Year: 1870

few names more conspicuous for high integrity IN
the relations of business the wise and benefcent ap
plcation Of wealth TO purposes of public utility and
heroic devotion to the unpopular reform movements
of the day, than that Of the late Arthur Tappan In
this volume the record of his modest but influential
career has been made by his brother, Mr. Lewis Tap
pan, with unprotendng simplicity, furnishing plo-
graphical sketch which snot only of remarkable III
tereSt as personal memoir but an illustration C
the course and development of opinion IN Ne"-i
during the last half century.


Mr.. Tappan was born in Nouhampton' 'o%"
celebrated among the Massachusetts viilaseS =, ''O
Valley of the Connecticut for the oe'u'N Va '''
scenery and the intelligence Of ITS popuia''i' y"
the I'd If Nav. 1856. lie always retained siong
feeling Of attachment 10 his native place. TIC lo'eu
10 recall the scenes Of his childhood ana ascrloed
whatever was best in his character TO the influences
,,Ii,b ne ,nioyed in Its rural secusion HIS early
uducation was received at the common schools IN
Nortlamptop which at that time were far below the
,,rosort standard The teachers were hired by the
Selectren Of the town, by the quarter or the year
and they were usually deficient in the necessary
qualifications for their office. Their literary attain
ments were confined to an imperfect knowledge of
arithmetic grammar, and geography, and OF
all the modern apparatus for teaching
they were completely destitute. Blackboalds'
steel pens, maps, globes, and other appliances by
MllCl learning Is Udlt tdSS W SNh'ihS VI
these days, were things unknown. The time of the
master was chiefly devoted to fogging the dsordery
rabble Of BOYS that crowded his narrow domain, and
in making pens. Once quarter, variety was given
10 the scene by the visit Of the minister, whose
duty was TO beat the doctrines Of the Westminster
Assembly, catcchism into the heads Of the noisy
urchins Arthur was always n good scholar, and was
often found at the head of his class. lie generally
got of with bat slight taste Of the birch or the
ferue and on the whole, may be said 20 have had
happy boyhood. He had a passion for youthful
sports aud was lucky in his quest of chestnus and
shagbarks on the neighboring hills. The common
duties Of boy in the country when out of school. of
course fell to his share and in making hay picking
apples driving the to pasture, riding the horse
TO plow, and hoelng, raking, and wedding in the
family garden, he laid in stock of health which
stood him in good stead in after years.


At the age Of fifteen, Arther left the paternal roof
and mounted on a horse that had been wiutered in
the country and was TO be returned to its owner,
proceeded to Boston, then a town of only about
10000 inhabitants. He was received into the import
ing house of prominent firm in which his elder
brother John was a clerk In this position he made
himself master Of the hardware business, acquired
knowledge Of dry goods, and learned the system of
bookkeeping by double entry, which at that time
was rare accomplishment


Soon after the completion Of his apprenticeship, he
opened a store in Portland and IN about two years
removed TO Montreal where he not only established
successful business, but made the acquaintance of
his future wife, Miss Frances Antill His marriage
to this lady tool, place in 1870 and proved source
Of singular domestic felicity until her death at an
advanced ace in ffty-three years from that date.
The war with England in 1872 interrupted Mr..
TaVpau's business in Montreal; he was required TO
take the oath Of allegiance to the British Govern
tn be md at mos small capTi-
fee OF property he closed up his affairs, and returned
70 the United States. At the restoration of peace
with England in 1915, Mr.. Tappan established him


self an importer of British goods in New-York.
For a time the business successful. But the
excess Of importatiOns glutted the market. 1t
was impossible TO sell freshly imported cotton goods
from England at n higher price than thirty
per cent below cost. Mr.. Tappan struggled on
for "a while, but was compelled at length
TO change his business from selling by the
package TO selling by the piece and though he at
first lost money by the operation, he preserved his
credit intact and in the course Of two three years
again found himself in prosperous circumstances
He also changed the commodities he dealt in from
Manchester cottons to India and French goods Soon
the silk store Of Arthur TaDpan became famous over
the whole country. The sales amounted to more
than a million of dollars annually-an extremely
large sum for those days. though far short of what
is sold 10y many dealers at the present time.


His success i'm business did not entce him into
trayagance or infatuate him with the love of wealth
for its own sake. He now formed the plan, TO which
be remained faithful throughout his long life
of managing his property as a steward of the
Lord. He devoted large portion of his
gains to the benevolent operations of tho day, not
ONLY 10 those Of an expressly religious character but
TO the cause of Auti-Savery, Temperance and other
movements Of social reform. lie conducted his busi
mess ON Driucples that were in perfect accordance
with this purpose. "The secret Of success said
he "was this had but one price and sold for cash,
or short credit" His customers learned to repose
implicit confidence in his integrity. They knew that
when they made purchases Of him, they would not
be cheated by false representations. Everything
would prove what il puTpOrted to be on its face.
Even those merchants who dsliked his devotion 10
religious ard phianthTOpic objects were well salts
fed with the treatment they received at his haIdf.
He managed in the midst Of business TO
have considerable leisure In the little
cess near the center Of his store, with bis
bankbcoks bills Of purchases, and the usual
swarm Of mercantile papers scattered over his desk,
he would End timc to carry extensive correspond
ence with the agents Of different benevolent societies
throughout the country. He made short work with
the bores who tried 20 steal his attention in his busy
moments Ii was his habit TO have spare chairtO
offer persons who called in. He received the friends
or stranger who paid him a visit at his desk, with
the least possible ceremony. scarcely opening his
mouth in reply to their questions. and dsmisSing
them at the earliest moment scarcely ealing his
pleasure az their departure He made an exception
othis custom, however, in cases Of great importance
and when persons Of high character solicited his
notice. If not especially engaged he would tlen
send out for chairs give them comfortable seats and
listen, with the patience Of a saint 10 their long
HI HI ont Int 4;r,a