The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-18
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Chase took place, on which occasion the
rare spectacle was presented of Presby-
terrain preacher officiating in an Episcopal
pulpit. This preacher was John Hall, who
delivered the sermon of the occasion. In
old times such interchsnges were not I'M
common in this city.
STEWART AND HIS RIVALS
The great purpose which gradually be-
came Stewards ruling passion was central
izaton. There was, in his opinion, no
need of having hundred INGREDIENTS where
one could stand in their place, and there
was no need Of having a hundred stores
when they all could be put under one roof.
This led to that war in which SO many no.
BILE and ambitious housed went to ruin.
For the Frat 20 years Stewart was not felt
in the Jobbing trade, and was merely looked
on as first class retailer, but the time
came when he overthrow the jobbers Just
40 he had overthrow The retailers. When
during my boyhood l entered broadway,
(1530, Stewards and Fountains were the
most fashionable dry goods houses IN the
city. But where is Fountain now? James
Beck & Co.'S was also fashionable retail
house. So was the firm of J. N. s. r. II,
Selby. Others might be mentioned who
were crushed by competition which was
OF the most relentless character. The
only houses which have held their place in
Broadway under the battle for trade are
formed of foreign elemen. whose tenac-
ity has enabled them 10 endure. They are
few in number and chiefly include such
names as Arnold, Constable G Co. and also
Lord Taylor. Hundreds of others may
be mentioned who have persisted 10 the con-
hict. Some Of them held out for q few
years, and some went under after the strug-
gle of season, but sooner or later they
were numbered among Stewards victims
GLANCE AT OLD TIMES.
Very few can now remember the old
fashioned dry goods jobbing store, such as
was seen in Pearl street when the trade held
its head quarters there. Of an entire build
ing, the first floor and basement were thus
used, the upper lofts being occupied by the
"importers." The latter were distinct
class, whs sold to the jobbers, and the lat.
ter in turn sold to the retailers. Another
feature in the dry goods trade was the COM
mission houses for the sale Of domestic man
ufactures. These men at that time had
possession of Exchange place and Broad
street. o region nov devoted to finance.
Almost all the jobbers of that day failed.
Among the chief exceptions were such
men as John j. Phelps. Amos r. Emo, w.
NJ. Hal,tead, Robert Jatfray, d. A. Cush-
man and few others. 1t was Stewards
| ambition to concentrate all these branches
of trade in his own hands. He became a
jobber, a retailer, and an importer. To
this he added not only the profits Of the
domestic commission business, but became
G.
he remodeled the dry goods trade, and DO
ing this the keen edge Of his competitive
power wrought destruction. When l first
saw "Stewart's' it was a front of 25 feet,
with panes of glass so small that they
would now be unfit for country store.
The place was about As fee: deep, and was
generally filed with customers. 1t was
about half mile from Pearl street, and as
it etood opposite the park it was in fash
oneble neighborhood.
THE WASHINGTON HOTEL
was popular resort, corner Of Broadway
and Reade street, where James Fennemore
Cooper started the BREAD and Cheese
Club" so noted a half century ago. Here,
too, Louis Napoleon was entertained dur
ing bis stay in the city in 1888. A CEN
fury ago this plot was al old burying
ground, and from the limb of n tree which
stood there the patriot spy Nathan Hale
was hanged. He was buried here, and his
remains were afterwards conveyed 10 his
native place. In one part of the hotel
Lewis P. Clover kept looking glass and
picture store. He il now past four score,
and is one of the veterans OF 1912. HIS son
is a much beloved clergyman in the Eps-
i
The hotel was destroyed by fire, the prop
erty WAS sold at auction, and the public
was surprised TO learn that Stewart had
bought it at the round price of S65 900.
No one supposed that he could raise so
much money. and yet that was only 80
years ago. After he had built his new
store he began to be felt as jobher, and
| his wealth rapidly increased. IL was about
| this time that his 'eystem" assumed an in
| tricate character, in which it stands I'M
rivalled. and he also began 70 seclude him
| self in order to pursue his inman-e calcula-
tions in misunderstanding from his office his
orders with imperial dignity.
WILLIAM IIBBEY.
| This man, whose name is 80 conspicuous,
was like most of Stewards men, broken
merchant. | well remember the house OF
Hastings, Lbbey & Forby, dry goods job
bers, who shared the general fate of trade.
Libbey is now a large built and heavy man
of 60, but he was then tall, slender and
very handsome young man. After his
| failure Stewart gave him q situation,
| whence he rose to a partnership. Lbbey
| and Judge Hilton reached Stewards affec-
| tons with peculiar power | made men,
| ton of the judge, in my letter of April /,
as being thoroughly cogpizant of Stewards
plans, and it is now said that he and Mr..
| Lbbey are trustees to carry on the bust
ness. This sounds very well on paper,
| and was no doubt the best the old man
could do, but it is utterly impossible.
Raphael might as properly have appointed
some one to paint his cartoons. Dickens
might as we'll have appointed a man to fin
ish his last halfway production. Only q
| Stewart can carry out Stewards plans. and,
| as he is gone, the concern will gradually 60
| to pieces. Stewards name was the great
| attraction. and he made the public pay for
1t. The prices were always dear, and goods
are sold cheaper in Troy than in the palace
of fashion.
THE VACANT OFFICE.
Stewards Office, in the second story of
the wholesale establishment, was tcuei
from intrusion, and it was the spot where
his mighty schemes were drawn out into
careful detail, and his time could not be
spared except for the most important OBJ
| jects. Judge Hilton and Libbey were al
| ways welcome, bat their stay was always
brief. The man who has spent the most
time there was the architect, John Kellum,
who built both of the great warehouses.
Four years ago Stewart attended his fu-
neral. That office is to be forever vacant.
Libbeys station is in the sslesroom below.
Judge Hilton will use tho Office for the
transaction of business, but Stewart will
not return. Libbey will be obliged to as
sumo the care Of the retail establishment,
which to an overworked man must be an