San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-05-05
L. WOLFSON.

The relation Of . man to his own bust
ness is always an Interesting study. 1t
is only secondary in it's Importance as
determining the future Of any particular
business enterprise, to the business rela-
lions Of that man. These two, a mans
relations to his business, and his bust
ness relations, are the most interesting
considerations that present themselves
In studying the career Of any successful
man of business. They are peculiarly 80
In the case of the sucoe ssful merchant
whose business enter prise forms the sub
ject of this sketch. No man In Texas
has so thoroughly individualized his
business and stamped 1t with his own
personal character as has l.. WOlfsOn.
He ia bis business, and his business is
himself in a marked, peculiar and very
unusual degree. The integrity, the
honesty, the far seeing wisdom, the
sagacity and the orderly arrange
ment of his mind are all stamped upon
his business. Were they divorced the
one from the other there would be no
"Wolfson's," as that term Ia now ap-
piled, and understood by tens Of thou
sands in southwest Texas. This fact
must not be lost sight Of by those who
would understand even partially the
history of business which in few
years, some Of them of great financial
every competitor and become accepted
as the leading mercantile house OF south
west Texas. Making his business a
part Of himself, inseparsble from his
own personality, the ingram honesty,
candor, openness and honorable minded
ness of the man appear in all the details
Of his business. Mr.. WolfsOn is not
honest because honesty is the best pol
icy, but because by nature and charao-
ter and interior movement his is an hon
est mind. He could not sanction any
thing in his business that this honesty of
his own nature did not approve, and as
consequence bis minutest business
transactions have always been
stamped as essentially fair, open,
just and honorable. Only those who
know Mr.. Wolfson will perceive how
closely his personality is related to his
business. but no one can visit his NAM
moth establishment, with all it's diver
sitied departments, and indications
without noting how completely all is
subordinated to one idea; how thorough
ly one master mind supervises, arranges
and dominates the whole.
The first characteristic Of himself
which Mr.. Wolfson has impressed upon
his business is his honesty. This we
have already noted, and it Ia the very
general acceptance Of this fact on the
part Of all who have dealings with him
which has made his name so we'll and
favorably known throughout South Tex
as and northern Mexico. 1t is not
enough that everything should appear
to be fairly and honorably conducted in
this establishment, 1t must be so in fact
as we'll as form, or its head Is not sat-
isfied.
A second characteristic of the man
which has been indelibly stamped upon
his business is his liberality. There is
no broader minded man in the state
than l.. Wolfson. His thoughts of
men and things are circumsoribed
to no narrow rounds, and this liber-
atty Of thought is most mani
fest In all that concerns his business.
AS an advertiser, he is the most liberal
in all southern and western Texas. The
press Of his own city, and the country
press of vast section. attest this fact.
He is liberal in devising for his bust
ness. Nothing stops Wolfson. This
was seen when he purchased the White
Elephant saloon, the gambling palace OF
Texas, and converted 1t into the finest
clothing honse in the state. Adding it
to the already immense proportions OF
his former house, he has created an es-
tablishment 107 feet by 200 on it's ground
floor, and introduced every modern ap-
pliance, including the Basket" cash
system, for expecting his business. He
ia as liberal in his public devisements
or the benefit and improvement OF the
city as In the conduct Of his own bust
ness, and this generous openhandedness
is apparent In all that he does, because
it is q part Of himself. A score OF men
in San Antonio like Wolfson, would
double its population and industries in
five years.
The orderly simplicity of this mans
mind is also fully typed in his business.
The methodiCsl arrangements of this
vast commercial house are so
absolutely perfect that no visible
sign is made Of the inner and
moving cause of the whole. Its de-
partments are numerous, but each is
practically q separate business, and yet
all are moved in harmony and without
friction by the orderly mind of the
master. These departments comprise
hats, caps, trunks and valises; ribbons;
silks, knit woolens, fl annels; house fur
nishing goods; millinery; olosks and
wraps; shawls; blankets, quilts and
robes; ladies hosiery gloves, underwear,
collars, laces etc; silks snd dress good;
piece goods, for ladies, gentlemen and
children, wear; boots and shoes, both
sexes; ready made clothing; gents fur
nishing goods; muslins and white goods;
furniture, mating and floor cloths Of ali
descriptions. The order department of