The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-05-22
John Wanamaker.

F1rney's Progress is publishing series
of "Alternate Letters from Two Great
Cities, i'll the last one of which is the
following deserved tribute to that plucky
mercantile loader, John Wanamaker;-
"Southeast of the great square is an
other suggestive panel in the panorama
of the puissant present; John Wanna
makers Grand Depot. In the centre You
have the palace of the modern munich
pality; in the northwest corner the gigan-
tic hotel in progress of construction by
corporate sagacity: in the southeast the
startling monument of individual daring
and confidence, These tripartite fruits
of the age are not often typitied in so
small y space. Art in railroads, art in
architecture, art in trade, are rarely so
signally symbolized. In John Wanna
makers example you have the ease that
springs from system, the comfort that
comes from order, the labor wrought by
machinery, the tremendous rewards of
mathematical accuracy. Science is the
parent of thousand blessings, and
nothing that proceeds from science is
more sublime and all-conquering than
the matchless success in the increase of
human happiness and the diminution of
human toll. In that sense Mr.. Wanna
makers Grand Depot is great scheme.
Seventy years ago, the Conestoga wagons,
on their way to Pittsburg along the great
pike, travelled half q century before the
Cumberland road was opened by the
General Government; and when that
noble highway Was the chief path to
what was the Great West, limited by the
| Ohio river, tllose saline ConeSJoga wagons
stopped i'll Centre Square, opposite the
spot now filled by John Wananaker' S
caravansera. A white canvas was stretch
ed, like great tarpauling, over the bows
of the wagons to protect the goods inside
from Indictment weather. And not un-
frequently wife and children made part
of fhe cargo. These wagons carried all
the dry goods to the frontiers, the gro
ceres and the household utensils, and it
was Il long, long journey. Well do
remember them in my native town as
| they passed along the dusty streets in
Summer and ground their way through
the frozen streets in Winter. every horse
| ,iingiins lix GQ.Gnai of Deiis, the long
whip Of the stalwart driver making the
air echo with his rapid explosions.
How different from the contents of the
great trains now sent out from John Wan
amaker's packed depot every day, every
train taking ten times more aud carrying
it twenty times more rapidly than these
rude wagons made fifty YEARS ago. In the
e9laen ti!!ae n@@thiEg x:4s aaHf but What
Y3s NECESSARY. LllXuries were as scarce
as ice OF ice cream. Now the bulk of
Mr.. Wanamaker's trade are the luxuries
of life. Food is made where it grows;
clothing is the product of the earth and
the skill of the hands. Man lives rather
to enjoy than to work out life, and the
business of pleasure enriehes thousands.
can imagine how one of these ''Wag-
oners' of the leghanies - would stare if
carried for the first time through the
glitteringg salo3ons Of John Nan;a;n,aker's
Grahd Hepot. To him, ali unused to
riches that
"Outshine the wealth Of Ormus and of Ind,
Where the gorgeous East, with richest hand
Showers Barbaric pearl and gold"
such profusion of odd, uni ,nown, an, !
fragile oCnCeits, sucu" 'prepafatl6hs for
ol'hahieht; such surprises of taste and
skill; such delicacies for the rich and such
comforts for the poor, would seem stage
parody of Il period when nSey-woolsey
was the wear of the women, corduroy
the wear of the men: chip homes tx
headgear Cf he CO. 'sa,tidt. odl ilat5 tnt
covering Ct Tie OTHER; wien tliey had
roasted rye for coffee, molasses for sugar
pine knots for candles, brogans for the
feet, whiskey for wine, rag carpets fol
the floor the fiddle for the ball, log
cabin for church, and a rickety shanty
for schoolhouse, with female teachl.
employed fora feM.r.nl. !.aa'a' CAY 'fNCh!
cash CT tGe ttkoIars w eli does The b6ei