Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
EASTER WEEK SHOWS
That We're Furnished Free to the
Public, at Considerable Cost.
BEAUTIFUL WINDOW DISPLAYS,
And the Way in Which They Are Trimmed
by an Army of Experts.
A VOCATION THAT'S ALMOST AN ART


sunts, and he, himself, have united in
gazing at and admiring the many beautiful
Easter windows that have graced the stores
of the principal business thoroughfares Of
the Twin Cities during the past two weeks.
And the exclamations of admiration have
been as varied, both in language and en-
phasis as the speakers have been in appear
ance and education. The beauties of the
windows have been free to all, the rich and
the poor and all have availed themselves Of
the privilege of gazing upon the most elao-
crate display in the windows ever witnessed
IN either citv.
Millinery and drygoods dealers have had
decided advantage over other merchants,
but all have made creditable showing.
Jewellers windows have fairly dazzled the
beholoer with their wealth of sparkling
gems and their rare vases and ornaments.
and even the grocery men have come TO the
front with the sign "It is time to clean
house. and made a most novel but unro-
mantle showing of busters, soaps mopsticks,
Eerubbing brushes and sapolio.
AUNIQUE DISPLAY.
The druggists have not been behind, and
one in Allegheny has by unique arrange
pent of real live hen with family of
young ducks and a small tank of water in
his window, managed to have a crowd in
front of his store from early morn till late
at night. Of course the little ducks desired
bathe and a swim, and the poor distracted
stepmother hen, in her frantic endeavors TO
prevent such a dire calamity, made life
burden for herself and her family, but was
intensely amusing to the spectator.
Such a window denotes originality, but
does not require the art OF the pro essional
trimmer, as the more pretentious and artistic
windows. Apropos of the professional vim
dow trimmer: He is a genius in his way.
He is much like the poet or the archaolo-
gist-born, not made. Beside having an
excellent eve for coloring and the blending
OF colors, and naturally the attractive drap-
ing of goods, he must be an artist with the
saw and hammer. He must be able to make
his own foundations upon which to display
his pretty goods; have the knack of trans
forming d plain, unpretentious drygoods box
iuto whatever his artistic sense may suggest,
and trimming it in such a way that the re-
suit Will be a paragon of beauty whose pie
beisn origin will never be imagined by even
the most cynical and inquisitive person.
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS.
With paint and brush he must be compe-
tent to manufacture show cards that will
dazzle the eyes of the observer as much by
their beauty as by the exceedingly small
figures (in value, not in size) with which
he adorns them.
With the multitude of requirements nee
essary it is not surprising that there are but
few, comparatively speaking, in the profess
sion and that they command good salaries
They are not in as great demand in the East
ern cities as formerly. New York, as city,
does not do the window trimming that it
has in past years, for all the leading stores
have their trade well established, but the
West spends lots of money in making store
windows attractive.
Pittsburg numbers some experts in the
business and spares no expense in making
handsome windows. The sanctum sane
forum of the professional window trimmer,
or his ''den," as he is pleased to call it, is
very interesting place to visit. The re-
porter found Mr.. Pinckney Epstin, who is
with Gusky, in his den on the second floor
of the store yesterday, surrounded with vel
vets, plushes, satins and silks of every color
and in great variety Huge rolls of expen-
sive material lined the shelves of the apart
ment, and boxes marked screws Clancy
tacks, 4" ribbons" and "cards'' were also
visible, beside paints of all colors, as the
young man was engaged in manufacturing
some very taking window cards for an East
ern firm.
SATISFIED WITH PITTSBURG.
In reply to inquiries Mr. Epstin said he
had been in the business IA wears, and had
devoted his whole time to it; that he really
knew nothing else, but of that statement
there is much doubl. He learned the art
the part that is learned by practice-in New
York City, with one of the leading firms
there. He came to Pittsburg about three
years ago, and receives $50 week salary
from Gusky, beside the compensation he re-
ceives from Eastern firms, many of whom he
supplies with fancy cards.
The young man has issued very complete
little manual called "How to Dress Win
dows and Write Show Cards." which, he
says, will assist one immensely in the work,
if they have a natural aptitude for it, to
commence with.
There is no school for learning the art
The student must act as an assistant to
some expert until he finds he has mistaken
his calling or is proficient enough to at
tempt individual work.
Mr.. Frank Renolds is the Young man
who keeps the windows of Boggs & Buhl
in the attractive state for which thev are
noted. He said, in conversation with re-
porter, that he had only been engaged in
the business five years. He began the work
in Philadelphia, and from there went to
Chicago but was dissatisfied with the world
in general until he was able to call
the Gas City his home. He has
enjoyed that pleasure for three years,
and has every indication OF contentment and
plenty. He is an enthusiast on the COM
bining and blending of colors, and says that
in church or at the theater he involuntarily |
notes all pretty effects gained by the COM
binlng OF colors in the ladies' costumes, and |
utilities his knowledge afterward in his |
window trimming.
FASCINATION IN IT.
Mr.. Renolds says that there is peculiar
fascination in the work, after one becomes
interested in 1t, and trImmers are continually
on the alert for new and unique features
with which to make their work attractive:
also, that there is an unlimited scope
for individuality in the work, but with all
that there are some unpleasant features
connected with it. The continual reaching
to heights above is one; the climbing around
on stepladders and dry goods boxes is
another, and being cooped up on a hot
summer day is sometimes quite trying.
Kauimanns' windows, with their ever
changing beauties, are kept in order by
Pittsburg gentleman, Mr.. John Werner,
who commenced 15 years ago holding the
hammer and tacks for Mr.. Kaufman, who
did his own window trimming at that time. |
With Hugus & Hacke is to be found a
verv pleasant gentleman, by name A. G.
who from the Quaker City ar
rived about two years ago, and has found
dressing Pittsburg windows for Pittsburg
people such a pleasant and remunerat1ve
pastime that be intends sojourning here for
The rest of his life.
Fleishman & Co. haYe an artist in their
store and be has done some very effective
work during the past week.
SOME OTHER WINDOWS.
The Peoples Store, and windows have