The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-09-08
The L)opaIdsoqviHe CPielf'
OUR GOosEQuIi-L LETTERS.
j wo Dn!lars n Year.

thiiatalpf,ia's Merchant Prince ~ John
Wanamaker's wonderful Success iii Lie
- Sa,,t.,ef,, Garden Products in Northern
Markets-seiief of the sick Poor-A
Costly and Obstinate Legislature. etc.
PHILADELPHIA, August Is, 1873.
ED1ron CHIEF:
Coming into Philadelphia from every
direction one secs ON innumerable big sign |
boards ana in every newspaper lar ana |
near, "Go to John Wanamaker's." Who Is
John Wnnamaker? Why, he is one of the |
wonderful, saccesEful merchants OF tho age
Twenty years ago he was apoor young man,
in possession Of only about as many dry |
goods as could be put in wheeil'hrfoW |
To-day. he Is At tie bend OF three large
tirms--two, dealing in mems and boys
clothing and the ether in every thlna-the
largest variety store, perhaps, fflsfhe world.
1t is particularly to the variafy store that
/ will cali your attention. within view of
getting information with regard tout,
called on Mr. Wnnamascr in his office teld
found it as difficult to obtain an interview
sta If he were the President OF tho United
States. He comes in from his beautiful
country scat, about o'clock, and each gay
tntlzy crowds waiting to consult with INN
and yet orders, for Il Is his brain that coA-
trolls and directs the stEole collcer,a- lie IL
about AZ years old, has IL kind, good face y
,npjal and pleasant manner. lis rise TO
y wealth has not made him misery; ho gives
generously TO charity and to every pubic
projcet. lie gave lately $4,000 to the Y.
II. G. A. of this city. ..
This store is, III the way Of variety, SIZE,
trder and system, a curiosity shop IL re-
Kinds one of the Centennial. 1t Is not one
lalye building of fine architecture, but con-
eish tof n confederation Of buildings.
The main building, rs 1t Is Called fronting
on nt,rket street, was once The ffntlSSiF''-
aA@~-.sxsa e,4 ,, -ssu,tSeS fronting
on ora.stfftf1 s-.cet, were bought from time
TO time, as tie business increased, and nil
made to communicate. The buildings GOV
er three acres, are three stories high. ana If
you go through all of them YOU will have
Travelled over ten acres OF store aud will
nave been in fortg-six apartments Stand
ing III the carpet gallery a good view is had
OF tho main floor. On q raised platform in
the centre sits the cashier and his asgis-
tants, and leading TO his desk from every
counter i'll the house arc brass tubes about
two inches in diameter. These tubes are
: the best ana quickest substitute for cash
boys | ever say. BY means of $50 -!
power engine below stairs, a.c>'''''o
blower, air is forced ig:-,~' q ~" n.y.
clerk puts the monG-~ '''o ''oo'' INe
zv-.s 100 W qsy, and memorandum of
igs,uHHssr sold, into little round box and holds
It to the mouth of the tube-by suction il is
drawn up as quick as a fash and IN ten or
twelve seconds he has TIE change, to hand
to the customer. At least that is the time
required to go back and forth from the
farthest point. There are other large tubes
through which air is pumped to cool the
building-flteredt through spray. Surround
ing the cashiers station are five aisles and
counters, III widening circles, which take in
nothing but ladies' and fancy goods. The
silk department is there. [ noticed very
ingenious continuance for locking up the
silk shelves at night: the doors are rolled
down from above the top shelf. The rea-
son for this extra care of the silks is, that
there.Were SO many thefts from that por-
tell whether By fils cisrRs oTs.sfde night T
Waterman. The lock and key have not de
cided that point, hut the silks are saved |
This store is such a labyrinth that it might |
be difficult for stranger to find his way |
were 1t hot for the fact that sign boards are |
placed high above every counter, plainly |
visible from distance. There are also
seven waiting ladies whose sole business it |
is to fill orders by letter and to assist
strangers IN their shopping. Twill not at
tempt to tell you what you can buy III this
wonderful establishments cen much more
easily tell gon what is not there. About
every thing that a male or female could
want to fit out a wardrobe or home is to
De had there, except groceries and fuel,
Nothing Is manufactured there, but very
much Is put together. The men $ and boys
clothing and the shoe departments are as
large as three or four ordinary stores. The
millinery and dress making parlors are
elegantly fitted up and it is no wonder the
ladies hike to go there to be fitted. The op-
tlcal delnsion room is about eight feet
square and lined with heavy plate-glass
mirrors. 1t was fitted up expressly for
viewing the tout ensemble of q costume
Three pieces of furniture and as many peo-
pie by means of reflection cd infnituD,, APP
pear lnnumerable-the people look like an
immense army. The effect Is very striking
and very beautiful. IN the ruche tower and
carpet rooms dozens of girls are at work all
the while. Utility and carefulness is OBJ
servable experimentation up the trag-
ments that nothing he lost is the Injunction
The waste paper and useless boxes are baled
and sold--the bits of carpet, some very
small, left of each carpet that is made up.
are joined and made into nice rugs: so neat
ty is the sewing done and so well pressed,
the seams are not observable except upon
the closest inspection. The museum of an
tlaues deserves mention. There can be
found brio brac centuries old: old furni-
ture, such as nir$sivc wardrobes, bedsteads,
and book cases, WItb their deep, rich cary
ing and great, ponde-aus locks and keys
from Germany, 300 years otrs-a cl1;lifwhich
once belonged to the untoriuna1e--a4..,,.-s~
Antoinette-books, paintings, etc. Inc T
"model cottage too is worth an lnsptc
ton. 1t consists of a parlor, bedroom and
dining room, beautifully and eZGulslteiy
furnished in the latest style. In the winter
the furnishing was of course far more ele- |
ga-t and costly, but for summer it IS gust |
,oveiH e,,aggh to make every one desire to
ke " 1 m STU furniture of the bedroom
!! ..s,naows and bed are drapeGG " Wooa-sne
t,,na. tho prettiest of all colors-and pfGH.es.,
solid colored, blue mating on the floor. In
II - ining-room the table. arrayed for din
nei' ulspiSyr-~-nerfectly elegant service of
s SI'1 siuo emma and the parlor Is as sweet
aho snug as doves nest.
Every attention is Maid to nnstorr,e,s II,
tilS establlshment and every comfort pro-
vlaeu Tor them; There IS Il reading or rest
ing room. reading matter and writing pa-
per furnished, whore persons may wait for
friends, write note or rest. Then, too.
mere Is a room Tor gentlemen and one for
ladies', where they may refresh themselves
after a ride on the cars: leave satchels. par-
ceis' baskets nurses and babies There is
an eating saloon. where the best OF every
s'lng IS served and soda fount urlsnr- |
passed by any III the city And While 50 |
much IS done for the customers, the en- /
proves are not eg!ected or forgotten There |
Is provision. too. for their comfort. and the /
best thing | have henrd of NJ N-nnanaakas |