Smyrna times., 1880-01-07
John Wanamaker.

Take him for all in ALL j ohm Wanamaker
is the most enterprising and successful of
the business men Of Philadelphia. He has
done more to advance its commercial inter
eSts, to thrOng its streets with strangers, to
extend its repute. He is an embodiment
of tho best and highest ideal of American
commercial enterprise, Of that far, seeing
sagacity, courage and dash which have
made our merchant princes the wonder and
admiration of the slow-going business mag
mates of the Old World. Nor is his integrity
and fairness less conspicuous than his
activity and pluck. John Wanamaker is a
quistmannered young gentleman-he is
only forty One-of modest and unassuming
demeanor; but his eye is full of latent
power, and his whole being is instinct with
measursless energy, under the control of q
cool head and resolute will. Nothing less
than these qualities in their highest psrfec-
ton could build up and successfully manage
the largest retail business on the American
continent. In his three stores-Ths Grand
Depot, running from Chestnut to Market
and from Thirteenth to Juniper the mag
niticent clothing establishment in Chestnut
Street, and the great and we'll known Oak
Hall Clothing House on Market and Sixth
streets-Mr. Wanamaker has over ten, acres
industry and art of 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 90 through this wonder.
full emporium. 1t approaches, in variety of
display, in tho almost endless groupings of
beautiful objects, in the magnificence of
space and the mOvings ofinterested visitors,
tho Centennial Exhibition itself 1t would
be equally difficult to name the articles dis
played or those not to be found here.
Indeed, endless as would be the former, the
latter would be the harder task. There are
over t0W acres of exhibits ia this wonderful
store. Besides this impressive space, and
this bewilderins stock OF goods, the far
famed Macy sin New York. sinks into com.
| plete insignificance. Outside Of the Main
Building, during the Centennial Exhibi.
ton, nothing equal to it has ever been seen
in this country. The particular feature of
this great store, which makes it so attrac
tive to visitors, is the fact that it extends
on one floor over SO enormous an area, and
the picturesque and convenient arrange
mont of the counters and shelves. Nearly
one-haf the whole floor space, commencing
we'll toward The Chestnut Street entrance
is occupied by counters sweeping in six
great circles round common center, each
succeeding circle larger than the last
Back of the counters are neat showcases in
and on which goods are tastefuliy ged.
! The counters are cut into segments of circles
by numerous aisles and passages, while
broader circular passages run between
them and down through the middle runs
a wider aisle from extremity to extremity
of the floor. In the center of this network
of segment counters, if We may be allowed
to coin an expression, stands, as an obiec-
tive point, pagoda.like structure, around
which runs a counter in a perfect circle
This gives finish to the whole. Beyond,
towards Market Street, the body of the
floor is covered with rectangular counters,
and the remaining area at the sides and
elsewhere is couAtered as best suits the
space and the goods to DO displayed. Ex-
tsnsive galleries have been added on each
of the four fronts; SOME of thsm are used
as salesrooms, and others for manufacturing
purposes. To stand in the lunch gallery,
at the middle entrance on Chestnut Street,
and look over these acres of rich merchan.
disc, the moving throngs of thousands of
busy purchasers, and the activity and hustle
of the thousand clerks, is we'll worth a
visit to Philadel pha to behold. 1t presents
a scene of extraordinary and almost excit.
ing attractivsnsss. When the vast estab-
lishment is illuminated in the evening with
the brilliant electric light, and the thron %
are larger, the scene is still more beautiful
and stirring.
Mr.. Wanamaker has built up this great
business on an idea, and despite the sneers
and opposition of envious rivals. This idea
was that small profits and quick sales,
strictly honorable dealing, a uniform and
absolutely impartial courtesy to all, rich
and poor alike, and liberal advertising,
would benefit the community and pay him.
He advertises in over three hundred news.
papers, expending therefore $4,000 year,
sells good articles at the smallest possible
profit, and instantly discharges a clerk who
is attentive and obsequious to rich Gus.
toner to the neglect Of poor one. This
idea has made him one of the richest men
in Philadelphia, has conferred the boon of
genteel living at a small cost upon tens of
thousands of families, and spread far and
wide the reputation of Philadelphia as a
place for cheap buying and honorable
dealing.-Trenton State Gazette.