The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-03

The PAST AND THE PREsRNT.-Long, long
ago. when q Philadelphia gentleman wanted
q coat the course of proceeding involved In
becoming possessor thereof was attended with
much vexation OF mind and expenditure OF
precious time and hard earned money. The
steps TO be taken were as follows First, IL was
necessary TO go to cloth store, or general
dry goods store, where cloth was kept for sale,
and select from whatever might be on hand
such as might suit him. Many and many
time did man have to take his wife. his
wife's sister, his aunt, his mother in law, and
other relations either singly or collectively,
to help him pass Judgment on the color, the
durability, or the general style of the fabrics
offered for sale. Oiten did the candidate for
establishments 10 get such cloth as would suit
him; and often did he come home at eventlde,
bringing TO the sharer OF his joys and his sor.
rows a pocket full of three. cornered scraps
kindly, furnished him by the people who
wanted to sell him the cloth. Sometimes the
names and prices attached to these pattern
scraps would get loose, or become mixed, and
Ihen me Whole work OF seeking samples and
ascertalning price would have to be gone over
again.
having been laboriousy accomplished, the
next step was TO take the goods to the talor's to
be made into coat. But here was new trouble,
and more OF 1t, Who should make the
coat7 ODJy about one tailor in fifty knew how
to cut and I'll coat 80 as to make the wearer
look otherWlse than like scarecrow, 1t sell
dom happened that a man would GO q second
time to the same tailor and the 6otheration
relations and acquainiances had to be asked.
When at last competent artist in cloth was
lounu, tne Vlcum ol the. coat had to go and be
take down the figures Of the measure, and
promise to have the coat finished by a
certain day, which generally turned out to
be very uncertain one. You we're never Ger.
tain when you were going to get your coat nor
there was a large probability that it wouldn't
fit. The tailor told you TO cali next wednesday
together, that he might try it on you. When
you called, he would tell you to come next Sa-
turday When at last he finished it. he seemed
to have made it alter the measure either Of
your corpulent grandfather, or else after that
of your lean nextdoor neighbor who is as'thin
ss a pair Of toDgs. Tailors were very clever
though, about these little accidents, and never
refused to make another coat If You would
take them some more cloth.
II is funny to think how long people endured
this troublesome, tedious, and expensive style
different way of furnishing masculine gar
ments. The idea dawned on The minds Of some
ready ade, just as they bought their hats.
Some cheap establishments gradually arose
inferior style Of clothes. But gentlemen who
wanted good raiment found no relief from
Rockhill & Wilson were among the first to
relieve suffering mankind from their difficult
ties in this respect. AT the very commencement
of their business, in lS4l, they aimed at fur
nishing their patrons Witn superior style OF
raiment, at the most moderate prices. Gentle
& Wilson's and buy an elegant suit of clothes
ready made, than to go through the experience
we have narrated only to find 1t tedious, un-
satisfactory, and costly.
Rockhili & Wilson soon took the lead in
supplying the wants of the best men in the city
and It's vicinity and by close attention to busi-
ness, and q constant carrying out of their de-
termination to give each customer the worth
of his money, soon reached the position they
| have ever since held as the first clothiers Of
| Philadelphia. Their elegant pile Of brown
| stone in Chestnut street, above Sixth, has stood
| since 1855, monument of their ability and
| success IN giving the people exactly what they
| want. Elegance of style. faultlessness Of fit,
| and perfect adaptation of the kind of goods
| and character of material to the person or the
| wearer, so as to ensure tout ensemble of the
| utmost gentility and beauty, are among the
| characteristics of the garmentswhich have made
| Rockhill Wilson SO justly popular.
We need only add that visit to the elegant
| salesrooms of this firm will repay all gentle
| men who desire to enjoy view Of some of the
| most elegant things In clothing that have ever
been offered to the public
! A free and full examination is invited, and
gentlemen are desired TO make full comparison
| or the goods at the Great Brown Hall with any.
| thing In town or elsewhere.