The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-11-02
PAST AND PRESENT,

A Comparison of tho Condition Of the
worItingmnn of To-day with Thirty
Yeurs Ago.
Every Evening.
A moments contemplation to the
obseryant mind WILL forcibly impress
1t with the wonderful improvement
that has taken place In the condition
OF the workingman during the past 80
years.
Instead OF working 10 to Is hours
daily as was the rule then, giving him
barely time to eat and sleep he now
devotes but from s to 10 hours daily
with at least four hours at bis pleas
ure for recreation.
Instead of earning barely sufficient
for subsistcncehe Is now able (partly
due to tho improvements In manufac.
turing which has lessened the cost oil
products and at the same time increas-
ed his power of earning) to enjoy the
use OF things which so years ago were
considered luxuries and only attain
able by those favored with wealth.
What mechanic or laborinR man 30
yeare ago thought OF furnishing his
parlor with Brussels carpet and stuf-
fed furniture, his dining room with q
sidst GARD and heavy hard wood tables
and chairs, his hall stand with French
mirror. his chamber with handsomely
carved hard wood suites with beveled
glass?
What mechanic or laboring man SC
years ago WINS able to buy the finest
fabrics Tor his own dress or for that OF
his wife and children?
That which has done more towards
bringing within the reach OF the work.
t.,r< n n n
those things which make lie comfor.
table and desirable and which marks
the change and manner of living be.
tween the present and so years ago lie
| the credit system of selling goods
originated by the late Phil. j. Walsh
| the great merchant of Philadelphia,
and which is being successfully con
tinued by his successor. Mr.. Ed. Ii
Brennan OF 500 Market street, this city
Mr.. Walsh. early in his business ca
reer, realized the fact that but few OIL
the people were able to accumulate
sufficient money to meet Immediately
their various wants as they arose. Va
rious causes contributed to interfere
with their effort to accumulate thu
necessary cash required to secure
some coveted article for the house Of
for self.adornment.
A lack OF perseverance In some. sick
ness or loss of employment witt
others, or, probably other needs arost
more pressing than the one fol
which the cash was originally In
| tended.
The result in the majority of cases
was that the partles had either to
| forego entirely the pleasure OF the
use of what was desii cd, or secure II
SO late after the time first needed that
Its value or desrabilty WIS seriously
impaired.
10 overcome this obstacle to the
| thorough enjoyment OF life and 10
bring within the reach OF even the
poorest those requisites to the com
fort OF home. lie devised his system
OF selling goods on IL plan OF easy pay
ments, eSacting but triile OF cash at
time of purchase. and arranging for
the payment OF the balance in weekly
or monthly instaltments. to suit tina
income or wages of the purchaser.
Guaranteeing everything sold and
inviting competition in the matter OF
price, quality and assortment with
the best cash houses the Inducements
this style OF dealing offered were soon
recognized by those who were not
governed by necessity, but who. ap-
preciuting the convenience 1t offered.
coon favored him with their patron.
age and to-day comprises the bulk OF
the customers Of his establishment.
That his efforts have been appre.
ciated by the public has ample evil.
dence in the success Of the business
of MIR. Ed. II. Brennan. 506 Market
street. with whom Mr.. Walsh was
originally In partnership. Mr.. Bren-
nan buying out Mr.. Walsh's interest
in 1891. +..-
From the beginning Mr.. Brennan
has conducted the businees In VII
mington strictly on the lines followed
by Mr.. Walsh In Philadelphia. the
wisdom OF which has been amply
shown.
His stock embraces complete lines
Of furniture, carpets. mon and boys
clothing. ladies' and misses coats,
dress goods and silks. domestic dry
goods. blankets and quilts. MILL
merry, jewelry, shoes and gents fur.
nishings.
Buying in connection with the great
Walsh establishment In Philadelphia
(of which aimee Mr.. Waish's deuth, last
spring. he 10 executor and manaRer)
he derives the benefit of buying at first
hands and IN large quantities, the ad.
vartages OF which accrues to his Gus
toners.