The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-04-11
Gheqnteuigerter.
Tur DEATH OF A. T. srEwARr.-Our

or four men in New York city who's
wealth was counted by the tens OF mil
lions, and perhaps the richest merchun
in the world. There have been all sort
Of biographical sketches published con
cerning him from time to time, some o'
them representing that he came 10 ne"
York n moor and obscure Irish boy, who
engaged in trade in very humble and
meugre way, hut it would 'eem BY a late
account lhn. he enjoyed unusually good
advantages both in the way OF education
and social and business influences, and
really never knew what it was to
toll and struggle in mn uphill
way for foothOId in trade. He brought
with him from Ireland such credentials,
and withal was so much Of man in the
vay Of native and acquired capacity
,ba, he soon found and embraced an op.
portunity 10 enter upon a prosperous
career. Certainly his career from any
point Of view has been very remarkable
Other men have had all his advantages
TO start with in life-scOres Of them in
New York-sons Of rich merchants-but
among them all there has been but
ore A. T. Stewart. This is why he
,,,nLs out. solitary and alone, US
a great merchant prince. He was
equal to his opportunities. OF how few
men in the history OF the world can this
be written. Most men, at some point or
other in their career, let slip their op'
portunities. Stewart however, never
was known to take a astep backwards. He
was u man Of inexOrable singIeness oI
purpose. He knew but one object in life
but one set OF rules-and as he sue
ceeded step by step, mounting higher all
the lime, his head never lost its balance
lie was under the strictest self-liscipline,
and everybody in his employ became q
part OF that discipline.
This is one view of his life. We con.
iess we do not look on it with unquali.
led admiration. There is much to com
mend in 1t in some respects. lt'show'
what diligence, sobriety, energy ant
stern discipline will do in the way o
achieving success. But there shines ou
from such career-such eminencc as III
attained-only cold glitter-thc cold ra!
Of the silver dollar, like the cold ray o
the silver moon. There is lack o
warmth in it. Years ago gentleman
sill living in Wheeling, told us that HI
was buying some articles at Stewart
and was waited upon by a sales
man who seemed TO be much de
pressed in spirits. An inquiry as to
lhe cause ELECTED the information tha
member Of his family, il we remember
right child, was very sick. And in ex
planation OF the fact that he was in thu
store under such circumstances, instead o
at the bedside OF his sick child, he'sait
that the rules of the house did not almi
Of absence for such cause. Discipline
,Origid MS this may have contributed tt
Mr, Stewards success, and no doubt did
but the recital OF it never could elicit
tear over his grave. Now that he is gon'
that salesman's eyes are not likely to b'
moist.
A few days ago we reads rather touch
ing account OF another salesman's expert
ence in that famous establishment. HI
had been with Mr.. Stewart perhaps fou
years, and had never either spoken to O.
been spoken to by the great head OF tn
house. Having worked all that TIM
Tor low wages, he asked and finally OBJ
tanned permission to see Mr.. Stewart il
person. Hc received some sort Of cart
or ticket Of introduction--a simple lin
from ono OF the head men under whom
he was employed. This took him througl
the lines to Mr.. Stewards presence, jus
as n pass would take common soldie
10 the tent OF tho commanding genera
He presented his line, told his story, ant
when he had finished, Mr.. Stewart sal
"Your wages will not be advanced. Ho'
would you like 10 so sonth, to Charles
ion, s. C.T The young man replied tha
he was willing to make the experiment
Mr.. S. took pen, wrote n few lines, ad
dressed it, handed it to him with til
simple remark "Steamcr sails on Tues
day." It was a note to firm in tha
city, which, II we recollect the sequel
failed to be OF any service to the youni
man. His story, as published in detail
showed how impressive, rigorous ant
Medo.persian like was the nature AM
discipline OF this man OF immense mil
lions.
It is such incidents as these thu
have come out in regard to Stew
art, along with accounts OF his sys
tcmatic smashing out Of rival to hi
great uptown house, that have reachc
the public and influenced the populO
cs,;mnte oi the man. Perhaps II he ha
been known as he really was to the mnl
titnde, he would have appeared to create
advantage, His grand project to build
home for sewing girls OF New York
not to be forgotten. He has spent vas
sun of money, built splendid pile, bn
whether he has succeeded in his aim re
mains to the future. We have the i'm
preston that up to this time the schem
has not met expectations. We trust thu
ways and means will yet bc found
makeit success, for certainly 1t woul
be a blessing to society to provide such
home as Mr.. Stewart contemplated 70
this worthy class Of workers. 1t was nc
to be a charity establishment bu
an immense boarding and lOdgin
house whOro for n rcasonable price thes