The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-31
THE ASSIGNMENT.

The embarrassment OF q large business
enterprise is always In the nature OF
public calamity. Especially is this real
ized when in a stable community like
Providence the house that falls is one OF
the institutions OF the town with
history OF years OF upward growth and
development, and the name OF its founder
and builder is prominently identified in
a public way with the life of his city and
State.
We car.imagine no business casualty
in these parts that could call out a more
widespread expression of regret and
sympathy than has that OF the assign
ment OF The II. ". Ladd Co., proprietors
OF large retail dry goods store that for
nearly quarter OF century has been
a notable feature of Westminster street,
and has for years enjoyed high rank
among the leading establishments OF its
kind in New England and the country at
large. The store has been credit 10
the town, and the news OF assignment
came as personal shock to thousands
in every walk OF life and all over the
State and nearby New England, from
which territory its patronage has been
drawn.
The fortunes and fate OF The II. W.
Ladd Co., are indissolub!y connected
with the personality expressed in the
corporate name, the President OF the
company Hon. HERBERT WARREN LADD.
AS exemplified in his establishment,
Mr.. LADD was one OF the leading ex-
ponents OF the greater dry goods idea in
store keeping. From modest beginnings
aud in the face Of the competi-
tion of Older merchants in a
conservative town OF little more than
one-tbird our present populatio, !. Mr..
LApD developed his idea from year to
year until he saw his enterprise and in
dustry rewarded by the possession OF one
of the notable stores OF New England.
Catering very largely to high class of
trade the name OF the founder of the
house has been a synonym for the best
in merchandising aud has ever maintain
ed an enviable repute, and it is to be re-
mem bered that the name OF LADD is also
,worthily identified with the public inter-
ests, with large charities and noble endow-
ments and the progress and development
of our city and State wherever in the ca
pacity ofs private citizen or public ofiic-
ial there was call for work and valued
suggestion. For his services to his city and
State, as well as in view OF the prominence
and repute OF the mercantile house over
which he presides, Ex-Governor LADD
com mands and receives the profound and
heartfelt sympathy OF his fellow-citi-
zens in his business trouble.
We are not informed as TO all the cir
cumstances of tho assignment, or how the
future OF the house may tp affected there
by, but we think that we voice a general
sentiment in expressing the hope that
the splendid business which Mr.. LADD
has built up may survive its present en-
bsrrassment and thnt the name OF LApp
may remain over the front door. And it
occurs to us that there is more than SEN
timent In such hope, for the big retail
enterprise as conducted for so long on
the LADD corner would certainly appear
TO be too fine a business to abandon and
the name OF LApD too valuable business
name to permit II to Re dropped from the
list OF our leading merchants.
1T would appear that the battleship
Texas, built on nm English model, will
have to be good deal Americanized be-
fore she is tinkercd into satisfactory