commodious quarters. After making another move to a larger store-room he
made his
first purchase of real estate, which was his "down-town" store.
After this his "up-town" store was built.
He was a splendid salesman, a perfect gentleman toward customers, and
people preferred trading with him rather than any clerk in his employ. His
tastes were very simple, and he was always plainly dressed. It has been
stated that Mr. Stewart never posed for a photograph, which is a significant
fact of itself. His motto was, "Never spend a dollar unless there is a
prospect of legitimate gain." He arose early in the morning, went to his "up-
town" store, and thoroughly inspected everything; then to his "down-town"
store where he attended to his business at that end of the line.
At the breaking out of the Civil War he aided the Union cause very much.
Being in sympathy with the principles of the Republican party, and holding
a powerful influence over the commercial world, the President, Mr. Grant,
nominated him Secretary of the Treasury, and he was at once confirmed by
the Senate; but as there is a law prohibiting any merchant in the importing
business
from holding this position, he was objected to by opposing
politicians; and, although he offered to donate the entire profits of his
business to the poor of the city of New York, they still objected, and he was
obliged to resign. By this, the country was undoubtedly robbed of the
services of a man capable of making one of the best officers for that
position our country has ever known. However, it was right that it should be
so; it would have been very unwise to have established such a precedent.
In some respects, Mr. Stewart was a very liberal man, although it has been
stated otherwise. In his will is his desire to do good especially manifested.
Arrangements were made for the building of a church and parsonage, and a
school for the benefit of poor boys who desired
to fit themselves for a
professional life.
Some people may be fortunate in one instance in their life. We do not
wholly disregard the idea of circumstances, but we do claim and try to
prove that it is not the
one instance
in the life after all. When we consider a
whole life's history, we are convinced every time that generally where one
is seemingly very fortunate, it is the result of careful calculation and down-
right hard work. Bad luck is the natural result
of carelessness in business
matters. Had A. T. Stewart waited for a lucky chance to come to him, he
might—probably never would have realized that splendid success that did
attend his efforts. Here he came to this country at the age of sixteen. He did
not wait for his grandfather to die and leave him that legacy but went right
at some work. It may be possible that the grandfather gave him that money
because he felt that young Stewart would make good use of it. Certain it is
he did not wait but went right to work, saved his money, and was well
prepared to use the legacy skillfully when he did receive it. However, if
Stewart had
never had that money given him, he would have succeeded. His
whole life was a series of maturing plans, which had been carefully laid,
and then pushed to completion. A man must have ability to plan well, and
the courage and backbone to push those plans to success. A. T. Stewart
possessed these qualities to a marked degree. He began as his moderate
circumstances would warrant, and best of all he never allowed his energies
to slacken. He never became a lazy business man.
He never allowed himself
to rest content with the laurels already his. He was a man of enterprise;
while competitors followed the footsteps of their fathers, A. T. Stewart was
progressing—he was original in nearly every undertaking.
On the 10th day of April, 1876, this great magnate died. His business was
carried on, for a time, by others, but the mainspring was gone, and in 1882
the great clock stopped. Here is an instance that should convince us of the
result of courage, energy, and self-reliance. A. T. Stewart began without a
dollar, and succeeded, while they who had the benefit of his experience, the
use of his vast wealth, and a marble palace, could not succeed.
The history of the stealing of Mr. Stewart's body is well-known, and as the
papers have succeeded so well in keeping the subject before the people, we
will not speak further of that here, our object being rather to instruct than to
narrate sensational episodes.
