St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-06
welcome by Mrs. Stewart. Few visitors
rpcaivpd this destination

istics were in every sense lacking in
Stewards character. The breezy per-
S0nallty Of the tactful young lawyer
was relief in the stilted and affected
Household OF Stewart.
The millionaire was thirty years older
than the lawyer. He began almost at
once to use the stockily built and as
Sertiye young attorney as shield. I'M
portunitles and appeals Of every kind
poured in on the great millionaire at all
times. He was testy, and. age was be-
ginning to tell on him. At the instiga-
ton of his private lawyer he began to
get rid Of troublesome callers by say
ing: ''Go and see Hilton about it," or,
ASK Hilton to look into the matter; [
haven't time" Hilton couldn't get
enough to do. He was at the Office of
Stewart early, and at O'Clock nearly
every night for many years he went
home with the dry goods man, and
dined at the Stewart house. The older
man shirked fight; the younger one
sought it.
Judge Hilton's character is remark
able one. He has faculty for making
enemies which is practically unrivaled.
eyes Oh it and dashes ahead. 1t makes
no difference whether friend Or foe is
Ill the way, he rusheS on with equal
force. Talking of the Stewart case yes
terday he was as impetu0uS, vehement
and earnest as he was thirty years ago.
Nothing strengthens him so much as
opposition. One can understand how
Stewart leaned on man of this calber.
The story of Stewart is simple one.
Yet it is not general known. He did
not begin life penniless, as is So often
said, but had substantial fund with
which to make his first venture. Let
me give a few salient points in the
mental, moral and financial equipment
of the man.
Stewards father died before the birth
of the boy who was to make the name
famous. His mother married again and
came to America when the boy was
only two or three years old. She left
him In Belfast with a family named
Lamb. The stepfather died and Stew
arts mother married third time. This
husband also died after year or two,
and
The Widow Started
a small furniture shop on Franklin
street, in New York city. She managed
to support herself humbly by it.
Meanwhile young Stewart grew to be
StudiouS and th0ughtfu l lad in the
care OF the Lambs in Belfast. He
studied Greek aud Latin. and was an
expert bookkeeper and penman. His
grandfather died and left Alexander
Stewart a legacy of $4,000, making
Lamb the guardian.
When Alexander reached the age of
nineteen he had a longing to see his
mother again. | read some of his let
tiers this morning dated back in 1920
and Whereabouts which speak of his de-
sire to see his mother again, despite
that good Woman'S somewhat indus
trious practice of the marriage cere-
mony. Young Stewart set sail for
America, visited his mother, and for
time taught penmanship here, hlling
the position temporarily of young
Irish lad here who had once been his
chum.
Stewart was not yet twenty years of
age, but there were already indications
of his extraordinary financial genius.
He was mainly interested in the very
large prices commanded here by Irish
linens. Without consulting anyone he
made elaborate schedules of the reign
ing prices, duties, rents, etc., In New
York, and then set sail for Ireland
again. Once there he prevailed upon
his guardian, Lamb, to turn over his
legacy of about $4,000, and he immedi-
ately invested the greater part of it in
Irish linens. He brought them to New
York, opened little store at 2s3 Broad
way, exactly opposite the site of the
first great Stewart store, and doubled
his fortune within the year.
From this point on his steps were in
variably upward, but it should be noted
that the enormous rise in values during
war lines had much to do with Stew
arts great gains. Millions accumulated
then with extraordinary rapidity. The
great dry goods house which Stewart
founded is to-day selling more goods
than at any time during the life of the
great metchrnt, yet the profits do not
reach One-fourth of the smallest sum
regularly recorded as yearly profit be-
tween 1860 and 1870. Every man has
distinct theory about the relations Of
Stewart and Hilton.
Their relations W ere unusual. To
begin with. there was the astounding be-
quest in the Stewart will: "To Henry
Hilton, $1,000, OO0." Such legacy as
this to a man bound to the millionaire
by no ties of blood, was extraordinary
enough. Ii should be remembered, too.
that Hilton had been DRAWN salary of
S50.000a year from Stewart for many
years. The second great fact is that
Stewards millions are now in Hilton's
treasury, absolutely and without a legal
claim on them in any direction. All
the argument and abuse in the world
cannot change these conditions.
The once great millionaire is dead,
his body presumably lost or destroyed
by the ghouls who stole it, and every
trace Of his former emnence. destroyed.
he left princely fortune, and it is now
in the pocket of his friend and adviser.
The question is whether Stewart
wished his money to go to Hilton or to
his wife's relations. Bereft of all the
wild eXaggeratiOn which surrounds the
case, it does not seem improbable that
the great millionaire might be as well
pleased to have his millions in Hilton'S
hands as elsewhere. at all events, the
money is there. Perhaps it is nobody's
business, but there is lively sense Of
curiosity in the community concerning
it all. 1t will never be satisfied until
Judge Hilton tells the whole story of
his intimacy fully, freely and frankly,
and there is no likelihood of his doing
this, curiosity must go on nnsatified.
Knew How to Ride.
Merchant Traveller.
Mamma, can't l ask James beau,
who's in the parlor with her now, to tell
me how to ride bird?'
Ride bird, Johnny What on
earth do you mean? How can Mr..
Goodboy tell you any thing about that?'
'sWhy, thought he ought to know.
I hoard a man down town say he saw