The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-20
THE OPENING AT II. j. GILLEN'S.
A Varied, Gorgeous and Stupendous Display.
Low Prices Propounded as "a Cure for Hard
Times.

ing his way between good deal Of crinOinc to
the interior, took a
GENERAL SURVEY.
The goods, considering the limited space for so
enormous a stock, were disposed with discrmina-
ton and good judgment-thc piles being so ar
ranged as to be readily approached and examn-
ed without tumbling about and mussing. The
lighter, airy goods and notions, such as laces,
lace shawls, scarfs, and thousand similar no.
tons, were agreeably suspended in festoons
about the room, impartng to it Il decidedly ba-
zarish aspect.
JOHN L. MORRISON, head salesman, was found
chief exhibitor and spokesman in the depart.
mcnt of
SILKS AND GENERAL DRESS GOODS.
Behind him was row of seven huge drawers
filled with silks. Gathering up three or four rolls
from one of these drawcrs-a comfortable arm
ful-he asked lady what she would give for the
lot She thought couple hundred dollars
would be about the thing. Those few little pack
age were worth about $3.50. This embraced less
than half the contents of one of the seven big
drawers. .... ... ..
The stock is really one of the largest and finest
ever brought to Ottawa. 1t embraces all the bet
ter brands of black, colored and fancy silks,
ranging from the lowest prices up to s.. A lady
had bought 81 silk at the east, and wanted a
yard or two to match it. She had hunted over
Chicago in vain, but found match here in silk
which Gien sells for Sl.75.
But silks really are but small part of this de-
partment The shelving OF whole side, to say
nothing of the counter, is loaded with Poplins,
including Lyons, Pins Irish, &C.; Pongees,
Cashmeres Empress Cloths, Merinoes, Metalasse
cloths, Mohairs, Grapes, &c, &c.,-it would take
columns to name them all-but as notable and
not to name the VELvETs, of which the stock is
no less superb than varied and extensive.
Next our local turned his beamng cOunteAance
upon II. j. CULLEN, jr., whom he found presiding
over the department OF ...
NOTIONS AND FANCY GOODS
Whether it was. on account of Hugh's own
winning ways-he is an eligible and dangerous
young bachelor-or on account of the brilliant
display Of goods in his line, the ladies seemed to
be singularly attracted towards this department.
Hugh had at moderate guess about ten thous-
aud articles to how, and every package he un-
rolled seemed to be a new surprise and delight.
PAUL TIssEDR was buried in small mountain
of ..--, " ...
CLOAKs AND sHAwLS
which he turned this way and that way, then as
sisted the ladies to try on, and commented upon
politeness. But not even Paul's eloquence could
do full justice to the stock, which is really the
largest and most elegant ever shown in the city
1t occupies the whole rear end of the store
The courtly and active youth, w. W. CURTIss
made himself useful as well as agreeable in ex.
hibiting the s.. ..-..
DOMESTIC STOCK. .......
He ranged through maze of goods that often
hid him entirely from view, but managed to make
himself generally Ineligible and quite convihced
his auditors that the stock was truly wonderful
in its magnitude and excellence, and that such
low prices had never before been heard of in OF.
tawa. ..... .....-
JoHSNY VoGHT was put to his trumps in cx.
hbiiny the enormous stock of
LADIES' AND CENTS UNDERWEAR,
OF which the display is so massive and attractive
as to deserve more elaboration than our space
here will admit OF, and it is a pity that Johnny's
well deserved encomiums of its excellence were
not addressed to hundreds instead Of a few dozen
of willing hearers.
T. C. MILLER, who ordinarily fills the place OF
general salesman, had for the day special charge
Of the department of rH
BOOTS AND SHOES
And showed off his wares with well justified
pride in their varied excellence.
NICK MATES, another very popular general
salesman, presided over the
GROCERY DEPARTMENT ....
And though he had apparently no special attrac.
lions for the young and gay, he had discrmin-
ating audience Of grave and steady housckeepers
who duly appreciated his goods, and very Justly
pronounced it the finest family grocery stock in
the city.
Fitting about everywhere, and making them.
selves generally agreeable as well as useful, were
THOMAS II. BURKE and b. G.. MEEHAN, pcrma-
nent employees of the establishment, and at their
heels troopcd lot Of call-boys, assistants, &c
And last but not leas, KELLY, the butter man,
who knows more about and handles more butter
than any other man in the county, bossed that
department and had his everlasting "just one
choice jar left" which he had especially saved
for every particular customer.
Hugh Gillen, the boss, was of course every
where and all over at the same time, hut consid-
ering the inspiring occasion, bore himself with
creditablc reserve and modcsty.
Apparently the most quiet and undisturbed
man Of all was Edward J. Flynn, the confidential
and chief book keeper. The day was one more
Of show than business and he took it compare
lively easy.
Upon the whole, it was a pity the day was
such as to prevent larger company from enjoy
inc the exhibition. II was not only eminently
credtable to Mr.. Gillen, but to the city. TWAS a
common remark that such a gorgeous display did
not look much like hard times, but when they
came to compare the prices with what was paid
for like goods only few years ago, the general