The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-05-13

The true measure of merit in commercial en-
terprse is success; a.d by success wemean not
only accumulation of profits, but that outward
manifestation of business extension and thrift
that builds up tows and imparts cheerful re
dolence OF prosperity 10 all around 1t. There
are traders who, by close, pinching skinning
system and minute calculations Of cent-per-
cent. can, by long years of screwing and per
slstcnce, sciapc together fortune out OF trade
in thread, needles and calamities. But the true
merchant has larger views He studies to do a
business that runs into hundreds Of thousands
and even millions, so that, though on each arti
Gle in Getail his profits scarcely pcrccptible,
the aggregate of all is immense, and shared not
ONLY by the master mover of the machine, but
by host of employees and the whole community
around him.
Hugh Gillen is a man Of this cast. The house
Of which he is now the head dates its establish
ment back to 1874, when it was founded by
Deacon j. 6. Nattinger. Eight or ten years later
it fcl! into the hands of Reddck & Hurlbut. and
about 10 years ago, while in the hands of the
latter, Hugh Gillen, then mere STRIPPING and
salesman in rival store, became its chief sales
man and manager, continuing in which position
six years, he finally, four years ago, became sole
proprietor of the establishment.
From the first day OF Mr.. G.'s advent in the
house, it took new impetus upward. From a
moderate trade in groceries and the ordinary
staples of the dry goods trade, Mr.. G.'s ambition
was to spread out in the wide realm of higher
class dress goods, silks, satins, &c. His ventures
in this direction were at first moderate and care
full, but so judicious that It was not long before
he had "the swing Of the trade, and now no
house west of Chicago can display more extern
sivc varied and higher grade OF goods in that
line.
But the end of his ambition was not attained
in reaching the top Of the dry goods trade
His large country custom made it necessary that
he should deal somewhat in groceries, boots and
shoes, hats and caps, and the like. Now half
way trade in any business WAS the last to suit
his taste. He therefore decided that ii he must
keep grocery store at all it must be one OF the
largest and best. To this end he rented the ,ad-
joining store room in Reddicks block and
doubled the size of his establishment. The two
large rooms have been thoroughly repaired, re-
fitted, painted up and by a wide archway be.
tween them thrown INTO one, so that now
the dry goods department occupies the north
store-20XS0 feet, with two large rooms on the
second floor; while the grocery occupies the
other room, OF equal size, on the corner of the
alley, with cellars, second floor rooms, &c. &c.
The enlargement gave Mr.. Gillen all the room
he needed and even left one side Of shelving
and drawers with a counter 40 feet long, for
boots and shoes OF which also he now keeps
full stock, embracing everything in the trade
from pillow shoe up to the finest kids and satins
for the ladies.
The new grocery store of Mr.. Gillen is worthy
Of especial note. While his stock embraces
in that line, il is all new and fresh,
perfect in quality and favor He will also keep
in connection with it full supply Of fresh fruits
and vegetables, in their season, and deliver all
goods promptly free of charge in any part of
the city.
We have thus hastily indicated the vast
enlargement and improvement at II
j. Gillen's within the past week or two. That
he has about him the secret of true success,
such as we have indicated in the beginning, is
abundantly evidenced by the fact that he is ena-
bled to show these visible signs of prosperity
when the whole world around is complaining Of
hard times and nothing doing.