St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-09
AN OPENING.
A Big Day at the Big Boston-Re-
prospective and Otherwise.

A Big Day at the Big Boston-Re-
prospective and Otherwise.
Any one passing the corner Of Wash
ingtOn and Second avenues south yes
terday could hardly have failed to no
tice the cOmmotion inside the great
clothing house known as the Big Bos-
ton. This establishment, even on Or
binary days, is scene of business &C
tivity, but yesterday was the
greatest day in that respect
in its history. The attractions
that have been so extensively adver-
Used for some time past were all, if not
more, than was anticipated by the Wis
itors. Vast throngs of people, repre-
senting nearly every nationality, made
the place seem more like the exposition
on a special day than retail clothing
house. But all we're made welcome.
The enlivening strains from DanZ'S
orchestra, the fountain of perfume, and
other equally notable features made
each delighted visitor feel that it was
indeed rare privilege to enjoy ito
look, to hear, to smell!
This concern first opened for business
in 1874. By the most liberal. though
careful methods, and a constant desire
to make every patron of the house
SteadfaSt friend vast trade was built
up, which is equal to that of any
clothing house in the entire North
west. The name big Boston, has be-
come Synonymous with all that is fair,
square and upright. Its business meth
obs have always been recognized as
above reproach. In improvements the
house has ever been in the lead, spar
ing no expense, evidently, and looking
srnazst.al rncnlfC tho
Big Boston that put in the first electric
light plant. The Big Boston was the
first to use the cash railway system
and so on.
No less than fifty statesmen are now
employed in the establishment, and they
are all pretty busy, even on dull days.
The house does quite an extensive
wholesale business, too, which is rapidly
increasing. Country merchants can buy
here as cheap as in New York city-a
fact that is worthy of remembering. All
the clothing sold here, as we'll as that
sold in the Providence, Hartford, New
Haven and Bridgeport branches of the
house, is made by the manufacturing
house in Boston.
The six floors Of the Big Boston. ag-
gregating 50, 600 feet of available space,
are occupied as follows:
First floor, mems clothing, furnishing
goods and hats and caps.
Second floor, boys and children's
clothing.
Third floor, OvercOats.
Fourth floor, wholesale department.
Fifth and sixth floors, duplicate stock.
The house carries ordinarily about
$3.50, 900 worth of goods. This immense
quantity is much more readily handled
and moved than would at first seem
possible. But it requires experts to do
it, and the Big Boston people clearly
come under that head.
A vast amount of work was done on
the interior of this establishment while
it was closed, and an old customer
would hardly realize the change until
he had "lOOked round considerable"
The Improvement, however, is re-
markable. The woodwork throughout
is elegant and tasty. MeSsrS. johnson
d Hurd are responsible fer this, they
having furnished the hardwood finish
and office. George w. Libby did the
carpenter work, III. B. Cramer the
painting, and Kelly d Co. the plumb
ing. .
4 conspicuous and very attractive
feature was the decorations designed
and arranged by Charles L. Leonard, of
203 Hennepin avenue, whose work has
made him famous. The national colOrS
were most beautifully and taStefullY
displayed in flags, bunting and fancy
paper work on ceilings. walls and pill
lars. The ideas harmoniZed nicely with
the other floral decorations, and made
the three floors look really gorgeous.