Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-09
AT. stewards Right H and Man.

Mr.. A. T. Stewart, the great drv goods mer-
chant, was perhaps IN his time one of the
most positive and self-relant characters that
ever lived. He thoroughly understood his
business, as all good business men do. and at
the same time he understood the value of pos
tive. sef-reiant characters as his ASSISTANTS
Mr.. james Armstrong, the State street dry
goods merchani, says the local gOssiper of the
Chicago Mail, was at one time one of these.
He began with ste wart as the mead of one of
the largest departments in his immense busi-
ness, with about 50 O00, 900 worth of goods I'M
der his abso ute control. He had scarcely
been in his new position ten days before Mr.
s ewart one day said to him, IN the posi-
tive way of man who knows what he
wants and is accustomed TO have things done
as he wants them: ~ want Won to go to
Europe by the next steamer and bring more
goods" Mr.. Armstrong, who, by the way. is
tOerably positive character himself, replied
that he couldn't o it. He wasn't ready. Mr..
Stewart inquired why, and Mr.. Armstrong
reminded him that there was already under
his charge the largest stock OF dry goods in
the country, and he had not yet found out
what it contained or what il lacked. With
out saying whether or not this explanation
was satisfactory, Mr.. Stewart walked away.
Two or three weeks later Mr.. Armstrong
went up to Mr.. Stewards Office and told him
he was ready to sail. II he was stIll Of the
opinion that he should go.
do you know what you want to buy noWs'
inquired Mr.. Stewart.
Il do" said Mr.. Armstrong.
VERY well, then. Come in tomorrow and
leu us ldlk IL owe
The next day Mr. Armstrong came up with
his list Of the goods he intended TO buy. Mr.
Stewart looked IT. over.
II see here" said he, "that Won intend to
order hundred cases Of this kind OF sheet
ing. Do you think we shall find sale for so
muchp
II certainly do" said Mr.. Armstrong.
"And see also that you think we want only
two cases of the same kind Of goods Of an
Their width. How 10 THAR"
''rhe reason is" said Mr.. Armstrong ''tnat
/ am ashamed TO order one. Your last order
was 1--WE cases, and some Of IL il still in stock
IL is used only for fitting out ships, and under
our beneficent laws ships get nothing in
American ports that they can 1t for till
they get elsewhere. Two cases will there
fore, probably last us a long time"
SO they went on through the list. When
they bad finished Mr. Stewart inquired II he
knew how much the bill would probably be-
Mr.. Armstrong replied that II would be about
fs0,000.
isn't that good deal Of money!" asked
the dry goods prince.
''Yes," said Mr.. Armstrong, ''for me il
would 10. IL would probably exhaust nv
bank balance, and perhaps leave me In debt
a dollar or two, but for your business tho case
hhood OF This and employer and clerk parted
The next day Mr.. Armstrong was notified
that he was TO sail rs soon as D ssible. and
that the London bankers OF A. r. stewart n
Co. had been notihed to place $4,000 90 hls
credit for the purch ase OF goods for the tlrm.
aud Ese0oO In case he should deem itdeslrable
70 uae Il.
On this or suhseq nont trip mr.. Armstrong
found one mill owner who had n large stock
OF various lines OF manufactures which he was
extremely anxious to sell. lie was so anN-
i0us, indeed, that he followed MIR. Armstrong
about from city to city. aud finally made an
offer OF h entire stock at figure which Mr.
Armstrong accepted. He had scarcely closed
the bargain, however. before he became
frightened al what he had done. and after his
return watched the result with some anxiety
stewart said nothing a. 10 whether he wa
pleased or diapieased with the transaction
until Mr. Armstrong WAS ready to start for
Europe. just as h was about TO leave Mr.
stewart said 20 him. "While you are gone
look around ana see n YOU can't End another
man who wanta 90 sell al he has got"
A TEMPERANCE LECTURER asked n railroad
magnaie 20 sign the edge. "Exouae me,
sir" replied the magnate. II draw Inc line
there. ! am willing 10 introduce water into
every system but my Oan."-L0udH Citizen.