ndefatigable industry, and a
thorough mastery of his business. He is one of the most enterprising
merchants in history.

ALEXANDER T. STEWART.

The dry-goods prince of the world. A marble palace for a store, which is
entered daily by an average of twenty-five thousand people who buy
$75,000 worth of merchandise--a business with daily import duties to the
Government of $25,000 in gold. When we look at all this, and then
remember that he was proprietor, not only of the palace store of
America, but had branches in Philadelphia, Boston, Lyons, Paris,
Belfast, Glasgow, Berlin, Bradford, Manchester, Nottingham, and other
cities throughout the world. When we behold this great success, and then
think how he landed in this country a poor Irish lad of sixteen,
friendless, homeless, and almost penniless, alone in a strange land, we
involuntarily exclaim, "How was such a change in his position brought
about?" Why did he succeed, while others all about him who were far
better situated, failed? Let us follow him:

He was born at Belfast, Ireland, October 21st, 1802, and in 1818 came to
America. He was a mere lad of sixteen. The first work that he obtained
was as assistant in a college; here he worked hard, saved his money, and
at last he was able to open a small store in the city where he sold
dry-goods. When he became twenty-one he was called to his native country
to claim a small legacy left him by a relative who had died. He had made
a study of his business, hence invested the entire sum in Irish
products, and returning to America rented another store on Broadway, and
thus began that great importing business. At this time he was his own
buyer, salesman, book-keeper and errand boy. Ah! there is the secret of
the success of nine-tenths of our great men. They began at the
bottom--never hiring help for the mere appearance or convenience of
their assistance. They never hired done what they themselves could do.
And then there is another thing to remember--beginning thus at the
bottom they, of necessity, became thoroughly familiar with the details
of their business, hence were never obliged to leave anything to the
'confidential clerk' who has ruined so many business men. Stewart soon
felt the need of more room, and was compelled to seek more 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.