The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-03-22
Household and Fashion Department for
the Ladies'.
MILLINERY.

the old city hotel then We climbed th'
weary stair to view the gems OF wealth and
beauties rare Now how changed is every
thing connected with this, the largest milhn
cry house IN America, il not in the world
Instead Of climbing, we are waited heaven
ward ON velvet cushions, deliberately set IN gilt
and walnut mouldings. and finished m the
highest style of art.
On the corner of Wabash Avenue and
Washington streets, this new and noble struc-
ture stands with an inviting look from turret
to foundation stone, and as you enter Its
cheerful portals, you find on the first floor a
garden of flow ers so lovely, so varied and 90
magnificent, that wondering amid the alsles,
YOU seek in vain for a flower that is not repro
duced from nature After all hour spent IN
Admiring these gems Of inspiration, | still
found new varieties among this seemingly
endless panorama On the second floor |
found ribbons to match the howery blossoms
below. And going up still another story |
found the fashions just imported by u. b.
Fisk & Co. Hats with high crowns are still
IN favor, and noticed white straws, taste
fully trimmed with black ribbon, lace, and
spnug roses with long vines filled with leaves
and buds. A hat Of French chip, was beau
tlfully trimmed with blue and white ribbon
mixed with daises. The heavy bralds are
bound with velvet for early spring wear the
flowing lace veil caught with jet pm ON top
Of the hat crown, and falling gracefully over
the back hair, is still worn. This exclusively
wholesale establishment was thronged with
mIihners from all parts Of the United States,
busy selecting their yatterns and spring
stock Of goods The double folding mirrors
with which the reception rooms are provided,
greatly facilitates the selection OF goods, and
are highly ornamental These mirrors give
both front and back views at single glance,
and right here let me describe a pattern hat
selected by a lady from st. 10, Mo. The ma
terial was white straw, with high crown,
elegant and plain; a rich thread lace was
fulled around the crown, and falling over the
rIm. was carried up over the crown, aud there
twined among the heavy black ribbon bows
and Jet ornaments, fall of lace net edged
with narrow blonde, completed this tastriully
trimmed nat. The pattern rooms keep 80
lady artists constantly employed IN preparing
patterns for the trade Mrs Butler assisted
by Miss Davis has the supervision Of this
model school Of art, which position Mrs. b.
has occupied with great credit for the last
twenty years. These patterns are furnished
the trade at less price than the imported styles,
from which they are prepared and improved
upon at this establishment 60 tinuing my
upward journey found on the next floor, La
dies Furnishing Goods, in all their variety ,
also, what is usually termed Yankee Notions
Stlll ascending, found on the topmost PIN
nacle Of this far-famed palace, a manufac
tory of frames and blocks, for hats and bon
by one Of Chicagos oldest and best artists III
this line of manufacture. This bird's-eye
view Of the largest wholesale house in the
country devoted to ladies almost exclusively,
and comprising IN one the goods that formerly
required the buyer to visit at least three
different houses to obtain, will give the read
ers Of the WoRKINGMAN's ADVOCATE the IN
formation that some may be thankful to have,
of knowing the best place to 20 and buy their
first stock Of millinery and fancy goods, with
the satisfaction Of knowing that no advantage
will be taken Of their ignorance Of either goods
or prices, Fifteen years ago the writer Of this
article found IN All obscure country town IN
Iowa, the simple card in the county paper, Of
this house. I'D. B. Fisk L Co, Wholesale
Millinery Lake Street Wishing to engage
III the millinery trade, as means Of support
for my little family, and being entirely igno-
rant Of what | needed in the line Of goods, and
almost without money, | came to this great
my story, frankly confessing my utter ignOr-
ance Of goods or prices, and when | named
the scantv plttance that was my all Of ready
money, Mr. Fisk could not quite repress the
smile at NV presumption, vet he kindly stud
ied my interest aud selected nv little hand
fu 81 goods, which, under careful manage
ment, soon enabled me to buy bill OF larger
SIZE until thousands, instead 1T hundreds
footed NJ at the bottom at the page, and all
this was due to honest industry and perse-
verance, lexcuse me, dear reader, on the par t
Of both the buyer and seller While the lat
ter has risen TO the proud rank of the leading
house in his line, the former is proud t.
chronicle the fact and tell the working women
where she can buy goods to the best advan-
tage.
THE MECHANIC INSTITUTE. On Thurs
day afternoon, in Judge Janeson's room, in
the city hall, the annual meeting Of
the Mechanics Institute took place. A.
j. Corrigan was chosen Chairman. and G.
W Spear Secretary. The minutes Of the
previous meeting having heen read and ap-
proved, the committee on constitution and
bylaws, reported in favor of changing the
time Of holding the election Of officers.
the afternoon were ratified by unanimous
vote. The report was adopted, and the
committee continued. A motion 10 hold
public mass meeting, offered by Mr..
Lawler, was laid over for the time
being. At 10 o'clock the polls were
declared closed, and the following officers
declared elected President, Thos. B.
Bryan; Vice Presidents, G. G. Prussing
and c. Price; Recording Secretary, T
Roberts; Corresponding Secretary, E. p.
Treadwell; Financial Secretary, Chas
Speer; Treasurer, NJ. A. Thayer; DIrec
tors, Robert Clark, II. L. Fulton, Isaac
Speer, A. j. Corrigan, Thos E. Courtney,
and James Hollingsworth Librarian, W
Parker. The meeting adjourned to meet
on Thursday evening, April 8, at CLOCK
BUSINESS NOTICES.