died yesterday the richest
merchant in the world. The secret OF
his extraordinary success must be told IN
his own words; MY business has been a
matter Of principle from the start. That
is all there is about it. 1t the golden rule
can be Incorporated into purely meIcan-
tile affairs, it has been done in this estab-
!ishmeut. and you must have noticed, IL
You have observed closely, the customers
are treated just as the seller himself would
ike TO be treated were be in their place
That is 10 say, nothing is misrepresented.
the price is fixed, once and for all, at tie
lowest possible figure, and thus the cir
cumstances of the buyer are not suffered
to influence the salesman in his conduct,
in the smallest particular. What we
cannot afford is violation of principle
The hard, practical Scotch sense which
these words indicate was the strongest
trait of his character, was in the blood.
He was OF Irish parcntagc. but more
remotely OF Scotch ancestry. His father
WAS prosperous and highly respected
farmer, descended from race OF Scotch
Irish Presbyterians. whose industry, fru-
galily and precision the boy inherited 10
fall measure. Alexander Turney Stewart
was born in 1903, in the suburbs of Lis
burn. an extensive manufacturing town
about six miles from Belfast. Before he
was eight years old his parents and elder
sister died, aud he was left with only one
near rela,iye-his grandlather--who in
his old age cherished the hope that he
should live to hear his grandson preach
from Methodist pulpit. The boy had
natural ability and methodical habits, and
easily led his classes, finally taking q
degree at Trinity College. His grand
father died, however, before the course
of study was completed, and the young
student was left without a relative. The
grandfather bad q worthy successor in q
pious Quaker, who was appointed the
young mans guardian. Under his guar
dams advice he flushed his course at the
/ University, one OF his tutors being the
| famous Sheridan Knowles. He was not
one OF the boisterous revelers OF the Uni
versity whose portraits Charles Lever has
drawn with q bold hand. With frame
not robust, but 1.-the and active. lie was i
serious, painstaking student, who was
always to be found reading in his room
while his fellows were entertaining roy
sterers in their chambers.
He had been graduated with hOnors
and was about 20 years of age, when he
decided to emigrate to America. His
guardian strongly recommended the steE
and gave him letters of introduction tC
prominent merchants in New York. H(
landed at the battery in 1928. and wa!
cordially admitted into the circle of Qua
kers to which his guardian had introduced
him. He had some ability as linguist
and easily found employment. His tirs
earnings were from situation in public
school 10 Roosevelt ST., near Pearl, ther
one of the fashionable centels of the city
Fletcher Harper, now senior partne
of the publishing house 10 Franklin So.
who was pupil in this school. remem
bers him as an exceedingly iptelligen
Young man, of scholarly tastes. A trivia
circumstance at the turning point of hi
life, made him merchant. A youu!
man with whom he had become intimat
applied TO him for some money wherewitI
to open q small dry goods store. H
advanced a greater part OF the smsI
patrimony which he lad brought to Amer
lea; a small store was rented and stocked
but through unforeseen circumstances hi
friend. after ali the preparations had bee
made, was unable to begin business. tn