Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-09-23
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PHILADELPHIA, september 90, lsS6.
Our NoTIoN OF a STORE.

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Not the building-the men
and women and boys and
girls-the organiaation-prin|
ciples-last but not least the
merchandise.
The building comfortable,
big enough, full Of light and
air, the parts adapted 10 seeing
things that have TO be seen to
be sold, and for touching
things that have to be touched
If it be a beautiful building SO
much the better; noble, better
yet; but use before beauty
and dignity. The advantage
of architectural gracein a store
is TO prcdispose you toward
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
That is 4 secondary matter.
Saving Of work, which is saw
ing Of time, comes first: all
sorts 81 work, 1t tells in the
prices; and prices they are
the test in a store. Accom-
modatinns: places to sit, wait,
meet, talk, rest, cat, drink and
be merry; whatever is done
between busincss--place to
leave ones parcels Of course.
One of the handiest institu-
tons of our generation is the
general store in the city. 1t
differs from the couij y4fc
in size il is big enough to
deal in all sorts of things that
60 well together; in ncarness
to sonrceof supply--nearncss
nowadays isn't measured by
miles it can buy Of the
maker; in vcrsatility--it can
gather and use experts in
every sort of merchandise; in
facilities lit can provide the
means OF doing everything
quickly easily, well and cheap
y; in taking responsibilities
1t can say to the maker
there Is no one between them
to hinder "My things
must be right, am pledged
Tor them'-it can say to
its customer. "My things
are right, ! know the maker, !
guarantee then" it can saw
Tor its servants, its statesmen
and packers and cartmcn and
common carriers; My things
are too good to be wasted by
their neglect, my reputation
too important to be impaired
by their Indifference, they
must do their work as ii ought
to be done or take the conse.
lucnces, ! guarantee it," In
a word, It can give because il
can get satisfaction.
The little country store cant
do these things. It can prom
Use many things and be sorry
when most Of them fail. The
little country stolR is months
i not years behind in its MGR.
chandise. Ignorance picks ii
out and ignorance sells it
the merchant can't be expert
IN everything. The little store
mas about as many sorts Of
work to be done as the bio
one, but few to do them and
slender facilities. Ii depends
on the little region it serve
lnadequately. 1t cant do
more or better than rudely
and dearly serve the less in
Ielllgent part Of its neighlor
hood.
So whoever can write 4 LET.
ter and wait a few DAYS for
me answer goes by the little
country store to the general
store s.. N the city. What CITY
That question brings out ii,
most important fact in The
case. 1t costs no more ami
takes but little longer to write
TO 4 store a thousand miles
away than ten. Whereyer
you are you have your choice
OF the stores OF Boston, New
YORK, Philadelphia, Cincinnati
Chicago, St, Louis, San Fran
cisco And every one Of these
stores can have the whole
United States for its country
Our notion then of a store
IS q store to draw lht. trade 81
the country, a store TO he
chosen all over the country
because it serves its customers
near and far so well.