Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-03-23
REMINISCENT.
Naxwell's GhOst-Why Stewart Hest
itated before Occupying
His Mansion.
How Bridget Saved st. Patriek's Day Pa
rade-VariOus COnvivial SaluratiOns.
WorshIped the same Woman.
For the Gazette.

br the Manhattan club of the Stewart
mansion is bound to make some of us
reminiscent, and some of the things that
FENCES to present readers. For example,
they haye never heard OF Maxwell g
| ghost. Well, its habitation is the Stew
art house. Years ago q contractor by
the name of Maxwell had the contract
| to furnish the white marble for that
| beautiful pile. The war came on, prices
went up, and unless the millionaire dry
| goods merchant would consent to re-
formation of the contract, Maxwell s
| ruin was certain. Accompanied by his
beautiful daughter he called upon the
dry goods Dives and begged for mercy
1t was refused. Maxwell staggered back,
| stricken by heart disease, and with diff
| f1culty reached his carriage. His death
| followed shortly after, and so complete
was the ruin of the family that only
| few years ago, Mrs. Maxwell was a scrub
woman in the city hall.
It will be remembered that Stewart
hesitated for several years after the
completion of the building before NOV
ing into if. Certain people wagged
their heads knowingly and whispered:
"Haunted! Maxwell's ghost!'' But
ghost or no ghost, Stewart did finally
move into the big house and died there,
too, spite of his two physicians quartered
in the adjoining house, Drs. Marcy and
White. Now comes the matter in point
The Manhattan club is about to move in
to this unlucky house. But note the re-
venge of time! Stewart was ALWAYS a
Republican, and it will be remembered
how Grant tried to make him secretary
of the treasury. When Sumner called
attention to the law forbiddiug it, Grant
| asked congress to repeal the law. And
Hilton tried to help his master out by
letting him agree to assign his vast bus
mess and its gains and profits for the
whole time he should be secretary. But
the senate did not agree. Now the resi-
dence of this Republican nabob becomes
the abiding place of the leading Demo-
cratic club of the city. Maxwell is
avenged. His perturbed spirit may rest
at last. All of which proves nothing
politically, but shows how wretchedly
they fail who accumulate gold for selfish
purposes. One such man as plain, hon.
est, good Peter Cooper is worth ten
thousand Stewards.
BRIDGET SAVED THE PARADE.
Let me tell another true story in which
Stewart figured and which is pertinent
st. Patrick 5 day. Thirty odd years ago
Knownothingism was rampant in New
York city. The wealthy merchant,
George Law, or HLive Oak George -
was its representative among the more
intelligent classes, while Bill Poole and
Tom Hyer, pugilists, absolutely idolized
by the sporting fraternity, were the
nigh priests of the new political faith in
the down town wards. At this time the
Knownothing hat made its appearance
a soft white felt; and many attacks were
made upon wearers of that head gear by
Irishmen. In '56, it being the year for
presidential election, political animosi-
ties became iercer than ever. Although
it was apparent that Knownothingism
would not be able to elect chief magis-
trote, yet, so wide spread was the move .
ment that astute politicians recognized
its Importance and strenuous efforts were
made by both sides, Wings and Demo-
Gratis, to encourage or suppress it, as
party affiliations dictated. AS March
came in the Democratic managers urged
the Hibernians to make a grander dis
play than ever.
AS st. Patrick's Day drew near, the
native Americans schemed to spoil the
parade. Openly and above board they
could do very little. Whatever was to
be done, therefore, must necessarily
AL 49, A.. a.
vice. Directions were quietly given to
few merchants known to be in sympathy
with this object to buy up every yard of
green calico and green ribbon in the
market Two of the conspirators met
one morning opposite Stewards then at
the corner of Chambers street and Broad
way, and conversed about the rlan.
81 tell you, said one, "we've got
the Micks where their hair is short. -
edo you mean by the teeth?" laughed
the other.
"Well, yes, we've pulled their teeth.
They won't be able to bite on st. Pat
rick 3 Day. 1t will be all bark. -
Chow about Stewards establish
ment?''
''We go there to-day It's the last
place in town where you can buy yard
of green calico or green ribbon. If we
chu CapluFo Luis supply bueIE phFdue VIII
be izzle, -
Old New Workers, who were on terms
of intimacy with the late Alexander T.
Stewart, often had occasion to remark
his ill-concealed superstition, but ex-
actly why, knowing that he was native
of the Emerald Isle, they should have
marveled at this, never transpired.
Stewart was genuine Irishman so far as
belief in the existence Of 'fbogies -
'tbrownies'' and mascots went. The
old apple woman, Bridget Farrelly,
whose stand was at the corner of his
great establishment, was a proof of bis
belief in mascots. The afternoon of the
same day on which the two conspiratOrs
had halted in front of Stewards for an
exchange of condolences the merchant
rdince was informed that Bridget Far
reilly wished to see him.
f'Ab, Bridget, hope you re WE'LL
be exclaimed, as the great, red, smiling
face of Mrs. Farrelly met his gaze.
''Purty well, Mr.. Stewart, for an ould
woman loike mesiIf - replied Mrs. Far
reilly "and how's business wild you,
sor?''
Every good, very good, Bridget.
Can 4 complain. - said the great mer-
chant "a he rave fDrtiya CIanoa at the |