Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-12-09
A Brist,ing, Busy, B.uzlng Bee n,ve

which that popular merchant, Robert
L. Russell, Ia the owner, and has beer
called 1.-THE B e Hive" out there is 3
great difference In many respects ba'
tween the bees that frequent this hive
aud those that gather honey and make
things little lively for stran gers who
come too near their hives In summer
time. Mr.. Russell's Bee Hive is the
most active in winter, and the colder
the weather the better. Bees In q torpid
state have no business in this winter
hive.
Dodging between the queen bees that
thronRed the en- trance Of the hive going
and coming, representat0ke of the
REPUBLICAN, the other dsy got inside
and took view Of things.
After looking and wondering awhile,
he kept on looking but VOL dered no
more. He saw at last what attracted
such swarm Of hnmau bees into such
brilliant, busy hive. The busy,
emlling clerks behind ths counters, the
endless labyrinth of holiday goods, and
the rolling, rattlinR, Clustering and
clicking Of an almost endless number
of globes, resembling croquet balls, that
we're kept busy rolling the jipglpg
"ciiDk" into the cashier's desk told the
whole story. That wonderful elevated
brass railroad suspended above cad
never wears out. The switches are
always In order. Trains never collide
nor robbers never break In nor sneak IN
and rob the express safe. With endless
precisicn n the balls keep rolling, taking
In money in bulk and bringing back
the exact change. This is the only
store 10 the city that has the system Of
balls in place of cash boys; it Is strange
more have not adopted the system.
Well, Russell is the man who came
on here nine years ago from Cor necti.
cut and infused New England life into
the dry goods business. He was the
eorerunDer of an entire revolution in
the dry goods business In this city--a
revolution that has done more to con-
vert Wilmington into mercantile city
than any other one thing taat took place
before or since. Russell has made no
special preparation for the holidays,
because he 10 always ready and has the
latest novelties always on hand, but he
has made great enlargement of his
stock OF goods 10 meet the holiday de-
mands.
Upon entering, We find an attractive
stock OF umbrellas, from cheap ones at
90 cents to gold d-headed ones for Sc; also
gents wo0leu and cotton shirts under.
vests and pants, all kinds Of hosiery
and gloves In endless abundance
Passing on we come to An endless
| variety OF pocketbooks, handbags, sbas
from cents 10 81 30, and pretty
muffisrs and baudkerchiefs, apparently
enough for all the gentlemen, ladies aud
ch ilcren in Wilmington.
| Looking farther We find stamped felt
for tides, table covers, lambrequins,
| ribbons, 10 end 10 them. But thoss
seal cloth coats or jackets, wraps f1i
ladies, and cloaks Of different sty les
and goasamers for ladies' and scnoo
girls take the lend.
At the drass coanter Mr.. Russell wat
showing line Of French dress goods al
60 cents a yard, just reduced from 81
and there we're great piles Of cheaper
goods, which would make appropriai,
Christmas presents.
Should any person have any though
of getting tLsir Hiio o. Daughters aoS
elk or velvet dress, they should jus
step into This bustliDg, yet orderly
human bee hive aud permit ihs mseivel
10 be tempted by he obliein9 sales
ladies or saiesmen to invest. We know
nearly OF them, and know that theJ
oar ne relied upon.
This cold snap u&,e us stop and lool
q little longer st the handsome display
Of blankets and comfcite stacked up OF
the counters, ana here beside them sr'
handsome sets Of table linens ard nap
kics, also embroidered piano covera foi
the psr.o!s, and towels the pre- tiast ~
ever saw, ana the coloTsd embroidered
haDnels los lsdies' aud misses skirt
were never eZcelied.