, but allows it to go
on with his indirect approval, at least. General Dix has the honor of
being the only Postmaster who ever had the moral courage to protect his
subordinates from this extortion.

The Carriers have organized a benevolent association among themselves.
Upon the death of a member, each surviving member of the association
makes a contribution of two dollars to the relief fund. From this fund
the funeral expenses are paid, and the surplus is handed over to the
widow and children of the dead man.

The tenure by which the Carriers hold their positions is very uncertain.
A new Postmaster may remove any or all of them, to make way for his
political friends, and any refusal on their part to submit to the orders
or extortions of their party-managers is sure to result in a dismissal.

XXXIV. A. T. STEWART.

ALEXANDER T. STEWART was born in Belfast, in Ireland, in 1802. He is of
Scotch-Irish parentage. At the age of three years he lost his father,
and was adopted by his grandfather, who gave him a good common school and
collegiate education, intending him for the ministry. His grandfather
died during his collegiate course, and this threw him upon his own
resources. He at once abandoned all hope of a professional career, and
set sail for America. He reached New York in 1818, and began his career
here as assistant teacher in a commercial school. His first salary was
$300. In a year or two he went into business for himself, carrying on a
modest little store, and manifesting no especial talent for business.

At the age of twenty-one, he went back to Ireland to take possession of a
legacy of nearly one thousand pounds, left him by his grandfather. He
invested the greater part of this sum in "insertions" and "scollop
trimmings," and returned to New York. He rented a little store at 283
Broadway, and there displayed his stock, which he sold readily at a fair
profit. His store was next door to the then popular Bonafanti, who kept
the largest and best patronized variety store of the day. Stewart's
little room was twenty-two feet wide by twenty feet deep.

Without mercantile experience, and possessing no advantage but his
determination to succeed, Mr. Stewart started boldly on what proved the
road to fortune. He gave from fourteen to eighteen hours per day to his
business. He could not afford to employ any help, and he did all his own
work. He was almost a total stranger to the business communi