Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1879-11-04

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every convenience for keeping the lar
gest store in America.
The lot extends from 18th street to
the Public Buildings, and from Market
to within a fewsteps Of Chestnut street,
covering over two acres. There is no
store in the United States that covers
so much ground floor space as the single
esta blishment at 18th and Market, and
such busy scene as it now presents is
well worth going many miles to see.
coax Hail." the name of the place
is now an acknowledged institution"
in the land. A house with half doz-
en- clerks doing business Of 100000
a year is but a store the case alters
when the business runs into millions,
and the employees are numbered by
thousands. If all the clerks and work
people of Oak Hall were gathered into
one locality they would form popu-
lation equal to that of sorns important
cities and towns in the neighboring
counties. The building up Of such an
institution is unparalleled in the his
tory Of this country, but can easily be
accounted for. The honored customs
of trade we're ruthlessly SET aside the
practice Of marking few articles very
low, as "baits," and charging up
prices on others, in the hspe of gaining
a large trade, being done away with.
The following are some of the meth
DDS of business in this establishment
which underlie its success.
The customers confidence is never
abused. They sell at small proits.--
The names and qualities Of goods are
attached to each article, and those who
are poor judges, are assisted by the
means oftickets attached to goods, yellow
meaning best class; white medium but
Substantial; carmine fair but not all
wool material. There is but one price,
except for clergymen and the clerks of
the house who are allowed to have
goods at cost. All customers have a
stamped and signed guarantee, that
the goods they buy are as represented.
All goods that do not come up to the
customers expectations ars exchanged
or if surrendered the money is re-
turned in full, except where goods are
worn injured, or retained over two
weeks, or are white goods. There are
many other rules which we might name
and which helps in reducing every
thing to perfect system of order, and
which contribute to the success Of the
establishment.
We visited soak Hail." one day last
week, and never having saw it before
we were struck with amazement as We
entered. Had We not known that the
Centennial was over we might have
thought we were in the Main Exhibi,
tion building. The first we noticed was
the shoe department occupying space
enough 20 hold half the shoes in the
shoe stores of Wilmington. Farther on
is the china and vase department. The
most magnificent dishes and vases greet
the eye here. Then we came to the
silver-ware and statuary department,
We cannot describe it Ahead was a
sign pointing to gallery where the
house furnishing department was kept,
and following the steps we found
ourselves bewildered in a labarynth Of
of everything in the house keeping line.
No use for us to commence naming tn
articles in detail for we would not know
where to stop. Returning we passed
the Departments, of blankets and quilts,
linen embroidery, white goods, gloves
aud Misses suits.
Here we saw Mr.. Wauamaker in the
distance and hurrying forward he greet
ed us with kindly words and friendly
shake of the hand. lie looked com
paisantly on the busy bustling scene
before him, and spoke animated!y of
the grand success of ''Oak Hall" Con-
signing us to the care Of Mr.. .Forepaugh,
one of the gentlemanly clerks in the
establishment, we continued our travels
amongst the various departments not
visited.
"Here is the ladies dress depart
ment," said Mr.. +. and We looked
around on grand array of dresses from
the 81. 90 calico to the $50 and SIS silk
dresses with founces, rutfies and
trains.
Cup there is where they are made" F"
said our guide and casting our eyes
upward to department in the end Of
one of the galleries we Saw a number of
ladies busily engaged in making up
dresses.
"There is our restaurant" and look
ing again sure enough there it was. No
person while shopping need 60 away
outside of the building to get something
to eat when hungry for right in the
building there was first-class res
taurant.
Following our guide We passed the
hosiery department, fall patterns, then
the silk department where We were
shown silks ranging in price from 30
cents to SIS and IS per yard; then came
the velvet department with velvets as
high as 50 yard. Then came the gem
tlemens underwear department, with
single pieces ranging from 25 cents to
SIS, and stockings from II cents pair
to SIS. Up winding, stairway we
came into the millinery department
where we were shown ladies' hats
ranging from 81 to $65 each.
Leaving here we passed through
Labyrinth of pocket book, stationery,
japanese, cloth, ruflle, lace, spool cot
ton, button. perfumery and a number
of other departments. Near the en-
trance was the gentlemen's clothing
departn as well supplied, with
suits of all descriptions as when the
building at Sixth and Market streets,
was entirely devoted to that branch of
the business. The hat and cap de-
partment especially attracted our at
tention. Here a number Of workmen
wero busy turning out hats manufac-
tured from the raw material. The
nr;ooo roorad from 20 cents tN az and