432 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIS  P. 
[Dec.  I,  1896. 
another,  is  to  endorse  to  the  full  Mr.  Lipton’s 
motto  ‘ Lrbor  omnia  vincit.”  As  a pleasant  illus- 
tration of  the  cordial  relations  which  prevail  between 
Mr.  Lip’.on  and  the  great  army  of  workers  engage  I 
in  bis  service,  it  is  worthy  of  note  that  the  enter- 
prising proprietor  has  been  presented  with  a por- 
trait of  Ihmself,  painted  by  Professor  Herkomer,  for 
wdiich  his  employes  in  all  parts  of  the  world  have 
subscribed. 
Next,  the  Illustrated  Sportiurj  and  Dramatic 
News  goes  one  lietter  still  botii  in  engraving 
this  several  “Lipton”  blocks  in  the  rear  of 
tlie  main  new  olHees,  and  in  letterpress  which  is 
still  fuller  in  description.  This,  however,  wo  need 
not  repeat  ; for  our  one  (quotation  already 
saves  tlie  needs  of  elaborate  description  at 
our  liand.  We  may  premise  by  saying  tint 
in  many  respects  Mr.  Lijiton  himself  as  the  centre 
and  head  of  the  vast  establishment — and  a busi- 
ness literally  w'orld-wdde — commanded  niostinterest. 
He  is  still  a young  man*,  tall,  litlie  and  alert  ; but 
without  any  over-powering  sense  of  force  of  charac- 
ter or  intellect  visible  ; and  yet  few  men,  to  judge 
by  results,  can  excel  him  in  keen  business  per- 
cei)tious,  ])Ower  of  organisation  and  ability  to 
select  suitable  deputies  in  the  dillercnt  depart- 
ments and  agencies  of  his  widely  spread  enter- 
prise, and  to  attach  them  to  himself.  In  this 
last  faculty  of  selection,  must  rest  the  secret  of  a 
great  deal  of  Ids  success.  Manager  after  mauagei 
was  introduced  as  being  with  him  “ from  tim 
be‘’inning  ” or  for  a long  number  of  year’s  and 
the  feeling  on  both  sides  appeared  most  conlial  ; 
wddle  all  \ve  sahl  indicated  that  better  accom- 
modated employes  from  the  Managers  and  Ac- 
countants down  through  many  rooms  of  men, 
women,  girls  and  lads,  to  the  ham  curers  in 
the  last  block,  are  scarcely  to  be  found  in  the 
City  of  boudon.  Surrounded  by  every  modern 
apidiance  in  teleirhones,  electric  bells,  clerical 
aids,  iNc. , in  his  own  room,  Mr.  Lipton  is  norv 
ena'ded,  to  devolve  his  duties  at  every  turn,  so 
as  if  he  -so  cares,  to  be  a man  of  comparative 
leisure  ; but  this,  1 gather,  he  does  not  desire  ; for, 
thou'di  he  takes  an  interest  in  horses  (and  has 
full  stables) — in  his  gardens  and  conservatory, 
lie  is  likely  to  be  able  to  show  tea,  coflee  and 
cacao  plants  in  all  varieties  there  erelong— his 
devotion  to  business  continues  unabated  : and 
in  referring  to  a |)rivate  oiler  (of  a large  amount) 
made  to  Idiu  by  a well-known  London  promoter 
of'  Companies,  Mr.  Lipton  indicated  his  answer 
to  be  a (juestion  as  to  what  he  wordd  do  with 
the  money — a man  of  the  sim [dost  tastes,  delight- 
iinf  too  in  work  and  in  being  the  active  head 
of”  a concern  giving  useful  employment  to 
thousands.  Then  again  to  his  credit  be  it 
mentioned  that  though  freciuently  pressed,  and 
tempted  by  assurances  of  large  returns  and 
uvomotion  ‘money,  Mr.  Lipton  has  never  become 
director  or  shareholder  in  any  ^'ompany  or  con- 
cern beyond  his  own- (piite  enough  for  one  man 
in  all  conscience.  Since  writing  so  far,  I have 
seen'  a Lomlon  /slwn/a,'/ Wcaw  wdth  its  No.  XXXI 
of  “ ^len  wdio  have  earned  success  ’ — “ Mr.  Lip- 
ton I’urveyor  of  Tea  to  H.  M.  the  (iueen.” 
1 don’t  know  if  this  has  been  laid  before  your 
readers  ; but  two  passages  will  l)ear  repetition 
evcH  uo'V  : — . _ 
Twenty-six  years  ago  there  were  tears  and  liand- 
Hhakings  abundant  in  a little  house  in  “ auld  Glescii.” 
Young  Tom  Lipton  was  going  away— so  the  rumour 
•'LU  down  the  street— to  make  his  fortune  in  .\merica. 
Tom’s  parents  were  in  a small  way,  and  it  behoved 
their  son  to  make  a push  and  exert  himself  for  them, 
~ * (T^r  10  years,  i see  it  stated,  but  I should  have 
aaid  not  more  than  05  by  his  fresh  looks. 
So  he  bade  them  “guid-bye”  tore  himself  away, 
and  took  a steerage  passage  in  an  American  liner. 
He  soon  settled  down  in  the  States,  anJ  regularly 
as  clockwork  came  remittances  for  the  old  folk  at 
home.  Several  years  passed  away,  and  at  length 
young  Lipton,  lindiug  himself  in  possession  of  a 
hundred  pounds  or  so,  returned  to  Glasgow,  and  opened 
a small  provision  shop  there. 
Hut  how  many  people  start  small  provision  shops 
and  never  get  any  “ forratder  ”!  Tom  got  “ forrar- 
der,”  though.  He  used  to  make  his  customers  “larf” 
did  Tom.  Funny  cartoons,  tunny  placards,  funny 
advertisemeirts  made  the  canny  buj'ers  smile  and 
sty  that  young  Lipton  “gaed  at  it  wi’ a vir.”  For 
instance,  one  of  his  best  cartoons  represented  the 
members  of  a defeated  Ministry  entering  Lipton's 
shop  by  one  door  in  a sadly  dejected  condition,  all 
limp  and  wobegone,  miserable  sinners  indeed.  But 
cheek  by  jowl  came  another  cartoon  depicting  the  exit 
of  those  politicians  in  a highly  mirthful  condition, 
smiling  ad  over  their  faces,  and 
CLUTCHING  PACKETS  OF  LIPTON's  TEA 
with  the  result  that  th '.t  small  shop  proved  to  be  the 
nucleus  of  the  biggest  provision-dealing  establishment 
in  the  world  1 
Mr.  Linton  is  a little  over  -10,  strongly  built,  and 
b ft  high,  though  his  erect  carri-.ige,  which  would  do 
credit  to  a Lifeguardsman,  makes  him  look  taller. 
His  hair  and  heavy  dark  moustache  are  tinged  with 
grey,  and  he  has  keen  blue  eyes  which  gaze  in  a 
penetrating  way  from  l)eneath  his  arched  eyebrows. 
His  face  is  one  of  great  power,  the  expression  firm, 
yet  most  kindly.  In  short,  he  strikes  one  as  being 
a man  who  was  born  to  control  large  forces,  and 
carry  on  a bewilderingly  huge  business. 
MU.  LIPTON  IS  A BACHELOK, 
for  his  business  takes  the  place  of  wife  and  family. 
Every  morning  he  is  at  his  office  early,  and  rarely  leaves 
it  until  late  at  night. 
As  to  the  Deiiartinents  in  the  City  Road  Offices, 
I will  only  very  briefly  refer  to  a few  items  that 
made  an  imjire.ssion,  leaving  out  the  offices  par 
excellence  for  managers,  .solicitors,  architects, 
accountants,  &c.  The  iirinting  department  was 
specially  interesting  with  its  2U0  Scotch  workmen 
and  great  variety  of  machines,  some  very  nunsnal 
for  the  printing  of  coloured  labels  on  tin  as  well 
as  paper.  The  m.achines  for  forming  cardboard, 
as  well  as  tin,  p.ackages  of  all  sizes,  were  most  in- 
genious, mainly  worked  by  girls  who,  ]>aid  by 
“piecework,”  in  some  cases  did  1.5, OdO  a d.ay — 
that  is  of  one  iiarticnlar  operation.  3Ve  ask 
“ M'hat  is  done  with  the  strips  of  tin  left  of  the 
sheets  blocked  onf'”  “Sent  to  Germany  for  a 
chemical  process  which  takes  of!  the  tin  for  .soldei’, 
wdiile  the  iron  strips  arc  utilised  for  mattresses.” 
The  ai  iny  of  cooiiers  making  ready  the  chests — 
for  tea  export  for  America  (North  and  ISonth), 
Africa,  all  parts  of  Europe,  &c. — need  only  be 
mentioned,  to  say  that  the  lead  saved  in  chests 
from  Ceylon,  India,  Ac.,  brings  in  TlOU  a week. 
“ What  stock  of  tea  do  yon  usually  store  here?” 
wo  asked  the  exjierienced  suave  Tea  Manager  and 
chief  buyer,  Mr  JSniith.  “ Not  fewer  than  .50,000 
to  ()0,0OU  chests  of  all  kinds”— and  as  we  iias.seil 
through  long  rows  and  lofty  [dies  of  Ceylon  tea 
chests,  it  seemed  to  our  “ Directory  ’’-trained  eyes, 
as  if  nearly  every  estate?  in  the  island  was  re- 
pre.sen'ted  1 f he  oOO  lo  OUO  young  women  busy 
at  long  tables  in  a comfortaldc  room,  weighing 
and  filling  tea-p.ackets,  each  “table”  [i.aiil  by  its 
work  w'ith  a bonus  to  the  “tables”  that  tnrnerl 
out  most  (so  requiring  little  or  no  su|iervision) 
was  an  interesting  sight.  The  tea-tasting  room, 
with  its  stair  of  c.\]H*rts,  was  more  extensive  than 
any  we  have  seen  “in  the  Lane,”-  110  doubt  here 
(ho  “ bhiiids ’'  for  dill'ereni  cities  and  mai’kets 
have  to  be  tested  aiul  decided  on. 
But  in  respect  of  tea,  what  surprised  me  wa.s  the 
