Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-08

l
marvellous story of how the Clarks rose
to affiuence and gave fortunes to friend
ship and charity.
1t is the story of a little steel shuttle
that genius set flying under Elias Howe's
eve pointed needle, placing the Yankee
sewing machines among the worlds last
wonders. Its work was magic. Poverty
vanished. The Song of the SHIFT be-
came an overture to happiness and
wealth, all because of Isaac Singers In
vention for stitching anything from lace
to leather.
To begin at the beginning-with the
story of Edward Clark, the founder of the
Clark millions and the father of Albert
Corning Clark. Mrs Clark's late husband.
He was a promising young attorney IN
Hudson, near Poughkeepsie, and had the
good fortune to marry the daughter of
Ambrose L. Jordon, a distinguished law
yer of the place Having ideas beyond
the limitations of a Hudson river village,
young Clark came to New York to prac-
tise law. He took up his residence in
East Fourteenth street, near Second ave-
nue., then a fashionable part of the city
Among his neighbors were Rufus
Choate, Hamilton Fish, Mr.. Gunther, who
became mayor. and many other distin-
guished New Workers. OF that period, IA
nous for great events-the completion OF
the Croton aqueduct, street cars to Cen
trial Park, the Crystal palace and peace
Won Isaac M. Singers Fight.
Mr.. Clark displayed ability as a lawyer
and won important cases. Among his
clients was a struggling young machinist.
one Isaac NJ. Singer, in litigation with
Elias Howe, Jr., the sewing machine in
ventor, particularly of the needle with its
eye at the point.
Mr. Singer, born in 1911 in Oswego, N
Y, with a taste for machinery had ven
| then
called the village of Chicago. There
he invented a patent drill and a machine
to carve type. He was poor and life
was a struggle. Hearing Of Elias Howe's
sewing machine, he came east, saw him
and suggested improvements. The re-
suit was the invention of a Singer single
| thread lock stitch machine next, the
double shuttle the Singer stitch and
sort of working alliance with Howe, and
later, litigation.
The Howe company sued Singer. alleg-
ing infringements on their patent. and
Mr. Clark, young lawyer, was retained
TO defend the suit. He was not only
successful but made important business
Suggestions. He was so impressed with
Mr.. Singers ability and the prospective
value of his invention, and particularly
with his business sagacity, that he adj
vanced him money to build factory in
New York, and then became his partner
| in the business.
That was the beginning of fortunes.
Mr. Clark soon overshadowed Mr.. Singers
! financial hacker, who retired, but heavy
/ litigation continued.
AS the Howe company grew in wealth
their suits against Mr.. Singer multiplied,
Mr. Clark defending them. Instead of
receiving cash for his legal services he
| took stock, and soon became a power in
| the rapidly growing concern.
From the beginning the most friendly
relations had existed between Mr.. Clark
and Mr.. Singer, the inventor, but eventu-
ally they disagreed regarding business
policy,-resulting In a division of the stock
between them and the formation of
company.
Harmonious relations were restored.
/ however; business expanded to enormous
proportions under Mr.. Clark's wise man
/ agement, and he finally became president
/ of the corporation.
| Mr.. Singer soon began to amass wealth.
| He gave his wife $40 a day for household
! expenses, moved from Fourth avenue to
No. IA Fifth avenue, kept six carriages
and ten horses and lived in luxury. Final
| ly he went abroad, leaving Mr.. Clark at
| the head Of the business. The office
was then at Broadway and Pearl street,
near the old city hospital, with It's big
elms.
Took His Fee In Future.
Mr.. Clark's foresight in taking stock fos
his services in winning the suits against
| the Howe company increased his inter
ests until they nearly equalled Mr.. Sing
| er's.
Among Mr. Clark's sons was Alfred
| Corning Clark, a thoughtful, studious
young man, passionately fond of music,
! literature and art which in those days
/ did not count for much with business
men. His brothers cared more for the
/ world and went abroad to see life and
| ,4rx htTf baxy
In 1860 Edward Lorraine Clark died in
Rome of Roman fever. His distinguished
] father died in the following year, and his
/ brother, Ambrose, died later, leaving AL
/ fred Corning Clark sole heir to a vast es
/ tate, which. through the Singer stock and
i wise investments in real estate on the up
per west side, increased to millions.
Mr.. Singer had also died at Torquay,
| England, leaving the Clarks masters of
| the business. Alfred Corning Clark was
most lovable young man OF manners and
/ noble courtesy. His thoughts being on
books and art, and finding himself at the
head of a colossal enterprise, he looked
| around for manager.
Rise of Library Clerk.
Strange as 1t may seem. his fancy fell
| on a clerk in the mercantile library. whom
/ he had known at the library in his literary
| researches.
Thus it was that Mr.. Frederick Gilbert
/ ~
| II is said, less than $1,000 a year, was en-
/ gagged by Mr.. Clark as his confidential
/ agent. Although devoted to intellectual
| pursuits, young Clark had the sagacity
of his father. and, as a stepping stone to
higher things, offered the library clerk
/ salary to look after the estate. Mr..
Bourne accepted and established the office
| at No. p West Twenty-third street, near
tho Fifth Avenue hotel, where it has re-
| manned TO this day.
Mr.. Clark had been greatly impressed
with the young mans industry and un-
| failing courtesy at the library. He noted
| that he attended strictly to business. Mr..
Clark was a close student of men, as well
| as of books. and from the first he had taxi
en- strong liking to the young man.
His judgment was indicated. Mr..
| Bourne soon displayed extraordinary ca
pacity for business. His financial manage
ment was a success, and under his advice
Mr.. Clark's real estate transactions prov
ed immensely profitable. But the young
man was equally valuable as an adviser
in the management of tho sewing ma
chine business, and was finally made pres
ident, to succeed Mr.. Clark.
That gentleman. now relieved from bus
mess cares, with millions at his command,
! again found himself q free man, with
leisure for music and books. Music was his
greatest passion. HIS fine mind and lofty
imaginative nature could now take wings
and soar to the skies.
| He made freduent trims to F,uroDe visit