Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-10-17
A Truthful But Not Glowing Ac-

! count.
From the Atlanta Sun we copy the fol-
lowing able and truthful account Of the
great palatial Dry Goods House of Jas.
A. Gray & Co., in Augusta. Able and
truthful, but, as we have said above, not
glowing. In fact it would take the pen
of Onida''-the most vivid and bril-
liant word-painter of the present day-to
produce an adequate picture of this
grand, wealthy and beautiful Establish
ment. But as "Onida" lives OIL the 9TH
er side Of the water, and has not yet been
fortunate enough to behold the great Az
gusta Bazaar, we must put up for the
present with the sturdy prose which we
here present:
THE DRY GOODS ESTABLISHMENT OF
JAS. a. GRAY E Co.-It is Il frequent
complaint OF Augusta that the old Town
is slow, non-progressive and careless of
improvement. How true this may be of
the wealthier merchants OF Augusta, it
is far from applicable to Messrs. Jas. a.
Gray d. Co. Atacost Of many thousands
Of dollars, this eminent and enterprising
firm have erected temple Of industry
and fashion which has few equals in the
North and not exceeding two in the
South. Indeed, with the exception Of four
retail houses in New York and half as
many in New Orleans, we know of no
building comparable, to it, devoted to the
sale of dry goods.
A few months since, an unsightly brick
editice occupied the ground from which
has risen, as if by an enchanter's wand,
this magnificent building. 1t is l25 feet
deep, by Il wide There are four spacious
stores. The front is entirely Of iron,
beautifully and symmetrically designed.
1t is so ventilated as to attract all cooling
breezes i'll summer; so admirably ar
ranged as to be as "warm as toast in
winter, and proof withal against the
demon Of fire.
The first floor is devoted to domestics.
Retailing is done on the second floor.
Here is the great centre Of shopping for
ladies and nothing could exceed the
brilliance Of display of superb fabrics
and charming buyers Of them.
To sec the famous bellies of Augusta.
one must go to the retail department OF
Jas 4. GRAY d Co. The third floor is as.
signed to ladies' suits, under-clothing,
children's dresses, ETC.
This is also superb department, and
not only furnished with everything desi-
rable in the line specified, but many con-
venienccs also which cannot be found
elsewhere. For instance: Mr.. Gray has
here veritable Sanctum SdictorNm. At
another part of the building, there is 4
umptuously furnished apartment. where
4 lady just from the country, for instance,
may arrange her toilet, have delicious
draugEt OF ice-watcr, or few moments
Of privacy after fatiguing journey.
The presiding genius (genus crabbedio)
of this department is lady.
There is also Il parlor ior the reception
Of the fair sex, and everything, in word,
which u wise forethouglIt could devise
for their comfort and convenience. The
fourth floor is arranged fcr the wholesale
business. and vast piles of merchandise
stored here demonstrate that Gray d &c.
Io I'm immense business in this line. In
fact. so great are the advantages possessed
by them that country merchants can du
plicate orders mp to $1,000 more chcaply
with them than they could at New York.
This Is pronounced benefit When we
consider the expenses o.! Il trip to and
from the North.
Everything about this magnificent
structure is on aSscale Of grandeur and
usefulness corresponding with the main
design The ceilings are lofty QG feet;
nigh 4 ties-waHsSate as white as STOW
and polished like mirror. The cornices,
stairway, etc., are Of massive walnut,
and the gas fixtures simply exquisite.
Noble Corinthian columns arc distributed
through the building, adding to its
strength while magnityinS its beauty.
Not the least perfection, and perhaps the
crowning excellence, is the dome, which
luminously, looks down upon every
door and seems to glorify everything.
1t is. so to speak, Il sun which james y.
Gray d Co. have invented for their spe-
cial benefit and the benefit OF their thou
sands OF customers.
The annoyance cj having merchandise
entered at. tho street door is avoided in
this establishment. All the goods are
brought into courtyard. in the real and
will bc distributed 20 their places b. Il
gigantic elevator which is operated by
hydraulic power. Also in The rear Of
Tie main building there is Il neat two
story brick dwelling which Mr.. Gray
has assigned rs Il home. in every sense
Of the word, for hi; principal clerks.
We could dwell at much greater length
upon this admirable establishment, but
must not trcspass further. Suffice IT,
that Augusta has III cdilicc OF which she
is Justly proud, and one firm mt least
riio have redeemed her from the re-
.,roacll of sta9nation. AL honor there
fore to Jas. y. Gray & Co.