Sharp County record., 1878-12-05

/ quarterF' AT another, "Ihose things
are out of style, and must 90 at auc-
tion.n His criticisms were sharp, and
indicated an observing eye. "Some of
these young men are not neat enough
in their dress. | smell tobacco around
here; dismiss every man that uses it.
There's fellow that does not know how
to wait on ladies'" etc.
MINOR INCIDENTS.
When Stewart had gone through the
retail establishment (Which was his first
mornings duty, he knew its condition
perfectly, for his perceptions were so
keen that he absorbed knowledge. He
paid no attention to the crowd of Gus
, toners, unless something particular at
tracted his attention, when he might
speak Gas a strangely in the way of sug-
gestion. An incident of this kind oc-
CURED in my own experience about two
years before his death. | was standing
at one of the counters where person
was buying calico dress pattern which
left small remnant. Stewart came
along hastily, and remarked in a sharp
tone, "Don't sell these goods so as to
leave these little remnants. If piece
has ten yards and woman wants eight,
let her take all or none. The price
won't allow it." AS he passed on the
head of the department said to other
clerks, "What made you let the old
man see that remnant? The next time
chuck 'em under the counter" then
adding, "What the eye never sees the
heart never grieves." | mention this
to illustrate that close attention to little
things which marked this strange and
! gifted man.
WEALTH AND BENEVOLENCE.
In point of benevolence, Stewart was
utterly and niggardly deficient. 1t is
true that he sent a load of provisions to
Ireland during the famine, and it is al
so true that he gave $4,000 to the suf-
fererS at Manchester at the beginning of
the rebellion. These, however, were
merely advertisements, which he found
beneicicial. One of his managers, who
knew him thoroughly, remarked that
he never, in all his acquaintance with
Stewart, knew him to do an act of be-
neicence. AS no one was allowed to
address him except when invited, the
voice of charity could not reach his
presence. He barred out the appeal of
a suffering race, and it was generally
conceded that Stewart, Astor, Wander
bilt and Stephen Whitney were the rich
est and meanest men of the day. Astor's
pride led to the foundation of library,
and Vanderbilt's second wife induced
him to endow the Nashville College, but
neither Stewart nor Whitney ever was
known to do an act of charity. Stew
art promised a hotel for poor women,
but he shifted the duty upon his heirs,
and the result need not be mentioned.
FAvORITE INVESTMENT.
Stewart and Vanderbilt were each the
founders of immense wealth, solely due
to their great genius, yet how different
their mode of investment. The one
was devoted to ships and railway prop
erty, the other carefully avoided such
property, and next to his trade devoted
himself to real estate. Stewart, indeed,
hardly cared even to buy bank-stock.
He had few shares in the Merchants
Bank, but generally disliked such prop
erty. He loved to see his wealth in
that shape which would crafty the eye
and command public admiration. 1t
was pleasure to read of Stewards pal
ace of fashion, and also of Stewards
Fifth Avenue palace, and the grandeur
of hotel architecture also awoke his am
bition. The same nicely of taste which
made him successful merchant, also
made him the best builder New York
ever contained.
AFTER US, THE DELUGE.
This was the common saying during
the licentious reign of Louis XIV. in ref
erence to the future, whose impending
catastrophe sometimes alarmed the be-
sotted court. How very strange it now
seems to recall the fact that these very
words were uttered to me by Judge
Hilton in reference to the future DISPOSE
ton of Stewards estate. This occurred
nearly ten years ago, before the Judge
had become man of wide notoriety,
but even then he was Stewards most
intimate friend. He told me at that
time that Stewart had asked him to ac-
cept partnership, statement which
was very credible when one considers
the intimacy which even then had been
of long standing. During this CONVEX
sation an allusion was made to the i'm
mense property which Stewart was ac-
cumulating, and also to its future dis
position. The Judge looked grave
when the question was offered, and
then replied, "After us, the deiuge."
True enough, and it has come at last.
PROF. A. H. GARoD, in recent ad-