Year: 1879

Among the number of old merchants of New York city who were distinguished for their wealth, probity and eccentricity, half century ago, none deserve a more distinguished place in the history of them than that native New Englander, Stephen B. Mum, who established himself early in life as a dry-goOds merchant in Pearl street, the then great mart for this trade in that city. Acquiring in this business a competency he retired from it, and by l judlcious investments in wild lands in the 1 state of Illinois (which he ultimately sold to q company organized as the Mum l Land Co., he passed the remainder of his life in comparative retirement and iii the management of his other real estate in vestments which were mainly within the limits of his adopted city.

 In the location Of his lands in that new and growing state of Illinois, he exhibitei a remarkable shrewdness, for they en- compassed very many valuable mill sites and other advantages which none of his Eastern competitors in these investments had thought of; and though he had never personally visited the State, he was thoroughly acquainted with it's topography and confident of its future greatness. He was wonderfully conversant with the scriptures and always had some passage in his mind, which, when occasion offered, he aptly quoted, ievariably adding, chapter and verse.

 It is related of him that while sitting in his counting room, one Summer day, a yOutl from Connecticut entered in search of employment he had no friends not even an acquaintance in the city, and had set out alone with little or no business experience to seek his fortune. MT. Mum asked him what he could do he replied that he was willing to do any thing that was honest to get q living sweep out the store, build fires, dust the goods-anythi then in short to make himself useful. Can you borrow money, quickly retorted the old man. I don't know, sir; but can try. Well go and borrow S1,000 for me; with that the yonngster started, and in the course of a half an hour he returned with a check for this sum which he obtained from a neighboring merchant; it is hardly nec- essary to say that Mir. Mum took him into his employment without further par. ley.

 I He kept his account in the old Mechan- ics' Bank and his credit from his known wealth and strict integrity was beyond question, but he took no special pains tc make it so; however on one occasion he overdrew it and several days elapsed without his paying any attention towards making up the deficiency by a further de. posit at length messenger from the In stitution appeared and said: Mr. Munr your account is oyerdrawn. What if ii is? asked MT. M., know it. I owe YOU now; but when you owe me, I don't come running up to tell you, do l? and with this reply the clerk returned to the bank to report the fruits of his mission, while MT. Mum was allowed to take his own time upon the principle which he intend ed to inculcate, that itis bad rule which does not work equally both ways.

 The old gentleman lived to attain an age of four score and upwards and the last time that the writer met him hap pened to be on board of one of the Brook lyn ferry boats. It was in midsummer and the weather was so hot and oppres- siye that (as was customary with him on such occasions) he had resorted to this expedient for keeping cool, making a dozen or so trips to and fro, always (with that sense of what was strictly right that ever characterized him) going up to the ferry gate and paying in his fare of two cents. prior to each trip; whereas there were others Qess conseientiousl who