The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-05
BUY YOUR GOODS HERE.
MERCHANTS COMPLAIN OF a HABIT
THAT SHOULD BE STOPPED.
There Are Embellishments in Richmond
That Are Fully Able to Serve the
Most FastidIous Patron.

| the residents of Richmond goods in every
| line that will stand comparison with
those sold In Northern or Western cities.
| A few years ago when the large dry
goods. furniture. china and other estab-
| lishments were yet to be built many
made It a habit of sending North for their
goods. 1t was an ordinary occurrence to
see ladies at the postoffice sending re-
mttances. or aiighting from Northern
train. carrying bundles and boxes that
| by their number alone weighted them.
and not a few of Richmonds fashionable
folk had regular accounts at the large
| establishments of New York. Phiiadei-
phia and Baltimore.
| If new costume was needed the Rich
mond merchant was not consulted, but
| Immediately samples were written for
| from some Northern firm. If a piece or
bric-a-brac, or a dinner set, or parlor
suite, or something else was wanted the
mail service and the express company
did the transaction. end the Richmond
| merchant was allowed to sell the same
people piece OF calico. a spool of cotton
or a paper of pins.
Stree the establishment OF such I'm
merse stores as are now on Main, Broad
and other streets the habit of going out
of town for everything worth having has
been stopped by quite a number, but
there are many yet who seem to take
especial delight In using note paper. send
ing to New York. taking all the risks,
and receiving goods that frequently diss
appoint them.
Speak OF the imposition to our Rich
mond merchants. and they are emphatic
In their denunciation of the unpatriotlc
and unprOgressive method. They all say
that there is no encouragement for them
to keep a stock of fine goods on Hand, or
TO attempt 10 send for samples from
Northern cities for their patrons IL those
same people constantly make II a habit
of taking the matter into their own hands
and send North for goods that can be pur-
chased at the same prices here.
Several of Richmond's most prominent
merchants were seen yesterday and asked
about the matter, and below can be found
their opinions:
Mr.. Ed. ID. Price. Of Fourqurean, Price
& Co.. spoke as follows
within the past decade our Richmond
has made very rapid steps In progress.
Nowhere can this be seen to better ad-
vantage than on Main and Broad streets
where are located the great shopping
places for all classes of buyers. Upon
these streets the fashionable lady meets
0eT less slSltT, tle ldclOTy
woman. with her weekly wage. and the
rich mans wife. with her account open
at the shops The merchants, ready for
all. with values tust as full, and with
courtesy and civllity that seem phenome-
nal are bound to have some tale of
Woe The burden Of this plant seems
the unnatural tendency of the well-to-do
classes to send outside Of the city for
the household goods.
Whether fine china, glassware bric-a-
brac. furniture. books. stationery, art
supplies, shoes. dry goods. notions, car
pets. mattings, draperies, are wanted,
many ladies are so prone to presume
better values can be found in other CEN
tres of trade Letters are written, and
checks indorsed 10 some merchant In a
distant city. His simple dictum often
passes for law. his taste seems the high
est good. Some sentiment and some pa
triotism must be recognized even in
trade relations. Not TO lay any stress
upon these abstract virtues, we rather
appeal to the self-interest of the Rich
mond buyers. Is It reasonable to pre-
sumo that a merchant In q distant city
can comprehend fully the wants OF the
Richmond trade as fully as one OF our
verv own tradesmen? $50 =
when this outside man fully realizes
what is wanted. is 1t natural to suppose
he will use the same zeal and fidelity in
serving a stranger that our own merchant
will exhibit in waiting upon his friendsH
Simply TO state these questions seems
the best way to clearly answer them.
Richmond can now boast of most
spacious, convenient and elegant shops,
the stocks to suit the most exacting
and daintiest demands. Nowhere. we
opine. can be found a better or more
Il--l.t han &c
Of broader notions and more sterling
integrity. Still further to show his de-
termination to command business, the
merchant offers his personal attention
10 any special orders committed TO his
care. Samples Of any specially desired
fabric can be sent to him. when the goods
will be ordered by sample, promptly de-
livered, and the same charged at the
city shop. With such special orders the
additional advantage is given, to-wit:
The freight or express Is borne by the
merchant. not by the buyer.
This saving alone amounts to some
thing, when the same article can be had
at the Identical cost
ut does seem, too, that Richmond
merchants, who spend so much time.
thought and money In building great
shops for the comfort and convenience
Of the trade, should have their hands
upheld.
Most Of the ladies' can testify to the
civiiity and uniform patience of the
tradespeople and the spirit to oblige
that seems TO pervade the larger estab-
lishments. AS trade enlarges with them,
the fact is promptly exhibited in more
spacious stores, more departments, fuller
stocks and more intelligent management.
Good assistants are engaged, their SER
vices well compensated, often an interest
given them in their several respective de-
partments. as a greater stimulus.
GIVE the local merchants your entire
patronage. You will year by year note
the improvement In their stocks. and
the act will seem to be patriotic and to
be no more expensive TO yourself"
The representative OF the Cohen Com
pany spoke as follows:
TT is safe to say that Richmond has
more frst-class stores than any city OF
II size North or South but she has them
In spite Of her population rather than by
the cooperation of her people. ..
This is said in no Spirit CT grumblinS
or captous criticism, and Richmond peo-
pie arr not worse than other people.
RichmonGers row largely bay In Rich
mond, the stores having attained ar ex-
cellence that makes IL sheer waste TO
buy elsewhere. But take cities Of equal
size North, ard despite every endeavor
the trade goes 10 the larger cities, which,
being conveniently reached, 1t can't be
denied are tempting TO the shopper And
the strenuous efforts to maintain first
class emporiums OF trade in the smaller
cities end quite frequently in failure.
Hence. our people. open to conviction
and gradually converted TO home buying,
are better than She deni.ens Of the cities
that show the great number Of failures
q nd lnclItsn tfis Dinh ord bag n