The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-06-27
THE "uNIyERsAL PROvIDER."
One Of Londoa's Installations ---A Place
where KveFythtnG May be had From
Tombstone TO Ntfcs

Where RveFythtnG MAY be had, Frsm "a
Tombstone TO "a Nifs'
A London letter 10 the San Francisco
ChrOHicis says:
Have You heard Of the wonderful
Whiteley Of Westbourne Grove, the
Universal Proviior, as he calls him
self His is large block Of shops,
which less than twenty years ago started
an "a single small establishment IN the
millinery aud drapery line, and has now
been famous for at least "A dozen twelve
months. Ii is "a place outside which, in
the season, the carriages extend for a
quarter Of "A mile or more, and stand as
many deep as the width Of not especi-
ally cApaciods street and the vigilance
Of the Metropolitan Police will permit;
and where in the middle of the summer,
when the stock of light materials is dur
ing few days sold of at cost price M
less, and in the middle Of the winter,
when the heavy things are also for few
DAYS disposed II at an lawful sacrifice, T"
you have 10 get up IN the small hours
and rush OFF there directly the doors
open If you wish 10 be attended TO.
Said q gentleman the other day TO one
Of the urbane shop.walkers who was at
tending him 10 the door, after an after
noon spent IN the several Quitting de-
partments devoted 20 his sex, - really
believe you could 10 everything but
bury me " I'VE wonld bury you with
the greatest pleasure, returned the po-
lite official: "thas is-Ahem-l beg
pardon: ] mean II you should be 80 un-
fortunate as 20 stand in need OF that
melancholy Office, We have set up an
undertaking branch OF business. A
lady once saying in the shop that she
thought she could buy everything there
but "A leg of mutton aud Goals, the man
who Was serving her Immediately point
cd 70 a notice setting forth that de-
partment for butchers meat had Just
been added, and that in another orders
for coals could be received. A gentle
man musieally inclined once wrote TO
Mr.. Whiteley 10 ask him 20 send him
some banjos 20 look at. In return
William Whiieley & Co" presented
"their respectful compliments and
begged 10 inform that gentleman that
they did not keep banios On which this
correspondent wrathfully wrote back 10
ask how William Whiteley & Co. could
presume 70 call themselves Universal
Providers II they did no, keep banios.
Very soon, indeed, after this snub, the
u. Z. = again presented their respectful
compliments and requested that Mr.. So
and so would be kind enough to call and
inspect their collection Of banios and
other musical instruments.
A Young man about % proceed 10
India paid the famous establishment a
visit for his outfit, and was set up with
everything he could possibly require
inst as fast as he asked for IL As he
was writing his check for the whole
amount in the great William Whiteley's
private Office he laughingly said, well,
positively, Mr.. Whiteley, ] believe you
have provided me with all want
save only one thing" And that P
''Is a wife Is that all? p said the
smiling head of the firm. I" Would you
care 10 dine with me at 80 at nv house
tomorrow ! should bc very glad. In
deed 10 see yuu." am sure Il viii
afford me great pleasure b dine with
YOU, politely made answer the aston
ished Young man, aud accordingly pre-
scented himself the next evening az the
hospitablr Mr.. Whitoley's town resi- =
dencc Here he was presented 10 re-
fined and very agreeable assemhlage Of
people, and he escorted 30 the dinner
table yaung lady. by whom he OF
course sat. and who was in every way 30
perfectly charming that. long ere the
Termination Of n meal, be had com
ple;ely lost his be IT. The sequel may
be readily imagined. That young man
sailed for Iudia stocked froln the re-
sources Of the wonderful Universal Pro
wider with everything. from socks aud
suspenders up 10 a wife.