Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1876-05-18
No. 26
The Example OF Great Merchants.
from the Baltimore SUM-

The decease of A. T. Stewart, the head of
the great importing, jobbing and retail dry
goods house of New York, naturally creates
| an Impression IN the commercial and business
world in which he played so conspicuous 6.
part. The magnitude of his business enter
prises and the immensely of his wealth rem
dered his mercantile career one of the most
! remarkable that ever occurred in any cOun-
try. John Jacob Astor began his accumua-
ton OF fortune as q merchant. but be reiin-
quished that vocation for operations in real
estate. Mr.. Vanderbilt, yet living. acquired
wealth in various marine enterprises, bat the
most of his fortune was obtained from his
subsequent connection with railways. Neither
Girard, of Philadelphia, nor our own Nc
Donough (who was ..boIn in Baltimore, but
| labored in New Orleans nor Peabody had
such commercial fame as Stewart achieved
before his decease. 1t is trde Girard's name
became well known after his death. as did
that OF McDOnOgh, on account OF their mag
nlticent charities, and Peabodys during life
attained lustre which the greater wealth Of
Mr.. Stewart can never rival, because intelli-
gently and Systematically as we'll as liberaly
bestowed il the cause of humanity. Mr..
Peabody also began life in mercantile pur-
suits, but became afterwards banker. His
accommodations did not equal those Of Mr.
Stewart, but he nevertheless achieved the
proud distinction of being such benevolent
giver of great gifts while he lived as the world
has rarely seen. The late John Hopkins Of
this city began his life in counting-room,
but after commercial career of quarter Of
a century relinQuished business in that line,
devoting himself to financial operations, the
improvement of the commercial portion Of
the city, and the sustaining of its greatest
railroad enterprise-fnally, before his de-
cease, maturing the plans and setting on foot
those great benefces for university and q
free hospital with which his name is to be
forever identified. Mr. Stewart, however,
was a merchant from the beginning and con-
tinued merchant to the end For over fifty
years he kept store in New York, and died
keeping store or stores, leaving behind him,
it is supposed, fortune of fifty millions of
dollars. Sleepless vigilance, energy, prudence
and thrift, added to his vigorous native intel
lect and his clear conception of the funda-
mental principles of mercantile economy,
were the intellectual and moral capital which
he put in with his small store of money, and
which, with thought, study, method and
steadfast attention to principle in his bust
ness, led to such surprising results He is
said to have been the example of commercial
probity in his dealings.
If ever man acted throughout life on the
principle that honesty is the best policy, it
was A. T. Stewart. 1t was a rule of his bust
ness that all customers should be treated alike
and treated fairly. He would not permit his
goods to be represented as other or better than
they we're; he had but one price; he bought
for cash, making no debts, and sold for cash
or on the shortest credit possible, and so kept
his capital at command. He personally SUI
perintended the details of his affairs, and so
was always informed of his exact condition
principles of business which are worthy of
all honor and which are essential to CONNER
cial character and success. The exact amount
of his great fortune may not be known. nor,
however great, is it in itself thing to be ad-
mired or enved; but the sterling business
qualities and the inflexibe integrity by which
it was obtained deserve respect and emula-