St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-05
DoNALDsoN's RECEPTION.
Fifty Thousand People Visit the
Glass Block Last Evening,

A reception. attended by a greater
number of invited guests than ever
responded to the invitations to pre-
ViOus even in Minneapolis, was given
last night by W. S. Donaldson q Co. al
their Glass Block store, on NieOIlet ave
nue. and Sixth street. Mr.. Donaldson is
a royal host, and no guests at social
reception in any palatial residence of
Minneapolis could have received a
warmer welcome or be better enter
tanned than were the guests of the
Glass Block store last night.
At { o'clock last evening the store was
thrown open from basement to fifth
floor, and it was but a few minutes I'M.
til the entire building was thronged
with visitors. 1t was a bright and
merry thrOng that came in response to
the invitations to the public which Mr..
Donaldson had given. The bright and
interested faces of the company testified
TO the success of Mr.. DOnaldSOn's enter
prising undertaking of giving a grand
holiday opening.
This is the second opening of the kind
given by MIR. Donaldson, and in it he
has undoubtedly surpassed almost every
other firm of the United Srates. Mr..
Donaldson does not acknowledge the
firms Of Chicago as competitors and
rivals, and probably SurpaSSes the firms
of New York city in his lavishnesS of
display. A New York man who at
tended all of the openings in that city
visited the Donaldson opening yester-
day. and after looking over the grand
display, stated that nowhere had he
seen such lavish display on so enor-
nous scale.
The scene on entering the store was
one Of confusion and dazzling variety
of color and form and design, and under
it all vast sea of faces that seemed
limitless. 4 conservative estimate of
the visitors at the opening last evening
places the number at about $4,000 Deo-
pie. After the eye had become accus-
toned to the brilliant light and profu-
sion of display, it became beWildered
again in trying to grasp the multitude
of specific objects, eacn individual of
which seemed to vie with all the rest
in attracting the attention of the spec
tator.
In the first aisle on the Sixth street
side the silk department stood out in an
elaborate and beautiful design repre-
Senting the bridge of the Firth of
Forth. The bridge extended the
length Of the room over pillows of a
silk sea, on which a score OF more of
diminutIve craft rocked to and fro.
AT the extreme end of the silk depart
ment two richly draped arches in mourn
ing silk made sOmber dis
play. James Russell Mackenzie,
who is in charge of the depart
ment was the designer of the work.
Facing the silk department in the dress
goods department nine richly decor ated
booths displayed the goods of the de-
partment, representing the different
manufacturers in pillars and canopies.
The center booth was the main attrac-
ton, and showed beautiful displays of
silk warp, Lausdoune, and fancy silk
millinery decked out with ported plants.
William Guthrie was the artist here.
The NicOllet avenue side of the store
back of the show windows was under
the supervision of Mr.. Fisher On one
side of the main entrance was the per-
fume and druggist sundrv counter, with
its vast display of pretty bottles and
perfume jars and soaps and drugs, all
sending out fragrance. On the other
side Of the entrance and facing the
main aisles was the ieWelry de-
partment. with its brilliant display of
jewels and watches and dainty
bronze figures with mirrors to reflect
and magnify the beauty. The second
main aisle of the store contains the
dress trimming and fur department.
Spanning the aisle were arches of rich
furs, and the aisle was walled with the
same, With here and there the head of a
fox or squirrel peering out from the
soft depths. a little further down was
a vast array of leather goods. Mr..
SchOOnmaker is in charge of this depart
ment.
The main aisles contain gloves and
ribbons and laces and handkerchiefS in
a profusion that set the ladies into costa
sizes of wonder. Here were brilliant
cOlOred goods from all portions of the
world, and laces ranging from the cent
a yard to the rare point lace of which
$50 is paid for yard, At the end of
this aisle booth of DELEGATE wicker
work with gay top attracted much at
tentiOn. The fourth aisle contained
ladies' and gentlemen's furnishing goods
in interesting display, The fifth was