The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1878-03-02
A BRILLIANT OPENING,

Honor of the Event.
A large number OF people visited
the new store of NJ. Israel & Co. Oh
the occasion of its formal opening,
Saturday evening last, and the beau
ties of the building, heightened by an
artistic arrangement of the large stock
of goods, won the admiration of all
1t is no stretch of reportorial license
to reiterate that the establishment,
viewed externally or from the in-
terror, would not suffer in comparison
with the most preteDtiOus emporiums
which grace the business centres OF
| New Orleans. AS visitors entered
| the front doors of the brilliantly il
Illuminated store, their eyes were
greeted by the word g welcome" "
placed upon white lace curtains. This
was the handiw0rk of Mr.. III. A. Will
log, to whose taste and that of Mr.. j.
j. Lafargue, was mainly due the at
tractiSe appearance of the entire
stock. And the guests were indeed
made welcome, Messrs. Pierre and
VIM. Klopman, seconded by their
gentlemanly assistants, Messrs. Will
loz, Lafargue, the Meter brothers,
Gervais GautLIreaux and two others,
according every attention which conld
tend to make the occasion pleasant.
Mrs. Piene Klopman was also present,
gracefully assisting her husband in
the reception and entertainment of
visitors. A valuable auxiliary to this
well accomplished task was provided
i'll the shape of table upon which a
large bowl of champagne punch and Il
tray of pastry stood out in bold relief.
Behind this Mr.. Pierre Klopman of
ticiated with adeptness and nrbanity,
dealing out the good things to an APP
preeiative throng of ladies and gen
tlemen who qnaffed the refre shing
liquid to the continued prosperity of
NJ. Israel & Co. in their new quarters.
The inspection of the goods and
fixtures afforded pleasant employ
ment for half hour or more, and in
this way the constant stream of visi-
tors amused themselves during the
hours devoted to their entertainment.
The first floor was naturally the cen
tire of attraction, as here were dis
played, With view to ornamentation,
the myriads of articles which go to
form the stock of well furnished
dry goods, clothing and variety en-
porium. The scene was beautiful
from all points of observation, but
appeared to greatest advantage when
viewed from the landing half way up
the staircase leading to the second
floor. Upon the latter floor is the
wholesale department, arranged after
the manner of similar establishments
in the large cities. In the third or
attic story the carriages, buggies and
kindred articles are stored. An ell
evator renders the hosting or lower
ing of the heavies boxes, etc, an easy
matter.
In well arranged office standing
at the rear end of the ground floor,
Mr.. Willoz, the buokkeeper, is in-
stalled in state, surrounded by all the
couveniences for his occupation which
ingenuity could suggest. Commuui-
cation with the adjoining private Office
of the Messrs. Klopman is secured by
means of small window with sliding
pane, and through similar aperture
business is transacted with the sales
men or others having occasion to
visit the Office. Thus entire seclusion
is insured to the bookkeeper during
business hours.
One feature of the establishment
merits especial mention-the spacious
show window at the Railroad Avenue
corner, which presented very pretty
sight, evidencing the taste aud in
genuity of Mr.. Lafargue.
The entire building is lighted with
gas manufactured by a machine of
Paquette's patent, and the illumina
ting power of the article seems equal
to that of the coal gas commonly
used in cities.
Mr.. Bernard Lemann kept his por-
ton of the building open until a late
hour, and most of those visiting the
store of Israel & Co., embraced ahe
opportunity to inspect Mr.. Lenann's
establishment aud stock also. The