Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-01-14
agluulh' Gplnma.
STORY OF A LITTLE IRISH
BOY.

tune. He was sixteen years of age,
and, though he brought little money
with HIM, was the fortunate possessor
of good education, including not
only the usual English branches, but
a fair knowledge of Latin and Greek.
/ have called him ali Irish boy, but
he was really Scotch Irish, though
born near Belfast, and possessed in
large measure the shrewdness and
prudence which are characteristic of
those who are born north o. the
Tweed.
l am sure that many of my readers
will already have guessed the name
of this poor Irish boy. In after years
that name became household word,
not only in the city of his residence,
but throughout the United States.
That name was Alexander Turney
Stewart.
The boy tried first to get a mercan-
tile situation. but he who in after
years was destined to employ thous-
ands, at one time could find no one
to employ him. Still he was not at
the end of his resources. For besides
his education he looked older than
his years. Somehow he contrived to
obtain the post of assistant in COM
mercial school. He was able to live,
but not luxuriously, for his pay was
less than six dollars week. | may
remark, however, that six dollars at
that time probably amounted to as
much as twelve nowadays. Board
could be had for two dollars a week,
and as for the spending money which
boys of sixteen now think they must
have, there was little to spend money
for. Extravaganza, which has now
become so general, was of later
growth.
However, young Stewart was not
content, as long as he could better
himself. He was soon able to do so.
He applied for, and obtained. bet
ter position in another school of the
same character, where he received the
magnificent salary of three hundred
dollars year. Probably he saved
something out of this. At any rate,
/ am sure he didn't allow himself to
spend much money for amusements,
or any articles that were not neces-
sary. He was not destined to remain
teacher long. The commercial in
stinct was strong within him. He
gave up teaching, and opened a retail
dry goods store on an humble scale.
He was still a mere boy, for when he
closed up business he was but nine
teen. He did not close up on account
of business endorsements, but on
account of piece of good fortune,
of which he heard in 1921.
The good fortune was the news of
an inheritance left him by his grand
father in Ireland. Naturally, he re-
turned to his native country to look
after it. 1t proved to amount to
about five thousand dollars, which
was no small fortune in that day.
Young Stewart had no sooner secured
his money than he invested it in Sin
sertions'' and "scallop trimmings, -
and returned to New York. He lost
no time in renting store at No. 283
Broadway, and going to work in
earnest. He did not leave his bust
ness to look after itself, but over
looked every detail, working from
fourteen to eighteen hours daily. He
did nearly everything himself. He
was his own cashier, bookkeeper, and
salesman, and did not even disdair
be his own porter. If the young
men who to-day start in business Oh
limited capital would follow his ex.
ample, they might not indeed reacl
his success, for not every common
soldier can become Napoleon, bu
they would be pretty sure to NEE
with some measure of success.
| wish here to record certain prin
ciples of business which Stewar
adopted at that time, and from which
he never deviated, to which we ma,
attribute his subsequent fortune
These were: CD Strict honesty in al
dealings with customers. (2) On
price for all. (3) Cash on delivery
(4) Business to be done as business
and without reference to any othe
consideration. (5) Courtesy to all
of whatever rank. In the days o
his greatest prosperity a poor Iris
woman was as welcome in his larg
store as Il lady dressed in silks, an
the clerk who should presume to trea
her with impertinence would hav
been instantly discharged. All thes
rules | can unreservedly commend
with the exception of the fourth
which Mr.. Stewart carried too far.
OF course the young merchant wa
shrewd. He bought to the best &C
vantage, and SO made his profit q
large as fairness would allow. Ma
urally, be prospered, and in six year
he was obliged to take a larger stor,
1t was not till the year 1916 that |
completed and opened the store
Chambers street and Broadway. whi(
afterwards became his wholesa
store. 1t was later still that he bui
the marble store, filling an emit
square, and bounded by Broadw;
and Fourth Avenue, Ninth and Ten
streets Hprp no was when tha w