Almost immediately on reaching the city he entered as an errand-boy the store of A. T. Stewart, which had already a more commanding reputation than any mercantile establishment possesses or perhaps can attain at present.
His home was in a boarding-house in Murray Street near Greenwich, where he had board and lodging for two dollars a week, a fact which is in itself eloquent of the difference between life now in New York and life sixty years ago. Stewart’s was then at 257 Broadway, between Murray and Warren streets. There the young clerk received for his services the first year $50, and the second the sum was doubled. Even so, and with what would now be the incredible frugality of his living, it is plain that he could not have supported himself by his earnings. Of his life at that time he said in after-years, “My oldest brother lent me money, which, just as soon as I was able, and before I was twenty-one, I returned to him with interest.” The letter that follows tells how his first money was spent:
“New York, June 12, 1835.
“Dear Father,—I received by Mr. Baldwin five nightcaps, a pin-cushion, and some wedding-cake, for which I am very much obliged to mother and Mary.
“Mary wrote to me to know of what color I would have my frock-coat; tell mother instead of having a linen frock-coat that I would prefer another linen roundabout, as they are much better in a store; I am not particular about the color.
“When you write to me, direct your letters to Cyrus W. Field, at A. T. Stewart & Co., No. 257 Broadway, New York; if you do so, they will come to me quicker than in any other way. There is in the store besides the firm twenty-four clerks, including two book-keepers, one of whom is Mr. Smith, of Haddam; he says that he remembers you, mother, David, Timothy, and Matthew very well. Give my love to mother, brothers, sister, Mr. Fay, George Whitney, and other friends.
“From your affectionate son,
“Cyrus.
“P.S.—On the other side you will find a list of my expenses.
From the 29th of April to the 12th of June.—Cyrus W. Field, expenses.
From Stockbridge to New York | $2 00 | |
Paid to David for Penny Magazines | 2 00 | |
(I am not agoing to take them any longer.) | ||
To hair cutting | 12 | ½ |
To one vial of spirits of turpentine (used to get some spots out of coat) | 6 | ¼ |
To get shoes mended | 18 | ¾ |
To one pair of shoe-brushes | 25 | |
To one box of blacking | 12 | ½ |
To get trunks carried from David’s to my boarding-house | 25 | |
To two papers of tobacco to put in trunks to prevent moths getting in | 12 | ½ |
To one straw hat (the one that I brought from home got burned and was so dirty that David thought I had better get me a new one.) | 1 00 | |
To one steel pen | 12 | ½ |
To small expenses, from time to time, such as riding in an omnibus, going to Brooklyn, etc., etc., etc. | 1 25 | |
| Total, | $7 50 | |