The daily gazette., 1879-06-04

and the other ID buy. Ginghams that
brought thirty-one cents yard he sold
at twenty cents, and SO in proportion
and The effect was, that TO seize the daz-
cling opportunity old women drew forth
their savings from their stockings, and
rushed to Stewart's. Other traders were
panic-smitten aud poor, Stewart was full
Of money. After sacrificing millions Of
his best stock at cost, he marched 10 auc-
tion and bought fresh goods, sent there
by terrified competitors, and bought for
cash at forty cents less than the money
he had got for his old stock one pur-
chase Of $500, 900 of silks he made for
one half cash, and the other half at sixty
days, at less than they had cost to i'm.
port; and during those memorable trials
sales his we're 5000 day His colossal
efforts left all his enemies behind. 1t was
not the slow growth Of the coral, but the
perennial product of the bOundl' IS
wheatfields Of the prairies and the Pa
cific Slope. In 1880 he was worth twen-
ty millions of our money!
Having mastered the two panics, 1887
and 1857, the Civil War came on him
lAAG 8uOtAOI W8CiobIO1us A4O 6CCnuCu W
welcome 1t with fierce joy. In his fit
ty-seventh year, he saw that the Govern
ment would be his greatest customer, and
trusting IL as his only hope and say in
this world, he proceeded to engage goods
from nearly all our American manufact-
urers, and when the demand came he
was almost the only man with whom
Mr.. Lincoln could contract for uniforms,
blaL kets, and other ;mAteri making
millions, yet underselling all others.
And, as all of us remember, the war that
punished and finished rebellion, and
brought death to nearly million Of in
nocent men on both sides, made the great
cities of the North hives of work, wealth
and fashion, and A. L. Stewards busi-
ness palace great bazaar, and new mint
for himself.
A few days ago looked in upon the
Tenth Street establishment on Broad
way, and had long and valuable
talk with Hon. Henry Hilton, Mr.. Slew
arts active executor, in company with
the widow of the great merchant. When
Mr.. Stewart laid down the reins of con-
troll on his deathbed, the 10th of April,
1876, he left his affairs SO orderly and
ordered that this able man had only
to carry on the work by the lines
upon which that work had been re-
jected. And while it was no part
of my visits to ask questions as to the
extent Of the great fortune left to his
and Mrs. Stewards case, soon saw that
If the master could return he would find
his presence still prevailing the place.
His comprehensive system is conducted
as he himself directed and prosperity
follows his silent example as the harvest
follows the wise sowing of the absent
husbandman. The colossal palace on
the corner of Fifth Avenue and Thirty
fourth Street, where Mr.. Stewart died
and where he entertained with princely
bility, and higher than all, the monarch.
Of science, trade, and labor, is still .oc
cupied by his widow, whose life is main
; ly given to her woman's share of th'
charities he left to his family and hi.
( country. His Garden City, on Hemp
stead Plains, with his royal system o.
farming, draining, lodging-houses, and
lovely church, its eight thousand acres
of land, valued at five millions his
hotel for workingmen, filled with ladies;
his five hotels in the city and Saratoga
| Springs ; his two theatres, the Globe and
| Niblo's Garden his Amity Street Chul ch
his Grand Street Presbyterian Church; his
immense millproperty near Fishkill Land
ing his almost countless houses in the
| city his tracts of suburban property
his colossal store, already described, cor
ner of Tenth and Broadway; these, and
many more, which in England and
France would take centuries to acquire
and hold, as the inheritance either oi
| some dissolute nobleman, perhaps the
illegitimate offspring of some character
less woman and dishonest king, here in
this land of liberty are the providentia
product of the life ofa plain, republican
citizen. l record them as the harvest
Of less than half q century of sagacious
enterprise the growth of one mind
cultivated in circle to be found nc.
where else on earth, and crowned by ar
example that shines like an unfadins
star on the monument ofa great life.
l have coupled with this great life
John Wanamaker, of Philadelphia, be
cause he knew the great merchant, ant
is, perhaps, the most conspicuous in
stance of strict obedience to his example
should no more think Of finding par
allel to Mr.. Stewards career in Europ
than should think of comparing Johl
Wanamaker's enterprise with that un
precedented career. John Wanamake
Is only forty-one, and has, therefore
many years in store to perfect his splen
did scheme. he has many Of the char
te istics of the New York leader. Amia
BILE, cool, indefatigable, patriotic, and fear
less, he has been rewarded by unexam-
pied success in the city of his fathers
And as find no second Stewart, can
not point to another John Wanamake
between the two oceans. As you pas
through his Grand Depot, and remembe
its history, as the great depot of tn
Pennsylvania Railroad, and the spo
where the vast exhibition of the Frank
lin Institute was held, you are amaze'
at the system that presides over it ant
, its kindred establishments, the Oak Hal
Clothing House, on Market Street
and the other fine clothing establish
ment on Chestnut street. Gov
ering an area of two and one-hal
acres, in the heart of the most beautiful
portion of Philadelphia, and smployin
twelve hundred persons, the Grand De
pot is a gigantic collection of genera
merchandise. Mr.. Wanamakeri is mas
ter of detail. He is really ubiquitous
always quiet, polite and vigilant-one {
those silent men who never show thei
inner powers by nervous excitement, blu
as great machine, perform prodigies c
exertion with nOiseless exactitudt