The daily gazette., 1881-05-30

taken alHuM sAo IVY ioSeoWn DoAnoofae
a Letter From John wanamaker.
!, We print, below, a letter from
John w anaInaker, the great mer-
chant Of p Philadelphia. 1t will be read
with interest, because it gives some
of bio. views of business and his
methods of runnlng things. From it
we learn that the. minutes details of
his great business receive his indi-
vidual attention, which, after all, is
one Of the secrets of his success.
John Wanamaker is a very Napoleon
| in mercantile life. Such men are
never duplicated in the same genera
ton:
+, PHILADELPHIA, May 10, 1881.
= Dear Gensrql Davis:-My best
| thanks for your thoughtful and kind
letter to welcome me home.
{ 1 am glad to be sin the field of
battlen and in the saddle again.
In business life Of over twenty
wears l have never been absent be-
fore on account of illness, and this
fact excited a good deal Of apprehen-
sion and exaggeratlon.
Itwas amusing to hear Of The dread.
full things T was Thought to be under
going. while, the truth was had
simply aan attack Of old-fashioned
rheumatism in my left hand, and In
all other respects was as as well as
ever. bbt "a"
To. escape the rough weather Of
the spring, which was not helpful to
rheumatism, / travelled Off to Florida
stepping out OF. the, snow-blocked
streets efs Philadelphia into the
orange groves and summer sunshine
of the st. Johns rlver region, where
l stayed until two weeks ago, re.
turning home bronzed like an Indian
and strong. as q giant.
1t has taken me little time to get
the reins in my hands, and get good
grip of the Grand Depot, Oak Hall
and Chestnut Street stores, or l
should have replied TO your letter
You are more than kind in telling
me to take things easy and have bet
ter care ofmy self. Be assured l
shall do the very best l can, but the
fact is, 1 cannot change my nature
or habits now. You might as well
ask me to turn farmer or editor, or
take to riding in the park and plays
ing gentleman all day.
> Really and truly, I would sooner
work than eat, and am not content
unless can do as full days work
asany one about me.
After score of years spent as mer-
chant and manufactures, what else
can / do but do still better what
have been at all my lifep
AS has been my custom all these
years, SO now I strive to put my eyes
ard fingers ON each department OF
each of our stores. So long as / am
in business I want my customers to
know that the whole of my business,
even to its smallest details, has my
personal attention.
Imust look after the Oak Hall cloth
ing business because it is "my first
love-" and the Chestnut Street store
has all the attention needed from me
(my brother being always there) to
keep III dt INC u6tu VI Uu6 uub ClObu-
ing business in this country.
The Grand Depot at 18th sts., calls
for and gets all the ability and enthu-
siasm / have, because it marks new
era in retail business in Philadelphia,
and is educating n class of people to
the higher and truer ideas of mercan-
tile life. z
Each day go ffom cellar to garet
of some of the concerns, and add my
Judgment and push to all that is going
on. Though have splendid helpers in
my brothers and Mr.. Hillman, as well
rs other able men, yet "the old man"
Is not content unless he knows thor
oughly the working of every depart
ment and has his hand on every wheel.
The steady increase of our business
since the first day 1t started, has kept
right on in my absence, thus proving my
faith In my people, and testing the sound
ness Of the principles which govern our
operations.
When you are in the city, be sure to
make your way to my office, as never
count 1t loss OF time to switch off and
chat asmoment with old friends like
yourself. Yours very truly,
JNO. WANAMAKER.