The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-04-04
think of. and so shall not weary you in

| lacking few weeks, we frst came to
Portland to introduce our furniture. We
were not altogether strangers, Tor the
name of Atkinson had preceded us,
brought here by our good friends, the
press.
remember too how we got in our
stock of furniture. How we TOOK it
quietly up from the boat before people
were out in the morning, and after they
were through with business at night. We
got it all in, and were ready for business
Wednesday.
We occupied at that time part of
! the lower floor of one half of the block
you have seen today. / firmly believe it
| is a lucky store, for the firms that had
occupied it before we took it were both
successful, Jose & Co., and Pencil &
Co.
shall never forget the first day we
spent here. We had got ready for bust
ness Wednesday, as I have said, but
| Tuesday 1 got letter from B. A. At
kinson, the gentleman at my left, and it
was written to caution me not to expect
to do any business. II pity you" he
wrote, s'but don't wilt old man if the
rush you expect don't come, and it
| Won't.''
We went to work that first day under
such circumstances. We had no desk,
only table, and no books, for when we
left Boston they said to us: "Any little
memorandum will do for YOU" We
took S44 that day. We kept on, and at
| the end of the year had sold $4,000
worth of goods; and then the gentleman
at nv left concluded that we could do
some business.
Now we have ten branch stores, some
as large as the one you have seen, but
not so elaborate, or so well stocked,
and want here to give to our managers
the same amount of credit take to my
self for this success we have attained,
| for no one man could have built up this
great business. believe in giving gen
eral directions, and then leaving man
to do his work without constant over
sight. believe in rolling the respon-
sibility on manager, and II he IS
not competent remove him. and
getting another man in his place.
But our managers have stood up nobly,
and, as I said moment ago, l give them
as much credit as take to myself
But, in speaking of the causes that
have contributed to our great success,
must not forget our friends of the press,
and I do not say this because we have so
many reporters here tonight, or the best
papers on earth represented, but no mat
ter how much push and enterprise you
put in business you cannot succeed
without the aid of the press. The press
is the only way by which you can bring
your business to the attention of the
| public.
And I am glad to see the gentlemen
from Boston here. Men who are the
leaders in so many departments of trade
we are new trying to represent. want
to say word of a personal nature to cur
Boston friends. / did not do them full
justice. When was informed that they
would bring the flowers for the store,
thought that there would be a few pieces
and I thought ''What can do with a
few pieces with $4,000 feet of floorage."
And I was on the point of writing Don't
bring any flowers" [ should have
known better, ought to have considered
what you represent, and how vast is your
business, and now allow me to thank
you for what was, after all, the best and
most attractive part ST the great opening,
the best Appropriated by our thousands
of visitors.
Maine is great state in which to do
business. am not talking up any special
line tonight, but want to say to the
gentlemen from Boston, that in the state
of Maine last year one hundred new man.
vived. What state can show a better
record?
Mr.. Atkinson introduced as the second
speaker his cousin, Mr.. 3. A. Atkinson
of Boston, also one of the pioneers in the
house furnishing business. AS Mr.. At
kinson arose somebody proposed three
cheers for ''the great and only Atkinson
Brothers The cheers were forthcom-
ing with great vigor. Mr.. B. A. Atkin-
son made a few remarks in which he
spoke very highly of Mr.. I. G. Atkinson's
push and energy and business ability,
showing him as a sample of what the two
first named quantities can do for a man.
Following Mr.. B. A. Atkinson came
Mr.. Cushing, well known by his connec-
ton with the great clothing and mems
furnishing house of Cushing, Olmstead
& Snow, Boston. Mr.. Gushing was rather
broad in the range of his subjects, touch
ing upon politics as well as trousers. His
speech, like all the others, gave a great
deal of praise, and deservedly SO, to the
Atkinsons for their ability, energy and
push, as shown by their enormously in
creased business.
Next came MI. Spaulding of Boston,
one of the largest hat manufacturers in
the country. Mr.. Spaulding speech was
one of the brightest and most entertaining
of the oratorical efforts of the evening.
Following MI. Spaulding, Mr.. Pierce of
March Brothers & Pierce, Boston, made
an interesting speech highly compliment
airy to the Messrs. Atkinson.
Throughout all the speeches great
credit was given to the newspaper press
for what the speakers termed it's ''share
in the success of the Atkinson company"
Upon the subject of baby carriages,
which will be one Of the features in the
new department store, Mr.. Burlew of
Boston had some very entertaining re-
marks to make.
Mr.. Hughes of Rhodes, Ripley & Co.,
Boston, called attention to the lateness
of the hour, and, as he said, out of mercy