Year: 1876

tween them. While talking with
member of the church one day the lady
learned Mr.. Stewards occupation, aud
the next time she met him said


"Mr. Stewart, have you any articles
at your store that you think | would
like to buy p


NO." he replied, 81 don't think l
have anything"


Il would like to aid you in your bu-
siness in some way.


You can in this way: | have no
ticed that your coa;hman exercises your
horses every day, aud you not caring
always to take ride, | presume, the
carriage is frequently empty. If on the
days you do not wish to use the car
raige you will order your coachman to
take it to my store and remain in front
Of the store for half an hour, you will
do me a good turn"


The lady was amused by Mr.. Stew
arts suggestion, and cheertully granted
the request. The frequent appearance
Of the carriage in front Of the store and
the presumptive presence of the fash
ionable owner of it within the store was
soon noticed 10y other women, and Mr..
Stewards scheme was speedily success
ful. Carriage after carriage stopped
before the store, and the stream of fash
ion was started that has since run cease
lesSly in and out its doors.


Personally Mr.. Stewart was very
unassuming man. He dressed plainly
and with good taste, and never wore
rings or diamonds. The only costly ar
ticle he carried about was gold watch,
and this was not fastened to chain, but
to black silk cord. Ii he saw one of
his clerks displaying much jewelry, this
was considered a sufficient cause by him
to establish an inquiry into the habits Of
the man, the amount Of his salary, and
his mode Of living. II his salary and cir
cumstances did not warrant such an ont
lay, Mr.. Stewart would have a watch
set on bis actions,a and the result in many
cases proved that the clerk was dishon-
est. Many instances could be recounted
in which he discovered dishonesty in his
clerks by too great display of jewelry
on their part. lie was generally lenient
with erring employees, and never pros
ecuted them if there were any extenu-
ating circumstances His observation
was remarkably keen, ard he was quick
TO observe the slightest irreeularity in
the arrangement OF the different depart
ments of the store, or slovenliness in the
dress OF the clerks. If a clerk, on the
other hand, was dressed too extraya-
gantly Mr.. Stewart often took occasion
to offer gentle rebuke. As an instance
of his distaste for outward disPlay,it may
be mentioned that he was walking
through his retail store one day, when
a massive gold chain and locket in the
buttonhole Of one OF his clerks attracted
his attention. lie stepped up to him aud
said: Young man, if | were you Id
button my coat on that :" and, pointing
down to his own plain silk watch cord,
he added, "that is the best / can afford
TO wear; take my advice and keep that
covered up"


One OF the things which seemed SIN
gular to every person who for the first
time saw any of Mr.. Stewards business
houses was the fact that there was no
sign whatever displayed upon them. A
lady friend once asked the merchant his
reason for his pecLliarity. He replied by
quoting the proverb, ''Good wine needs
no bush" No one ever seemed troubled
to find "Stewart's," however, and was
almost sure of the first visit from cGtof
town customers who had come to tho
city on shopping excursions. His rigid
integrity in his intercourse with his Gus
toners was begun at the very outset of
his career, when he occupied the little