San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-03-25
MAMMOTH STORES.
SPRING OPENING OF L. WOLFsON's
PALACE.
Crowds Attend, and Meet With Plee g.
ant Surprises on Every Hand-a
Fairy Scene in Real Life.

fects and be well posted on "open-
ing days." a LIGHT reporter was
detailed today to call at l.. Wolf
sons Mammoth Stores and see all
there was to be seen and make
mention of it, and accordingly
spent an enjoyable and eXhilarat-
ing hour in the midst of untold
tinery and fairy-like beauty, this
morning between 10 and II o'clock.
Crowds of clerks in every direc-
ton were busy attending to the
wants Of customers in the lower
floors, in the clothing and shoe de-
partment, dress goods, and linen
and house furnishings and the first
thing the reporter knew he was
lost in the great throng, and took
to the sidewalk where he adj
mired the beautiful millinery
show window, decorated by Messrs.
f. A. Gutenberg and Morris Smith,
of San Antonio. Here was dis
played on beautiful pedestals,
statuettes of "Spring" and "The
Posing Dancing Girl" surrounded
by rich millinery, ribbons and
flowers and with a back ground Of
real old lace. The taste in blend
ing Of colors Of the goods, and the
artistic distribution Of same excited
the favorable comment of all pass
ers-bv, who invariably stopped to
see and admire.
The scribe then took the splen-
didly appointed elevator and visit
ed the millinery department.
Here were crowds and crowds Of
ladies, and rushing busy clerks,
selling hats and bonnets and
various accomplishments in
rapid fashion that would make
Hard Times beat a pre-
cipitate retreat in despair. The
scene was that of a fairy palace,
where the Goddess Flora seemed
enshrined supreme. From son
hidden niche came the swet t
strains of soft string music, giving
latest polite airs, in sweet melody,
and above shown down mildly
brilliant incandescent lamps from
bowers of beautiful flowers. In
every nook where art could inter-
pose its delicate and heightening
touch were decorations of tropical
foliage, while interviewer in a
splendid floral piece were notices of
"welcome," "spring of 1895" and a
monogram al. W." in the rarest
flowers.
The ceiling hangings were in
elaborate lace ribbons and damask,
while in the central piece We're
tables bearing the beautiful fruits
of the milliner's art.
Prices this year are cheaper than
ever before while the grades are
much higher. The leading styles
in hats are the Napoleon, "a
beauty the Gould, Sans Gene. the
Dutch bonnie t, the Carnival and the
Duchess. The Napoleon is COM
posed of body of rough black
straw, small crown, turned up
at the back and front and trimmed
in front with a rosette of black
satin ribbon with rhinestone
buckles, a bunch of ostrich tips at
the left hand side and a bunch of
ribbon and rhinestone buckles,
while on the other side is a beauti-
full bunch Of rOsebuds. The effect
is charming and this hat has the
happy property Of appearing we'll
either on short or tall lady.
The Sans Gene is striking as
well as pretty. 1t is on hand in
all the wide contrasts.
1t is decided by Dame Fashion
this year that large Gainsboroughs
in black and white, very fine stock
as we'll as the Duchess and Napo-
leon, will be the leading styles.
In all these styles there is a
beautiful, though select assert.
ment at this establishment.
Ribbons will be wide, small
checked, and in all colors, though
black and white will lead. The
other popular colOrs will be bluett
and cerise, while in flowers violets
roses and daisies, as we'll as a
large assortment of various French
flowers will be the most generally
worn, because the prettiest fol-
Easter styles.
Passing through the millinery
department to the carpet rooms, 8
surprise awaited the thirsty
visitor. In a nook, beauti
fully decorated, was fine
marble soda fountain with g
most obliging attendant, who
dispensed Dullnig's celebrated
chalybeate waters with palatablC
syrups to flavor to ones taste, anc
it is needless to say, the surprise
was an agreeable one to all Gus