Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-09-06
ALMOST LIFE.
MARYEL0UsLY BEAUTIFUL
MIMIC SHOW.
The Bookkeeping Of To-day and Of
1915 Illustrated at
the Fair.

|
comparison of results. Ages are shown i
their true light by being cOnsrasled. tn
rule runs through all things.
"'Tis light translateth nigat; tits inspiration
Expounds experience; tits the West explain
The East; lis time unfolds eternity
1t was an inspiration, educating, histori
and entertaining, that moved a mercantn
firm in its exhibit at the Pavilion of tn
State Agricultural Society this year to brin;
side by side the past and the present o
mercantile enterprise in California I,
place the antipodes of forty years of ner
| chandising in California in mimic contrast
Il was an idea born of happy though
that suggested the bridging of four decades
OF more than generation, by illustration
OF spanning the period by dumb show. Il
impress upon the mind of to-day the i'm
mense strides our State has made since thi
days of 40.
And it does this very thing. Th,
| strongly-drawn comparison of the rudt
! storeSeeping OF lS49 and the elegant mer
camille establishment of 1888 tells the
whole wonderful story of California con.
| quest by American civilization of the dis
covery of gold; of the great influx of hardy
| pioneers-the selected men from Eastern
homes; of the rude necessities of the early
days; of the trials, temptations and i'm
providence, OF the liberality, generosity and
| great heartedness of the days when
"Pactolus ran in every stream.
And every reed that rustled whispered Gold , -
1t tells of the passage from unstable and
transcient conditions of society to those of
| stability, order, culture and refinement. of
the rise from the level where might ruled
and the strong arm was king, to the peace
full reign of law, the sway of order and the
civilizing influences of the home. II tells
Of the wealth, prosperity and progress of
the State, and of the high commercial i'm
portance in which it ranks among the COM
monwealths of the Union.
The device is certainly taking one and
the proof is found in the crowds of repra-
sentstives of the two generations of men
who look upon the exhibition the gray
bearded pioneers, whose eyes become dewv
as recollections of their strong and stormy
manhood come troopiDg up, recalled by the
diorama of the storekeeping of 40 the
youth and maiden of to-day. who gaze
with familiar eyes upon the picture of
the elegant establishment but an instant
but with amused surprise and wonder
stare long and curiousiy upon this almost
living, breathing picture on the right of
the days of 40, which they saw not, but OF
which IN verse, story and song, they have
| read and heard so much.
Weinstock, Lubin & Co. have made rnanv
quaint, attractive exhibits in fairs. but moi
one so striking, so unique and full of mean
ing as this. Here, on the left, behind four
great sheets of plate glass, is an elegant dry
goods store OF to-day, in miniature, bui
complete in every detail. Elegant counters
cushioned revolving stools, heavily nodded
| shelving and rich over banging cornices
| Great stocks of new choice dress goods
Tor this is the dry goods section of an i'm.
mense Quitting establishment-and be-
hind the counters two saleswomen fbury
! the man who invented the word "sales.
lady } stand in easy attitude waiting upou
customers. These are four in number
/ women exquisiteiy costumed. We do no,
venture 10 describe their elegant walkinr
attire. One is seated, examining goods
on the counter her hand bag. by her
side her parasol. Note how natural tbf
| posing OF the figures, how exquisitely the
outlines of the female form divine have
been preserved. Did ever anyone see he
| fore more beautiful wax figures, or sweetel
faces than these? A bit too pretty. per.
haps; little oVer-colored, maybe, but that
is artist-license, for if not over-done We
would pronounce these lay-fgures unpat
ural, precisely as we condemn the portrait
that IS exact TO color. Take notice of the
| chaste, rich finish of ceiling, wall and floor
| go clear SIS scarce to be seen; the crvsta
| bell-fiowers bursting from the holdings
their petals delicate incandescent electric
| lights-take note of the perfect ease of ar.
rangement and the exactness with which
the modern fashionable store interior is re-
| produced. Nothing is wanting, scarcely
| life, since the exquisite figures all bui
| speak, and these charming sales-Women al
but move and smile, and one can all bu
hear them Commend the goods they offer
Pass around TO the left, note the two beau
| tiful show windows richly draped in soft
| small-tlowered and yari- tinted goods anf
set with rich suits down upon which
| clusters of electric incandescents from ricl
bronze chandeliers pour food of mellon
| light. Then in the other or farther show
window note the elegant hats, the little BIZ.
OF head-gear that seem SO small for so larg,
sum, but which crown a woman's lock:
with new glory in the world of admira ion
The exterior of this elegant establish
ment is first heavy ebonized dado: chast,
black columns with light and graceful cap
itals support an entablature, composed o
architrave and cornice worked out of old
! gold puffings of soft goods, beautiful re
lief to the dull ebon blue-blac of tn.
| frieze. The center panel of the entablatur,
bears the trade title of the house. as doe
| liz VI SIdsS DelOW
| Along the upper line of the dado runs ,
gold-gilded plate with the firm name O
these widely known Outfitters Now, (,
the right comes the sharp contrast-th,
store of 40. A rude board exterior-th,
plate-glass is license, permissible to pre-
| vent espassing-innocent of arthitectlrg
finish OF any kind, and having sucl
rude lettered signs as "Drev Goods
miners Implemenize Fur Sail Hear,
" Post Ohis.n Inside, q board upon tw,
barrels separate the few rough shelve
| bearing coarse Yoolen shirts, a bolt or tyy,
of cotton, pile of boots and shoes. som
canned goods and few other packages
from the trading public From aboy
swing goods OF various kinds. and odds an,
ends, from bacon to gum boots. In on
corner are the few pigeonholes constitutini
the postoffice, and in front box barricade
with black junk bottles bearing candles L
light the dingy interior. The floor is Ii:
tered with fiour-sacks, the cradle or rocke
for the miner, shovels and picks, herring
in boxes and crackers in cases, potatoes an,
onions, tea-chests and coils of rope. and al
manner of goods answering to frontie
needs. And the prices2 Well. they tell @
the flush times of California. Flour, 60 cts
onioEs, 81 % pound; rice, 10 cts pound
herring so cents each, or three small one
| WA
known and in use, and the good man q
the house used it freely in labellin
his goods. regarding little. however, th
mother tongue, or English as she is spelled
A crowded mixed up, ola prodrlda Q
a store it is to be sure, but every ching in i
substantial, good, and speaking of energy
sturdy life, strong stomechs, and stronge
limbs, of vigorous bodies and brave an
fearless men. Behind the counter is th
storekeeper, in his shirt sleeves, bald
genial, his half pipe stuck between hi
teeth-we can almost hear him speak as h
expatiates upon the virtues of a re
flannel shirt to half robed an
painted Indian who sits in front Z
the counter and balances anxiously and al
miringly pair Of gold-dust scales upon hi
finger. A little to one side in rich holi
day attire and national costume is a lierc
Mexican, seated upon a coil of rope an
playing cards over the head of barrel G
whisky with an American, resting on te
chest, in the attire of hunter OF the day
Both are heavily and conspcuously armed
Watching the two half interestedly an
half carelesslY sits near bv a miner smok