Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-11
LIES CONTRASTS.

John anderson and Alexander T. Ste,rdrt
CLASSMATES in Ireland-HOtr One Died
in -4Hsuence IN Ne,r Fork, the Other in
Poverty in Montreal.
Montreal Star.
The grave has closed over the remains of
the late John Anderson, whose miserable,
lonely death in a hovel in this city the Star
gave an account of a few days since. The
poor old man seemed to be unknown even
by his nearest neighbors, and, notwithstand-
ing that coronor,s inquest was held upon
his remains, not a word was elected as to his
antecedents. Yet John Anderson had his
tory, such as it is, and as a contrast to that |
of former school and classmate, the late |
dry goods king of New York,is full of instruc-
| ton and food for reflection. An esteemed |
correspondent has kindly furnished; at our
request, the full story of the deceased. which
we present to our readers in his own words
| In yesterdays newspapers there appeared
notices of an old man called John Anderson,
who twas found dead, alone, in a miserable
room, surrounded by rags and filth, and
covered with living matter The remark
was also made that probably some further
particulars will be discovered in reference to
him. AS l have known this innocent old
man for over II years, l hope you will per-
met me to give some particulars of his life
and rather interesting history. John Ander-
son was born in 1902, at the Red Hill, near
Lisburn, Ireland and at the time of his
death was nearly 76. He vas the son of
small landed proprietor in good circum-
stances, whose farm joined that of the uncle of
the late princely merchant of New York, A.
L. Stewart The two boys were about the
same age, attended the same school, had
Latin syntax thrashed into them by the same
master, played on the same violin. kicked the
same football, and occasionally fought to-
gether. About the age of IA they separated.
|, not to meet for many years. They COM
menced the battle of life with equal prospects
, of success, yet Stewart became the first mer-
chant in the United States, attained world
wide reputation, built princely mansions,
furnished them with the rarest and most
5 costly works of art, and died worth $5O,0O0,-
600 at least, the envy and admiration of
. every business man III the United States
while John Anderson sis found dead, alone
in miserable howell, on a bed surrounded by
rags, and odds and ends everywhere, and
: covered with filth and living matter In
, describable. Such are the vicissitudes OF
: fortune. Yet to any one who knew the two
S men intimately, as did, the cause of this
difference was plainly visible Stewart was
s a man of excellent education, great energy
: untiring industry, quick perception of char
= acter, and sterling integrity, with a fixed de
; termination to become the greatest dry goods
: merchant in the world. On the other hand
e Anderson was a man of weak intellect, cas-,
habits, no ambition, religious enthusiast
k who read his bible daily, ''saw Visions ane
. hated women. He was strictly temperate
Q very economical, Woodworking at his trade
,, cleaning and preparing clocks-yet he die
NO ySrth IN ,1n how. C,o1
10 a lesson as this may be useful to thousand
: of our young men starting in life. 1t
g another proof that education, integrity
- - ambition and industry are almost certain t
~ succeed, when backed by brain-power.
is within my personal knowledge that durin
t Mr.. Stewards life he generously responde
le to any appeal for assistance from Anderson
t. On one occasion he handed me 5000, to b.
al expended in complete new outfit of cloth
Al ing and provisions, and on another 500 TO
e the same purpose, with the strict injunction
k however, that should personally superin
It tend its expenditure, as she we'll knew poo
% Anderson's weakness in money matters, hay
ing on some previous occasion given hin
money which he spent very foolishly.'' i
} justice to my late friends memory (whic
le has often been impugned as misery an
lie hard) mention these facts, and at the sam
l. 'AA'Ao AluoI say liz $5c1iIlcIudu Coulu nay
,e shown more delicacy of feeling and kindnes
s of heart than did A. L. Stewart on these oc
d casions. Since his death, I have frequent
re seen old Anderson, always poorly clad an
A. hungry, yet contended, full of religion
e. feryor, in constant communication wit
spirits and angels, and on receipt of th
!, usual half dollar which l gave him, he woul
- hitch on his old untanncd calf-skin knaI
% sack hum some old Methodist hymn, an
g, leave my office as happy as a prince. O
n several occasions I offered to get him into til
I'd house of refuge, where he would have bee
is well cared for, but he invariably declined
+ stating he preferred living as he was-alon'
he He had an inveterate dread of young wome1
y fearing some one would marry him agains
~ his will. l hope, Mr.. Editor, 1 have ne
~ trespassed too much on your valuable space
in thus recording some incidents in the live
" of two men, who began life's journey tt
:, gether, in about equal circumstances, b,
y whose lives and deaths were SO vastly oiffe
u, ent. r, w.
III MONTREAL, Jan. 90, 1873.
It,
I'd The Great Intellectual Agricu{turist.