Year: 1876

When young Stewart gave up teach
ing school in New York he entered in
to the dry goods business with the 600
bequeatbed him by his grandfather. lie
began by importing embroidered dresses
from Mrs. Calwood, Of Donaghadee, a
village adjacent to his birth place. Con-
siderable money was made 10y him with
this enterprise and he soon added largely
to his original capital Of f7OO. He sent
for his mother, who still resided in Ire
land, widow, having buried three huS-
bands, her son Alexander being her on
ly surviving child. She was woman ot
rare business capacity, quality which
she transmitted to her son. Very socn
after her arrival in New York she open
ed a furniture store in Catherine street
and carried OH the business for many
wears with marked success, but finally,
at the earnest solicitation of her son, she
gave up the store and went TO live with
him, continuing to reside in his house
until her death. She had acquired con-
siderable property from the furniture
business, and all OF it went 10 swell the
rapidly accumulating wealth of her son.
Those who have been intimately ac-
quainted with both Mr. Stewart and his
mother say that they bore striking re-


semOlance to each other, and that from
his mother he inheritd the business and
executive capacities which were his dis
tinguishing characteristics. At the time
of his mothers death the wealth he had
acquired from the dry goods business
and importation OF embroidered dresses
and other articles for the production
OF which the neighborhood of the place
of his birth was celebrated, was sufficient
to insure his after success. lie had start
ed i'll life with 500 sterling, which at
that time, to man Of insight and busi-
ness qualifications was ample to build
fortune on. This sum he increased, and
again, on the death of his mother, the
amount was further enlarged. Some peo-
Pile represent his early life as abounding
in peculiar experiences, and assert that
he followed the occupation Of a pedler
aud other itinerant employments. These
stories are totally without foundation.


a friend of Mr.. Stewart relates All
anecdote which shows the methods that
the merchant adopted when carrying on
asmall business TO increase the number
of his customers. Mr.. Stewart made
inquiries among his friends and learned
the name and residence of the leader of
fashionable society in the city and also
the church she attended. He then
sought out the sexton of the church and
leased pew directly in front OF that OF
the lady. Regularly Sunday after Sun
day thereafter he sat in his seat aud took
part in the worship. Some time passed
and one Sunday as the congregation
was about leaving the church it sudden
began to raiI. The fashionable lady
had a carriage, but the sidewalk be-


tween the church door and the roadway
was wide, and she stopped irresolutely
at the door upon perceiving the drops
of rain, dreading injury to her costly
dress. The frequent mists and rain Of
Ireland had caused Mr.. Stewart to form
the habit Of carrying an umbrella on all
days Of the year, and he had one on this
day. Raising it, he told the lady he
would shelter her beneath it until she
could walk to her carriage, fshe would
accept the service. The proffer was
accepted he took her to the carriage
and was heartily thanked. The follow
ing Sunday, after the service, she ad-
dressed him and again thanked him for
his kindness. A short conversation
followed, and occasionally on Sundays
that succeeded, as they were coming
out of church a few words passed be-