of whatever is
going on in all parts of his establishment. So completely is he _en
rapport_ with matters on the different floors, that the clerks sometimes
imagine that there must be an invisible telegraph girdling the huge
building. These men often say, by way of pleasant illustration of this
fact, that if any one of them is absent, he is the very man to be first
called for. From this it may be understood that it is not an easy matter
to vary from the rigid system which holds its alternative of diligence
or discharge over all beneath its control. We have referred to Mr.
Stewart's habits of order as a means by which he controls his vast
business with apparent ease. To explain this more explicitly, we may
state that each department or branch of trade is under a distinct
manager. These wholesale departments have been increased every year,
until there is hardly an item in the comprehensive variety of the dry
goods trade that is not here to be found. The advantage of this
progressive movement was lately shown by the fact that, while Mr.
Stewart lost enormous sums by Southern repudiation, he made up a large
portion of the loss by the recent advance in domestics, a department
which he had just added to his stock. The numerous failures which take
place among New York business men give Mr. Stewart the choice among
them for his managers, and a representation of the finest business
talent of the city can, at this moment, be found in his establishment.
These men turn their energies into that mighty channel which flows into
his treasury. Indeed, to this merchant prince, they are what his
marshals were to Napoleon, and, like him, this Autocrat of Trade sits
enthroned in the insulated majesty of mercantile greatness.

It may be inferred that no man in the concern works harder than its
owner, and we believe that this is acknowledged by all its employes. Day
after day he wears the harness of silent and patient toil.

It is not generally known that during these hours of application, and
while engrossed in the management of his immense operations, no one is
allowed to address him personally until his errand or business shall
have been first laid before a subordinate. If it is of such a character
that that gentleman can attend to it, it goes no farther, and hence it
vests with him to communicate it to his principal. To illustrate this
circumstance, we relate the following incident: A few weeks ago a person
entered the wholesale departmen