Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-11

word and at the same time pub tue Jour
nalisls in good humor. Afterwards,
when It came my turn, he had not the
same reason 10 keep silent on the
subject about which | wished TO ques-
ton him, and he discussed il clearly
aud concisely. In conversation no has a
pleasant way OF looking straight into a
man's eyes with such au expression as re-
tains the attention without embarrassing.
1t was evident that he had carefully
weighed the question of how much time
he could give roe. for he go guided the
conversation that it was entirely at his
command, and when it had reached n
point which he had evidently hni in
view from the first he rose from bis char
corrtecasly, and / WAS launched, calmly
and serenely, without dctriment to my
dignity. II was then after o'clock md
at least a half dozen men we're still wait
ing to be heard.
1t is lucky that Mr.. Depew lives so
near his Office in the Grand Central depot
(his house is but three blocks away or
he might very often keep his dinner
waiting.
Mr.. Depcw reaches his Office ut 1890
or earlier every morning. Ii Is large,
! high room, with windows 70 the west
! His desk stands not far from the centre
Of the room, facing IN such way taat
( the light from the window falls upon his
| lclt side. Among the attractions al the
apartment in winter is handsome fire.
/ place in which a cheerful fire burns be-
( hind q screen.
O. A NEW YORK WHARF.
The other day | watched The busting
scene on bic New YORK wharf 1T was
on the East river front, near ancient
| Rutgers Slip in region Of high yellow
dry-docks on which ships art caulkcd
and repaired, OF ship-chsndlers' shops,
odorous Of tar end oakum, OF sail lofts
where ships are fitted with canvas TINT
viii whiten distant seas, region
/ Of great warehouses Tedolcnt OF
! Oriental merchandise, OF cheap sailor
restaurants, and lounging long
shoremeu in bhe.checked Jumpers "
and weather-worn caps, putting black
ened pipes and telling endless stories
/ with strong Celtic accent Not far oil
/ the great Brooklyn bridge lifts It's proud
towers and imperial span mute no.
I sauDa 10 human genius. Here are ships
from every cline. The one l noticed
WAS the Blitish steamship Albany,
which stretched along the wharf
some three hundred feet. A swarihy
/ Chinsman. in a greasy cap and Jacket,
was scraping the side Of the steamer
and puttlrg on red lead preparatory TO
painting it black. He jabbers his native
iarcon to another Monaghan similarly
employed, while still another country
man OF Conldcius ls shove4ing snow into
the river from the forward deck. Near
by are some Of the steamers officers, in
blue caps and gold cords, stoiidly
watching the scandinavian crew, humble
descendants perhaps OF ancient Morse
rulers OF the sea- moving here and there
along the pitchy deck in ph!csnatic ODE
dience 20 briefy-spoken orders
MILLIONS or P0UEDs or TEA.
A wreath OF browuish smoke is curling
upward from huge black funnel. a
putting and snoring sieam-winch Is
/ busily at work raising with ropes and
pulleys big chests OF tea from the gloomy
| hold Of the vessel, and as fast rs they
come up these matted packages OF leaf,
brought fifteen thousand miles from
/ China to ag9rayate American nervous
ness. are piled Oh the wharf or loaded
upon trucks, which every few minutes
go rambling out into noisy South street
/ This steamer has brought one million
/ five hundred thousands pounds of tea, or
/ more than thIrty-hye Thousand chess.
/ The largest cargo of tea that ever came
4 20 New York arrived last summer 10y
new English steamer after race vi
/ twelve thousand miles and beating an
other tea steamer five days-a close
race for such distonce. She brought
no less than eighty thousand chests, or
about four million pounds.
/ TRADE or OLD.
Forty years ego the trade with China
was carried on by some OF tho finest
sailing-ships that ever pl0ughed the
seas. The stately clippers and packet
! ships were manned by american Seamen
and were the pride OF the nation. The
/ first John jacob Aston owned the famous
: Beaver, which traded t. Canton. Tie
began tins business unJer peculiar cir
cumstances. Il Was ut about the open
/ ing OF the present century tnat a
/ London official OF the hast India
/ Trading Company gaze him a pass
which would ADM, his ships to the jeal
ously guarded trade Of Canton, in which
/ the East India Company had long held
I the monopoly. At that time he was too
poor to own ship. and had never
/ thought OF owning one. ON his return
/ to New York be took the Canton pass to
/ ono of the leading merchants OF the
day and offered to allow him the use
! of it for consideration of halt the
profits OF the voyage. The merchant
! treated his proposition with contempt,
/ but eraciously acquicsced after think
/ ing the matter over for few weeks,
and in due time the POOR young German
received bis share OF the profits II fifty
| thousand Spanish mIlled dollars, which
we're delivered 10 him in barrels. a few
years later he sent ont the famous
Beaver. For many years she brought
rich cargoes from the once great port OF
Far Cathsy, and helped TO lay the
foundation of the fortune which enabled
-! MIR. AstOr 10 accede TO his wife's terms
for selecting furs for him at five hundred
dollars an hour.
THE TIA TRADE.
Thepart that thotea ships played the
Revolutionary history OF the country is
Of course too familiar TO require men.
ton. The Chinaclppors aud pacbetsloYg
ago disappeared for the most part, and
steamers Of foreign flags 90 most Of the
trading. About eighty million pounds
Of ten are imported into this country
annually, and New YORK has three
fourths OF The trade.
Most Of the tea cargoes received here
are sold ct auction in lower Wall street
by tail s'ightiy-built young man who
few years ago was oh inexperienced youth
fresh from college, and who now has Gu
income Of from twenty-five to thirty
thousand collars year mainly from auc-
ton sales Of tea, OF which he has sold