The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-29
STEWARDS SUCCESSOR.
HiltOn's Business Career-A Great Dry.
Goods Business Wrecked.


New York Letter in Philadelphia Press
You never saw a picture of A. T. Stewart,
l suppose There never was one printed with
his permission, but some twelve years ago
clerk In one of the departments of his down
town store made a pen-and-ink sketch of him,
which was wonderful likeness and found
!ts-way to photographer, who reproduced it
by the thousands. l remember seeing them
on the streets for sale, but have endeavored
in vain, within few weeks, to procure one.
The dealers say that they were all bought
up, and the photographer who originally
printed them cannot be found. l had my
thoughts carried to this fact by Judge Hill
tons picture. His face is large and broad, a
combination of courtesy and sneer. Hilton
is very selfish man. though he has many
kindly traits. He leads life of signal self
indulgence, and would be very glad if he
could put himself upon a plane with the
great moneyed men OF the city in a thou
sand ways where their self-in-
diligence creeps out but which
desire for continued existence compels him
to avoid. OF course everybody knows he
didn't make the money he las to spend, and,
as he knows that everybody knows it, there
is always a latent sense of depreciation at
tending everything he does, as though he
would say, "Of course, L know you under
stand, but still, after ALL ETC." Mr.. Hilton
is very unwieldy in figure. heavy and fabby
in flesh. He rarely walks, even from the
store to his house, which, by the way, is
beautiful residence on Thirty-fourth street.
quite near Stewards tomb.
Hilton has an unfortunate stammer, which,
combined with the consciousness to which
have alluded, makes him rather an unpleas-
ant person to talk with. l understand he is
thoughtful and kind to his immediate de-
pendants, although very rough and inconsid-
crate to the clerks and other employees in his
business, By the way, how entirely he or
whoever it is, has succeeded in dissi-
pating what was at one time a phe-
nomenal business in this city, a bust
ness which attained unprecedented success
in this metropolis, and made the name of
Stewart known throughout the commercial
world as synonym of solidity, of shrewd-
ness and sagacity. Stewart, you may know,
never had sign upon any of his stores.
Now his old marble palace is dsfigured by
two large brass signs. 1t really seems as if
Hilton and all the post-Stewart gang try to
do their best to traverse every pet whim and
caprice of the old fellow, and if possible, to
eradicate even the memory of his name from
the face Of the earth. How subtle a thing
mercantile reputation would seem to be!
And how, after all, even credit depends
upon gossip! No one doubts that the obli-
cations of Stewards successors were as valid
and as certain to be paid as those of the orig
lnal Stewart; and, yet when it was general
ly understood that this house and that house
and the other house were oversellIng and
outdoing the once pride of the dry-goods
trade, no one was surprised; everybody said
This is what was to be expected" and, lit
tie by little. it became evident that there
was no push, no drive, no enterprise no de-
sire to do anything but realize and get out.
So, after all, the life of Stewart may be
summed up in a sentence: The old man is
dead and the property has not survived"
Has it? Where is it? His money remains,
but that which was the center and aim and
bulls eye of brain, and industry and activi-
ty, and thought and self-abnegaIion-his
business-is absolutely frittered and dissipat-
ed. Hilton, lucky dog, after twenty-five
or thirty years of canine fidelity to Stewart
and Stewards desires, which here means
great deal, woke up one morning. his patron
being dead. to find himself the owner of
million dollars cash left by his late master.
and, as if that was not sufficient surprise to
the world, who, knowing Hilton's devotion
to Stewards interests, believed that he would
be handsomely, though not so muniicently,
remembered in the merchants will, a very
short time thereafter it was announced with
all form and ceremony that for this ident teal
81, 100000 the Widow Stewart had sold her
dead husbands right, claim and title to his
enormous business affairs to the fortunate
legatee aforesaid. That Hilton could carry
on that monumental enterprise which Stew
art had worked fifty years to build, no one
believed, of course, but that Stewards part
ner, Mr.. Libby, would continue was the gen.
eral impression. The fact, as you know, is
that they long since stepped down and out,
the little which remained being turned over
to two firms, who now advertise themselves
as successors to the great house.