Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-09
HOLIDAY OPENING AT conEN's.
he Great Department Store
ThroDged Last Night.


When the tale OF the nineteenth century
shall be told. amongst all the marvellous
Inventions and notable achievements, a
place will surely be found for that most
astounding Of all modern developments.
the department store. II Is the logical
outgrowth Of the hurly-burly which is
characteristic Of the closing years of the
century, and il Is the offspring Of great
and ever-increasing individual enterprise
The department store supplies great
and crying neer. In the rush for wealth
the race is to the swift and strong, and
the weakllng the dreamer, and the unfor-
tunate are left behind. The department
store is the friend OF the poor no less
than the convenience Of the rich 1t is
SO because it is filled from end to end
with useful and necessary articles which.
being purchased In huge bulk, are TO be
sold at prices which defy competition from
the host OF smaller dealers I'm single lines
of goods. II is the friend OF the rich. be-
cause it caters 10 every whim and fancy
imaginable, and before all the department
store is the great time-saver
a thoroughly representative establish
ment Of this class is the store OF the
Cohen Company, to which an allusion at
this time is particularly apt and Of good
credit inasmuch as the colossal building
on west Broad street was formally opened
for the Christmas season last night. The
Cohen Company was the first firm in
Richmond to hold receptions Of this char
acter and their displays have never been
eclpsed For five long hours last night
the store was crowded from end to end
with those who were eager to enjoy the
elaborate ard brilliant panorama that
had been displayed for their delectation.
The display is supremey tasteful. and the
pleasure Of the event was greatly en-
hanced by the Relnhardt string orchestra,
which discoursed popular and pleasing airs
throughout the reception.
The Cohen Company has this year
ecipsed all their former records. Their
stock is larger than ever before and, II
/ possible even more comprehensive and
complete. A willing purchaser may not
only rehabilitate his or her wardrobe, or
| furnish a house with all appointments
! necessary and luxurious. but ne may also
outfit his harness-roOm.
| At this season Of the year, when the
| vexed question Of what TO give ones
| friends or relatives for Christmas arises
uppermost. a solution Of the whole mat
| ter may readily be found with the Cohen
! Company. For the little ones, the toy
| department Is replete with every con-
| ceivable kind Of playthlng. II Is par
| ticularly interesting part of the store 70
| compare the ingenuity Of the American.
! Englishman, German. and Frenchman in
/ this particular line of invention.
The art connoisseur will find plenty Of
! good things to claim his attention and
/ delight his eye I'm the splendid array of
/ pictures and the display Of pottery and
wares. Oriental and modern. The house,
/ hold department contains everything that
| a housewife can possibly imagine.
/ rarfipufarlN attractive SUOr thu
! main floor seems 20 be the book counters,
which are loaded this year as they have
never been before An immense range OF
reading may be found here, and while the
bindings are exceptionally attractive. the
| prices are incomparably low. Christmas
! cards and calendars are exhibited I'm great
profusion. and I'm addition to the regular
| lines OF dress goods and clothing for
! everybody there IS a great array or fancy
| articles Of every description. OF silver
ware and plated goods, perfumery. and
other delights The carpet department Is
as well stocked as usual, and contains
! rugs and carpets I'm great profusion ana
| variety. The millinery department, 'whlch
| inspires such different feelings IN the OPP
! posite sexes. contains an immense line OF
| domestic and imported patterns and a
| profusion Of flowers for garniture so
| natural that they would defy detection
| except upon the closest inspection.
In the cloak department may be found a
/ very large line of cloth. sealskin, astra-
| chan. and fur mantles. and jackets. with
! tailor-made gowns and capes and the
| curtain and drapery counters are loaded
| with most attractive displays.