Sharp County record., 1878-05-31
THE "UNIVERSAL PROYIDER."
Sketch of Whiteley the Great London Shop.
keeper-His Humble beginnings and
Marvellous Enterprise.

London Cor. san Francisco Chronicle.l
Have YOU heard of the wonderful
Whiteley, Of Westbourne Grove, the
:. Universal Provider," as he calls him
self? His is large block Of shops,
which less than twenty years ago start
ed as a single small establishment in
the millinery and drapery line, and has
now been famous for at least a dozen
times twelve months. 1t is a place out
side which, in the season, the carriages
extend for a quarter of mile or more,
and stand as many deep as the witdh of
not especially capacious street and the
vigilance of the metropolitan police will
permit; and where, in the middle of
summer, when the stock of light mate
rials is sold off at cost price or less, and
in the middle of winter, when the heavy
things are also for few days disposed
of at an lawful sacrifice" you have to
get up in the small hours and rush off
there directly the doors open if you
wish to be attended to. 1t is place
where you can purchase the prettiest of
things at the most wonderfully reasona-
BILE rates, being a house of business
whose directing head firmly believes in
the wholesome system of small profits
and quick returns. And, lastly, it is
haunt dear almost beyond all others
to the female heart, and is never, even
in the very worst of weathers, without
crowds of the fair sex outside and in,
either being served by the polite Off
cials, or lounging along the pavement
close to the windows, gazing lo1gingly
like hosts of Peris outside the gate of
Paradise, improving their minds by
looking at loves of bonnets, millinery of
all sorts, fancy goods, furniture, uphol-
stery, and every other imaginable thing.
But the other shopkeepers of Westbour-
MIA love not the wonderful Whiteley.
Far from it. They say that, to com
pete with the magician, they have to cut
down their profits to a minimum; there
fore it is currently reported that they
daily pray for his removal from this
mundane sphere which is so unworthy
OF his talents; and Mr.. Whiteley himself
is said to have often declared, somewhat
iocularly and boastfully, perhaps, that
he dare not walk down the Grove alone
after dark.
Said a gentleman the other day to one
of the urbane shop-walkers who was
attending him to the door after an after
noon spent in several of the outftting
departments devoted to his sex: L
really believe you could do every thing
but bury me-" awe would bury you
with the greatest pleasure" returned
the polite official; "that is-ahem--l
beg pardon; | mean if you should
be so unfortunate as to stand in need of
that melancholy office, we have now set
up an undertaking branch of business. "
A lady once saying in the shop that she
thought she could buy every thing there
but leg of ton and Goals, the man
who was serving her Immediately point
ed to notice setting forth that de-
partment for butchers meat had just
been added, and that in another orders
for Goals could be received. A gentle
man musically inclined once wrote to
Mr.. Whiteley to ask him to send him
some banjoS to look at. In return
civilian Whiteley & Co." presented
"their respectful compliments" and
begged to inform that gentleman that
they did not keep banjos. On which
their correspondent wrathfully wrote
back to ask how William Whiteley & Co.,
could presume to call themselves Uni
Tersal Providers if they did not keep
banjos. Very soon, indeed, after this
snub, the U..'P.'s again presented their
respectful compliments, and requested
that Mr.. SO-and-so would be kind
enough to call and inspect their collec-
ton Of banjos and other musical instru-
ments. Experience is said to be our
surest teacher; and it may have been a
number of instances somewhat similar
to the story about the banj which de-
cided the rule now in force at the u.
P.'s of never confessing that they did not
possess any article-no matter how cur
ious or little in demand-which may be
asked for. Here is case in point
Some gentlemen at London club
house were discussing the wonder of
Westbournia, when one of the men,
bers said 81 will bet any body ESQ that
Whiteley will not provide me with some
thing if | were to ask for it," "What's
that?" demanded several. "An ele-
phant." "I'll take your bet, then, "
said one of the fellows; "for | am sure
Whiteleywillmanage itsomehow." The
bet being thus accepted, the first gentle
man entered Whiteley's the following
morning at about 10 o'clock. What
can we have the pleasure of showing
you, sir, to,dayP" demands one of the
courteous shop-men, advancing with the
usual pleasant bow and smile, and the
never-failing action of washing his
hands with invisible soap. Il want an
elephant" said, with perfect compos-
ure, the visitor. I" A live one, sir?"