The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-03
NO. 20
a MercantIIe Romanse.

boy in dry goods store in Charlestown
Massachusetts. His extraordinary aptitude
;or business attracted the notice Of Bostau
merchant who was heavily engaged in the
South American trade. He took the hoy
to his counting house on Central wharf, Bos-
ton, and when the latter grew to manhood
sent him to Valparaiso to look after his
large interest IN that city. In a short time
the young man left his employer and struck
out Tor himself. The South American trade
4 Sas a comprehensive one. Il embraced the
4 buylng OF all kinds of South American pro-
ducts hides, wool, Ncopper, etc, sending
them to the United States, and brinSine
back an assortment of American manufac,
lures. The business established by Hemen-
way advanced with great strides. The
wealthy English houses in Valparaiso, having
confidence IN the remarkable ability of the
! young American, lent him their credit. A
singular feature IN this mans career was
that he never gave note. His business in
3 few years had become so great that he
found It necessary TO return to BostG-S aud
estss1lisss a. lsouse in that city. lie sent his
brother, Charles p. Hemenway, to South
America to manage the house there, aud,
remaining himself in Boston, enlarged his
operations until the magnitude of them de-
manded every moment of his time. He
even built his own ships, and made addi-
tlonal profits by carrying his own goods
lie owned sugar plantations in Cuba, cop
per mines in South America, and had busi-
hess relations with the Barings of such mag
nitude as to astonish even that colossal
house, and the whole of this immense busi-
ness he managed himself.
Now comes strange change in his career.
About fifteen years ago one morning he
walked into the China Insurance Compsny's
office and expressed some anxiety about a
payment which be was obliged To make of
comparatively trifiing amount, saving that
he was afraid he should not be able to meet
1T. Mr. Bacon, the president of the COM
pany, was astonished, and, after some talk
with MIR. Hemenway, was convinced that
the latter was little out of his mind. Mr..
Hemenway himself came to the same conclu-
sion. He sent for his lawyer and ordered
HIM to draw up power of attorney confin-
ing the management OF his business To his
brother, Francis Bacon, and Mr.. Tileston,
his brother-in-law, of the firm of SpofTord
d. TiiestOn. Associated with them was his
chief clerk, Mr.. Brown, also man OF
great business sagacity. Having done this,
he quietly retired to L:tchfield, Connecticut,
and put himself in charge of an eminent
medical man who resided there. In this
house he remained for thirteen years, watch
ing and nursing his brain. He had satisfied
himself that without perfect rest and quiet
the machine so terribly tried would give
out, and the result would be softening of
the brain. He passed his time in quiet
amusement, glanced at the newspapers, but
would never allow the word business to be
mentioned In his presence. During this
long period Of seclusIon, the great civil war
broke out and was extingulshed, specie dis
appeared, new currency was born, new
channels of trade were opened, and new
methods of business were evolved. The
great whirlwind swept by him unnoticed.
10 his friends Hemenway appeared to be
hopelessly insane.
About eighteen months ago, like clap
of thunder from clear sky, a telegram
came to Charles Hemenway, worded thus:
bring on your trial balance-Augustus He
menway." The brother telegraphed to the
physician. The answer came: ''Patient
perfectly recovered" Mr.. Hemenway re-
ceived his brother and the trial balance
and looked over it. A few days afterward
he walked into the counting-room on
Newis's wharf, hung ur his hat on the ac-'
customed peg, and sat down to business
quietly. He was trying his brain. In few
days more he looked over the entire trans
actions of the house for the past thirteen
years, and generally approved of what had
been done. Among the items in the state
ment was one for $102 charged to Ms. He
menway. What is this2' he asked Mr..
Brown did not remember. 'tLook it up if
you please" was the request. The book
was referred to, and the bill was a dentists
bill. This was instanced as specimen of
his minute methodical ways A singular
change had come over the man. Formerly
he was brusque and stern. Now he had
become urbane and polite. He went to
church, new custom, and on hospital sun
day put the following memorandum into
the contribution box: $4,000. A. H.
The wardens were puzzled 20 know whether
it meant ten dollars or one thousand. On
calling upon him the next day they received
one thousand dollars. .f7 ~
Mr.. Hemenway resumed the charge of his
business. 1t had been enormously enlarged
by his brother and Mr.. Brown. To them
he released the entire profits of the thirteen
years. Now this extraordinary man has re-
sumed his sometime suspended business.
His first step was TO go TO England to pur-
chase at Swansea the machinery for the
thorough smelling of his copper. It had
been coming to the country in an imperfect
ly smelted form as an article known to the
commercial world as "reguIus. p" His friends,
on hearing that he was going to sail in the
Adriatc, one of the White Star Line, strong
ly advised him to go instead in Cunarder.
His reply was characteristic. He said
III have examined the ship thoroughly, and
have talked with the engineer am salts
fied.n He sailed in the ship and came back
in her. II gave him q week in swansea,
time to complete his purchases. When be
landed he had been absent Just twenty
three days. His voyage embraced the Adri
atic's two remarkably quick trips. lie then
went to Cuba to look after bis sngar plan
tations. He sold the whole crop TO Lon
don house on a strong market, acting with
his usual sagacity. After this sale sugar
went down, thing which he had foreseen
From Cuba Mr.. Hemenway went to Valpa-
raiso, and from there to London, where, in
connection with the BariDgs, he is now en-
gagged IN some huge operations, which will,
no doubt, prove successful, as it is asserted
that during his long career be never made
a business mistake. Dir. Hemenway is
probably the wealihiest man in America
He owns great deal of property in New
York City. Seeing that the dry goods trade
was drifting over to Church street, he
bought some old houses there, and pulling
them down erected stores. lie received as
much for one years rent as the ground and
old houses cost. During the whole long
self-imprisnDment Of this remarkable man,
bis wife was an angel of mercy to the poor,
going about and visiting them, and spend
ing money to the extent OF a princes reve-
nue.. All this she did in the most unosten-
tatious manner, and as secretly as IL detec-
tion would bring scorn instead Of honor.
ByrOn's VenetIan Loves.