The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-28
cresus, Jack the Giant Killer, and Blue

OF Croesus, Jack the Giant Killer, and Blue
Beard.
What material more sensational could be
asked for blood-and- thunder novel than that
furnished by the rise, progress and subsequent
incidents attending A. T. Stewards head. body
and pockets
He was poor Irish boy WITH no money-wth
literally nothing but his head, and his hands,
and his pluck--yet before he had passed the
meridian of life his name was known about the
globe--a synonym Of substantial wealth, mer-
camille honor, personal probity. In private life
he was not particularly esteemed. he was self
ish, and avaricious, and thoughtless How many
men In New York can recall having seen A. 4.
Stewart in theaterl Yet he owned Niblos
Garden, Harrigan &c Harris, and another, the
name of which escapes me. In each of his thea
ters there was box reserved for fAm 365 nights
in every year-a box never to be sold under
any consideration. In Niblos Garden the box
exists to-day, and is never occupied except by
those who inherited his property or their friends
"a box which leads directly from the stage to a
retiring room, supper-room and a little ante
room, with a window opening upon the auditor
iurn, into which the occupants of the box or of
the ante-roon can look, seated on high stools
placed there for that purpose. or the little sup
pers given there during the run of the "Black
Crook" and subsequently many tales were told,
many stories narrated, and in the face of knowl-
edge 1t would be An absurdity to pretend that
Mr. Stewart with all his gravity of demeanor
and his austerity Of bearing, was not invested
with rich vein of contemporaneous selfish
ness which his means enabled him to work TO
the satisfaction of his not always perfect
taste
1t is a great misfortune to be so very rich that
you cannot take care of your own property.
II is terrible disaster to be the center of q
mystery, the core of a secret, the kernel of nut
which cracked might bring to light thus far hid
den treasures. Had Mrs. Stewart been some
fairy princess whose escape into the wide hori-
zoned world would be disastrous 10 her fellow
beings she could not have been guarded more
sedulously, more jealousy, more carefully
She was well and strong. Her head was well
stored with brains. People who knew her spoke
of her as gentle hammered and full of human
courtesies But to what list of charities do we
find her name appended What scheme of be-
nevolence owes it's inception to her benehcent
nind2 What city, rocked by qnaking earth, sends
prayers of gratitude for the opening of her coersl
RIGHT Yes. Generousl No A. T. Stewart
lived life of grasping, getting and holding.
The old man died, but his property survived.
Certainly. Where is it7 His widow survived,
too But what of t2 The stores and the thea
ters ard the palace are here to-day. but she is
gone, and now-whatl Who inherits now?
Who will be the lucky fellow to find this pearl
of exceeding priceY There are no great lines of
travel to be worked by his heirs or her heirs and
successors, as was the case with the Vanderbilts.
There are no notable institutions, scattered here
and there, or anywhere for that matter, into
whose lap were poured any substantialities from
the Stewart Golfers, save the Working Womens
Home, and even that was altered into hotel. A
life of selfshness led up in his case TO death
garlanded by sacrilege, so that even to-day the
world neither knows cares where his bones
are resting, and the partner Of his gloom, never
of his sunshine, the wife of his mansion, never
the companion of his heart during his long life
shared his ambitions and his aims, but not his
secrets, and after his death harrassed. humii-
ated, annoyed by the infamy of the robbers of
St Marks churchyard, pulled here, hauled there
by conflicting claimants to the estate, moved
along beyond her fourscore years. and finally,
without even the flicker of weeks disease
faded out-eaving behind her. what9 An i'm
mense estate and perfect m@strom of rumor
and gossip SUI .s- a
After ALL little contemporaneous regard for
others is desirable, isn't il!