The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-01-09

The Trenton state gazette furnishes the
following readable sketch of AfT. John NSu-
amaker the great Philadelphia merchant,
who i well known to fame, and We might
add to fortune, as one Of the most enterpTlS
Inc business men and certainly the most IIb-
eral and Intelligent advertiser, to say nothing
of his great philanthropy, This country mas
ever produced
Take him for all in ali, JoHN WANANAKEk is
the most euterprising ard successful busiuess
man OF PhIadeiy tie has done more TO ad-
vance It's commercial interests, TO thronE ~
streets with strangers. 20 extend its repute lie
Is an embod imcnt Of the best and highest deal OF
American commercial enterprise, of that iar-see-
ing sagacity, courage and dash Whieh nave htde
Our merchln. princes the wonder ami niraJion
of the sl0w-going business magnates oi the Oid
World Nor is his integrity andi iaiThess iess
conspicuous than his activity and pluck. JoHN
WASAMAKER is R quiet hammered young gentle
mamie is only fOTty-OuC-oi modest au1 unas-
suming demeanor: but his eye is full OF latent
power. and his whole being is Instinct with meas
ureless energy. under the control oil cool AetH
and res0Iute viii. Nothing less than these qual-
ities in their highest perfection could build up
and successfully manage the largest retail busl-
ness on the American continent. In his three
stores-the Grand Depot, running from Chestnut
to Market and from Thirteenth 10 Juniper; the
magnificent clothing establishment in Chestnut
street, and the great and well-knOw1 Uak Han
Clothing House on Market and Sixth streets
Mr.. WANAhAKER has over ten acres OF hooring.
exhibiting the products Of the industry ana ART %
the whole civilized world. The largest and most
Imposing and interesting is the Grand Depot
None OF our readers should fail when they visit
Philadelphia TO go through this wonderful eIn-
porium. 1t approaches, in variety Of display, in
the almost endless groupings OF beautiful objects,
in the magnificence Of space. and in the moving
thron Is of Interested, the Centennial Exhibition
itself. It would be equally dft1cUlt TO name the
articles displayed or those not to be found here
Indeed endless as would be the former. the latter
would be harder task. There are over Jour acre.
Of exhibits in this wonderful store Beside this
impressive space, and this hewildering stock Of
goods the lar-famed Nucy's, in New NorE, sinks
into complete insgnifcance. Outside of the Main
Building, during the Centennial Exhibition,
nothing equal to II has ever been seen IN TINS
country The particular feature OF this great
6
the fact that it extends on one floor over enor-
mons an area and the picturesque and conYe-
nient a trangcmcur oil the counters ana shelves
Nearly one half the whole floor space. coumenc-
ing well toward the Chestnut street entrance is
occupied by counters sweeping in SIX great circles
round a common center, each succeeding circle
larger than tile last Back Of the counters are
neat showcases in and on which the goods are
ssD,rrts Of ciTe,s nv numerous aisIez ana Dassa
yes, while broader circular passages run between
them and down through the middle runs q wider
may be allowed 10 coin an expression, stands
as an objective point, a pagodalike structure.
around which runs j counter I'm g perfect circle
This gives a finish 70 the whole. Beyond, towards
Market street. the body OF the hoor is covered
with rectangular counters. and the rema in n <
area at the sides and elsewhere is countered as
best suits the space nd the goods TO be displayed.
Extensive galleries have been added on each OF
rooms and of{,crs for TNrufactrTin,1 r'rl,oses -
To stand in the lunch gallery, at the middle en-
trance on Chestnut street. and look over these
acres OF rich merchandise, the moving throngs Of
thousands OF busy purchasers, and the activity
and hustle OF the Thousand clerks, fs well worth n
visit to Philadelphia. to behold It presents d
scene Of extraordinary and almost exciting at
? tractvencss- When the vast establishment is L.
Illuminated in the evening with the brilliant elec.
trie light and the thronEs are larger, the scene is
still more beautiful and stirring
F Mr. WANAMAEEE has built up this great bust
ness on an idea, ana despite the sneeTs and oppo-
stiGu Of cnvious rivals. I his idea was that small
profits and quick sales. strictly honorable dealing
uniform aud absolutely impartial courtesy g
all, rich and poor alike. and liberal advertising
woult benefit the community and pay him. He
advertiscs in over three hundred newspapers. ex-
pending therefor $1,000 year. sells good articles
at the smallest possible proht, and instantly dis
. charges a clerk who is attentive ami ODsequiOus
to rich customer TO the neglect OF q poor one
! This idea has made him one Of the richest men ia
Philadelphia, has conferred the boon OF gcntee
living at small cost upon tens OF thousands of fam
iIies. and spread far and wide the reputation oil
Philadelphia n a place for cheap buying and
hOnoTab ble dealing.