Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-10-04
GREAT MERCHANTS.
MARSHALL FIELD, PHIL ARMOUR AND
JOHN WANAMAKER.
WASHINGTON, D. Z. Oct. /, 1889.

DEAR SIR while sitting one re-
cent evening IN the parlor of house
now somewhat famous in Washington,
talking with its owner, a renowned mer-
chant, | was reminded of the fact that
three of the greatest merchants of the
world, and the three greatest in Amer
lea, are we'll known to me- In naming
and ranking this trio of trade princes
find that each has in his mercantile ca
pacity strong Distinguishing character
istic. One, John Wanamaker, is the
greatest retail merchant in the world.
Another, Marshall Field, is the worlds
greatest dry goods merchant. The third,
Philip Armour, sells annually products
of greater value than any other concern
on the globe.
Marshall Field, the greatest merchant,
strictly speaking, in America, and prob
ably also the greatest in the world, start
ed on his own account only twenty years
or perhaps a little more ago. Philip d.
Armour has been occupied but an equal
length of time in building up his vast bus
mess, which is partly mercantile, partly
manufacturing. These are rapid strides.
ArmOur's yearly sales now amount to
$50, 900, 600, and have reached as high as
$50, 100000. Field expects this year to
sell $35. 900, 900 worth of dry goods,
wholesale and retail Wanamaker sells
10000, 900 worth of goods of all sorts at
retail in a twelvemOnth.
These men are not alike in their meth
DDS Field and Wanamaker are content
to hold the leading strings of their great
lyonpipCr Lo l;poc
which hold subordinates up to the mark.
Armour not only does this, but insists
upon having daily personal knowledge
of details. Until within the last two
years the great packer has not known
what it is to rest. His working habits
are so well known as to need no further
description, but it is proper to add that
there was no eXaggeratiOn in the state
ment that habitually for fifteen years he
reached his office at 7 or 7:30 in the morn
ing, remaining till 6 or even later III the
evening. Wanamaker has long worked
in that same manner, arriving at his store
along with his clerks, and quitting it
with them at night. Field, on the other
hand, has learned how to work at a more
leisurely pace. He rises at Z, but does not
reach his Office till nearly -, having
meanwhile spent a couple of hours or so
at his great retail establishment
From what | know of these three
great merchants l cannot say which has
the best grasp Of his business. Each is
practically perfect as a business man in
his way. Field and Wanamaker lean
more on subordinates than Armour,
though both the storekeepers confess
that tho secret of success lies more in
the management of men than in the
manipulation of things, Field has a
wonderfully quick eye, and the easy
faculty of comprehending everything at
a glance. Without obtrusiveness he i'm
presses himself upon everybody and
everything, and makes himself the in
spring genius Of his two great establish
ments. Wanamaker has the same quail
ty, and is in addition fond of buying.
He is the most original man of the trio.
Much of his success has been won on
ideas which broke away from precedents
original methods Of displaying goods,
of managing employees, of advertising,
of winning public confidence.
Calling one day on Wanamaker in his
office in Philadelphia found him look
@ ing over a huge