hem. In spite of its immense
trade, "Stewart's" is not the most popular place in the city with
resident purchasers. The salesmen have the reputation of being rude and
often insolent. There can be no doubt that, were specific complaints
made, Mr. Stewart would administer the necessary punishment to the
offender without delay; but as the offences complained of are chiefly a
lack of civility, few care to complain.

The throng of visitors and purchasers is immense. They have been known
to reach the enormous number of 50,000 in a single day; but the average
is 15,000. Looking down from one of the upper floors, through the
rotunda, one can witness as busy and interesting a scene as New York
affords. All kinds of people come here, from the poor woman whose scanty
garb tells too plainly the story of her poverty, to the wife of the
millionaire whose purchases amount to a small fortune, and all classes
can be suited.

The sales of the house average about $60,000 per day, and have been known
to reach $87,000. The bulk of the purchases is made between noon and
five o'clock. The average daily sales of the principal articles are as
follows: Silks $15,000; dress goods, $6000; muslins, $3000; laces, $2000;
shawls, $2500; suits, $1000; calicoes, $1500; velvets, $2000; gloves,
$1000; furs, $1000; hosiery, $600; boys' clothing, $700; Yankee notions,
$600; embroideries, $1000; carpets, $5500.

[Picture: A. T. STEWART'S RETAIL STORE.]

As may be supposed, the business of this great house requires an army of
employes. The force consists of 1 general superintendent, 19
superintendents of departments, 9 cashiers, 25 book-keepers, 30 ushers,
55 porters, 200 cash boys, 900 seamstresses, working-women, laundresses,
etc., 320 salesmen and saleswomen, and 150 salesmen and others in the
carpet department, making a total of 1709 persons. There are other
persons employed about the establishment in various capacities, and
these, with the extra help often employed, make the aggregate frequently
as much as 2200 persons. The business of the house opens at seven A.M.,
and closes at seven P.M. All the employes have thirty minutes allowed
them for dinner. One half of all are alternately dismissed at six
o'clock each evening. All the employes, when leaving, must pass through
a private door on Ninth street. On each side of this door is a detective
of great experience, whose business it is to see that none of the
employes car