Mexico weekly ledger., 1884-04-17
THE LEADING CLOTHING HOUSE OF
NORTH MISSOURI.
An Interview with Mr. L. Phillip, the
Proprietor.


Thinking The many readers of the
LEDaER would like 10 know some
thing Of the magnitude af the clothing
business in Mexico and the reasons Of
success in that important branch Of
trade, q reporter Was deputed to in
terview Mr.. L. Phillip, the proprietor
Of the largest, as it is the oldest and
most successful clothing house in
Mexico.
Reporter-'.How long have You
been in the clothing business, Mr..
Phillipa''
have been in the business here
1s years, bat was in the same busi-
ness in st. Louis several years be-
fore locating here
.What amount of stock do you
carrya''
'.Betxeen thirty-fve and forty
thousand dollars"
"You do not invest this amount in
clothing alone, do yoa"s
'sYes, in clothing and the lines that
lgo with it, such as gents furnishing
goods, hats, caps, yalises, trunks,
ETC."
.'This is certainly 8 large increase
over what was invested a. few years
ago. To what do you attribute this
change?'
'tWsll, there are several reasons;
first, clothing can be made SO much
cheaper by the low priced skilled
labor Of the east than out here. And
then the art Of cutting and making
has reached such perfection there
thst the appearance OF ready made
clothing is largely in its favor"
r ''You do not mean TO say you can
: sell man as good and neat fitting
: suit as be can have made by tailor?"
!, ''Yes, sir, do, and am now sell
8 ing suits at SIS that the tailors
d charge ss5 and $40 for. Then sell
D suits for s. and $40 that the western
!, tailors win not do the work on them
Y alone for sl2."
Il "You think then the economy to
! the buyer is the cause OF the large in
It tcrease in the business?'.
+ "Yss, this and the styles IN which
/ clothing is now made, the designs Of
= which are originated by the finest
), artists
u "Does your stock include many
/ styles in suits %
dl "Yes, it includes all grades from
= the cheapest duck suits for iaborsTs
te to the finest broadcloth English and
le French cassineres, varying in style,
z make up. figure and price to please
" the tastes of ALL"
l. "You also carry boys and chill
) dren's clothing, do you not9"
y "Yes, am making specially Of
le this
l. "Don't you find it rather difficult
ID to meet the requirements Of the Ia
N dies in style and price in this line. :"
,e mo, this was the case several years
ago, but now there are q number of
large factories devoted exclusively TO
ID this line and we can now sell them as
AZ cheap in proportion as mems cloth
~ ling"
s. "You spoke Of keeping gents fur
n nishing goods. To what do You re-
or fer7''
n. "Such things as shirts, ties, sss-
. penders, collars, cuffs, handkerchiefs,
=, underwear, etc.
he "Do you keep much stock in these
he goodss'
cal "Yes, sir; the largest and mos
Ier complete in the town, and just here
n. Iict me say the Glen shlrt / am selling
O. for Slips is superior TO any SIT;
A shirt sold In the country"
q. ''Yon keep trhnks and valises,
i. believer
nd "Yes, complete stock and sell at ;
cir very small advance over the factor,
cir prices
IN. "Mr. Phillip, can you tell me wh.
Oft your trade is go much larger than tt
vss other merchants in town who sci
the ciothingg'
The swell, there are several. First.
buy In large quantities for cash di
rectly from the factories In the eazi
then / have, Of course, iarger an
lae more complete stock for the people t
o.' select from. These, with close pei
sonal attention and judieious advel
lA' tising, suppose, are she reasons.
ace "Do you have any trade from otis
iea counties besides Audrain:''
las "Oh, yes; we have large trad
-. from Galloway, Boone and Monroe.
'H Here Mr.. Phillips asked to be e,
no. ensed and we bid him good day.
LOT, ----------------
Ind Crest attraction. As NE we
the passing court square the other d:
lme our attention vas called to crowd
lat- persons Who were locking at a r: