The San Francisco call., 1897-12-19
AUNT ELIAS
LETTER HOME.

Dear Nevew-Laws sakes; sech noise
and confusion; thought my nead Would
burst, soon's got IN the Guy l was
dingy old frame ShantieS, and out among
a Yelling mob of huckSterS. Don't know
what should hev done II II Warnt Ter
perlite little boy whom l asked Where
the Cash Store was. He knew right
away in a mint, and walked up to the
store with me. 1t was only a lew steps
from where the boat lands. l bought
him a bag of candy from the nrSt counter
l saw when l went in the store. He
smiled and thanked me, and pretty soon
a fine looking gent came up and asked
me what he could do fer me. l told him
about the order you gave me TO buy,
pick out for you. told you that was all
bOsh, and I'm sure OF II now. You Would
hev done just as well If they'd done the
pickin out themselves, but L was mage 50
much al home by every one and all the
sales folks were so perlite that twas
really a pleasure after all 10 tend TO 1t
This is how it was Downstairs on the
first floor they have most everything cept
dry goods; clothing and some tnings I IKE Ike
that which you have to go up stars Ior
on the second or third floors. They nave
little tables arranged in the allies, and
you sit down as cosy as to home, and
one salesman takes your order, instead
of being bunetted around from one coun-
ter TO another, like was the case back
East when was on last year.
After Id told EN- what to send you in
the groceries and dishes and cooking
things I went up on the third floor and
picked you out a splendid carpet for 65c
per yd. The pattern ought ter please you
as its one of the latest. Then the sales
man showed me to the second floor where
I picked you out some right smart cali
COS at &c and every day glnghams Tor
aperns and the shoes and toys for the
children. There aint nothing they don't
keep for folks to wear, big and little.
Every one was so kind to me that when
got ready to go, called for Mr. Smith
and told him all about it. Then he
showed i found
worth writin about
Up on the sixth floor you can see San
catras, Oakland and all over the City
most They have a big light dining room
where every. one can get a nice, clean
well cooked lunch, as 1 ever ate, for 25c.
Everything in the store is under the
charge of the Smiths. They don't let out
any departments, but run it all them
There's a rope fastened to wires that
takes all the cash in little boxes down to
the main Office from every floor, all the
way from the sixth too.
They must send out tons of Price Lists
from their advertising room in the front
OF the NTH floor, where its light as day;
and in the next room they make up
ladies' dresses, wrappers and do every
kind OF dressmaNng. Its a light airey
also have furnicher on this floor and on
the forth floor [ was most interested.
packed. Over hundred packing bins are
numbered in a row where each ones
goods go to be put up. Smiths have re-
duced things to fine system and can do
d heap of work in a little time and it
ought to be pretty near perfect, the way
they check it all over and inspect it
You remember the old mill to home,
well they have thirty or more big mill
hoppers and the men back of the waying
counters draw out the sugar and gro
ceries like that. The big hoppers are
filed from the floor over head. it's
stonishing how fast them men way and
how exact the waytS are.
I saw a lot of goods boxed and ironed
and marked to go to Siam and some
more for Corea. The Missionaries in
japan, china, Alaska and other foreign
places send to them every year. Most of
the groceries are kept on this floor handy
TO put up, and the men don't hev to go to
the sales floor to get EN-.
After I got through looking I rested
down stairs in the recepshun room nice
bright room with gas log fire, and got
my baggage where 1 had it checked at
the parcel counter where the man put it
when l went in, and I was directed on
up here to my hotel, and haven't been any
where else since. You know I always
was pretty much of a business person
and If have rambled on about this store
it is because 1 was interested in it and
| will write you about other things I see
in my next.
Your affectionate Aunt Eliza