Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-04-27
Anecdotes Of the Late A. T. stewart.

AnecQeteS Oi Inc Latc -
| A friend Of Mr.. Stewart related an anec-
Gote Yesterday SEh ich showcd the methods
that The merchsut adopted when carrying
| ON small business, to increase the nun
| her OF his customers. Mr.. Stewart made
| Inquiries among his friends, and learnef
the pame and residence of the leader OF
fashionable society in the city and also
the church that she attended. He then
sought out the sexton Of the church and
leased pew directly in front of that Of
The lady. Regularly Sunday after sun
dsy thereafter be sat in his seat and took
part in the worship. A few months
passed. and one Sunday as the congrega-
/ ton was about leaving the church II sud
denly began TO rain. The fashionable
lady had carriage, but the sidewalk be-
tween the church door and the roadway
was wide, and she stopped jrreseIufsiy al
the door upon perceiving the drops OF
rain, dreadiDg injury TO her costly dress.
The frequent mists and rain OF Ireland
had caused Mr.. Stewart to form the habit
Of carrying an umbrella on all days OF the
| year, and he had one on thisday, Raising
/ ii. he told the lady he would shelter her
/ beneath ID until she could walk 10 her
| carriage, If she would accept the service.
/ The proffer was accepted, he took
her TO the carriage, and was heart
| ily thanked. The following Sunday,
after the service, she addressed him
and again thanked him for his kindness.
/ A short conversation followed, and occa-
sionally ON Sundays that succeeded, as they
we're coming out of church, few words
passed between them. While talking with
member OF the church one day the lady
/ learned Mr.. Stewards occupation, and the
next time she met him said:
Mr.. Stewart, have you any articles in
your store that you think ] would ike to
! buy p,
NO" he replied; Il don't think |
have anything"
Il would like to aid you in your bust
ness in some way"
You can in this way have noticed
/ that your coachman exercises your horses
every day, and you not caring always TO
take ride, presume, the carriage is ire
quently empty. If on the days when you
| do not wish to use the carriage you will
order your coachman to take tito my store
| and remain in front of the store for half
an hour, you will do me a good turn"
! The lady was amused by Mr.. Stewards
/ suggestion, and cheerfully granted the re-
| quest. The frequent appearance Of the
| carriage in front Of the store, and the pre-
sumptive presence ofthe fashionable owner
OF il within the store, was soon noticed by
other women, and Mr. Stewards scheme
was speedily successful. Carriage after
! carriage stopped before the store, and the
stream of fashion was started that has since
run ceaselessly in and out its doors.
Personally Mr.. Stewart was a very I'M
assuming man. He dressed plainly and
with good taste, and never wore rings or
diamonds. The only costly article he
carried about was gold watch and this
was not fastened 10 achain, but 10 black
silk cord. If he saw one of his clerks
displaying much jewelry, this was con
sidered sufficient cause by him 70 estab.
lish an inquiry into the habits Of the man,
the amount Of his salary and his mode Of
! living. II his salary and circumstances
did not warrant such outlay Mr.. Stewart
would have watch set on his actions,
and the result in many cases proved that
the clerk was dishonest. Many instances
| could be recounted in which he discovered
dishonesty in his clerks by too great a
display of jewelry on their part. He was
generally lenient with erring employees,
and never prosecuted them IL there we've
4
servation was remarkably keen, and he
/ was quick 10 observe the slightest ,rregu-
larity in the arrangement Of the different
departments OF the store, or any sloyenli-
ness in the dress of the clerks. If clerk
on the other hand, was dressed too extrav-
agantly, Mr. Stewart often took occasion
TO offer a gentle rebuke. As an instance
Of tbs distaste for outward display, it
may be mentioned that he was walking
through his retail store one day when a
massive gold chain and locket in the but
ton hole of one of his clerks attracted his
attention, He stepped up to him and
said: Young man, If l were you I'd
button up my coat on that" and, point
ing down 70 his own plain black silk
watch cord, he added, "That is the best
can afford to wear; take my advice, and
keep that covered up~
/ Mr.. Stewart, in the selection of his
paintings, invariably chose those which
| united with large and prominent figure
subject bright and striking colors. At
one time few artists and private friends
met at his house to examine new paint
ing by Meissonier, which had just ar
rived, having been painted by Mr. Stew
arts order some time before. In the
| course Of the conversation Mr.. Stewart
remarked that in his opinion the colors
were too light. In reply, one of the gen.
tlemen said that Meissonier painted for
the future, that the colors would become
brighter by age, and in fifty or one hun
bred years the picture would be much
more pleasing than if bright colors had
been used Mr.. Stewards reply was char
acteristic: But, confound IL, l don't
expect TO live fifty or one hundred years,
and | want to enjoy il now. Y.
| Tribune.