The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-16
THE DRY GOODS AUrocRAE.
Interesting to the Ladies Jennie June
at Stewart's-Secret OF the Great Mer-
chants Success-Thc Feature OF Com
plete Outfits-Family Sewing Thing
OF the Past-Sewing Carpets by Rail-
way-A CoIossal Charity.

Jennie June, the eprightly fashion writer
and one Of the lights Of the New York Sorosis,
concludes her las: letter with the following
very readable batch of gossip for the ladies:
Stepping into Ste Rart's on my way home, the
aas co%me6es3 sdsrPof9 s2SeeaasRy 2SeeaasR There was
help for it. was weather bound; could not
ride across town las no cars 90 IN that dlrec-
ton, and the luxury OF carriage on the occa-
sion of such e small contretemps was not 10
be thought of. The loss OF one hour or more
of nv time was the great source OF my regret
until one OF fhe gentlemen present suggested
that should utilize 1t BY taking journey
through the establishment.
10 this assented, and we took our seats in
q carpeted, handsomely mirrored and cushion
ed car, and were rapidly, but with little per.
ceptible motion, landed on what l conceived
to be the top floor, until found there were
two more above US.
! am not going 10 either weary or entertain
nv readers with the exact number OF feet coz
tanned in this enormous pile, nor the size OF
the square which the whole bdilding will occu-
py when Goupil's former art gallery (now in
process OF demolition) has disappeared, and
the structure is completed. Measurements
convey ideas to my mind only by comparison,
and it will, therefore, be sufficient to say that
each floor would contain dozen ordinary
and that there are eight floors, including the
basement.
1t ls now altogether the largest and most
complete commercial house in the world.
What it will be when the area OF several more
large stores is adde to it, it tires one 10 think.
My object, however, in writing this paragraph
is not to eulogize Mr.. Stewart or his enter
prise, but simply note him as one OF the ex-
traordinary facts OF the day, and give some
idea of his aims, and what he is doing to bring
about their accomplishment.
Eighteen years ago, when he was about en-
larging his downtown store, gentleman,
merchant, said to him: :,
Us it safe 10 do this. Mr.. Stewart? Don't
you know that You are very unpopular
mani"
"Yes." said Mr.. Stewart, Il am aware OF
NV method Is not to obtain popularity, but to
compel people TO buy OF me-"
The merchant never saw Mr. Stewart again,
until O few days ago, and then looking around
at the vast result, he reminded him OF this
conversation of eighteen years before. and ac-
knowledged that the principle must have been
sound.
As a man, Mr.. Stewart is not q whit more
popular to-day than he was eighteen years ago.
he is the terror OF all the small dealers whom
he undersells and out-ouys. He is also the
oracle, be is the regulator OF prices, and it is
fact that ladies will appreciate that II MIR. Stew
art should die tomorrow, pieces OF dry goods
would 20 up twenty-five per cent.
OF course he has recognized the modern
idea OF ready-made clothing for women and
children, and within the small township oil
space which success has placed at his disposal,
he aims to supply not only the material for all
kinds of garments, but the garments them
selves, of every kind and grade, adapted to
everybody's wants and everybody's puIsa. The
floor, by ore OF the windows OF which we are
still standing, looking down upon the attlcs ol
the houses opposite, is devoted to the manu-
facture Of ladies' and chlldren's outfits. From
four to six hundred girls and women are en-
ployed IN this department, and the demand
would be such that the number might be
trebled, if the work was properly superlntend-
ed and the primary idea fully carried out. 2
But this requires o woman as we'll as man.
1t requires woman OF great natural capacity,
with the experience of u mother, the taste OF
lady, the perception OF an artist, the tact and
Judgment Of inancier, aud the energy OF
| Susan B. Anthony SJme such woman is pei
haps securing knives in her little kitchen, but
| the world and Mr.. Stewart knows nothing OF
her, an ! his great design, therefore, OF ofsupply-
| ing all the women in the world with well-made
| and well fitting garments, at reasonable cost,
| is marred and rendered imperfect by being In
| trusted to half dozen incompetent superin-
| tendents.
1t is true, however, that even now lady can
| go to Mr.. Stewards and thersef from head to
foot. and can supply family Of children with
many useful articles. But the departments are
not properly systematized, and the lines Of
goods are not complete; the garments are Not
well graded, and there are no complete outfits
for ladies, children and infants, OF different
styles and prices, which would represent at
once to the purchaser what could be obtained
for given sum.
1t is a heletical opinion to advance, know,
but l must say it: the days OF family sewing
are numbered. Fifty years from now it will he
as rare for women to make the garments OF a
family at home as it is now for them TO spin
the linen. There is no reason why manutac-
turing houses should not supply every article
worn. at the cost or material aud lab Jr, labor
| ho,na .ra,,nod r,ot hr The old methnd hut hy