Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-10-26

II there is anything in which the
feminine heart delights, it is special
display of millinery or dry goods, and
when the display is made by such a
popular firm as Stone & Thomas, the
attraction is doubled. This fact was
in evidence last night, when the firm
mentioned celebrated the passing OF
the fiftieth milestone in its business
career. There was no distribution OF
souvenirs, or. other special inducement
to draw the crowds. A promise of ex-
tensive decorations and an unusually
elaborate display of goods, was the
magnet.
The preparations were made on an
elaborate scale. A force Of decorators
was at work for week upon the
interior of the store. The fixtures
are handsome in themselves, but with
the added beauty of the artificial en-
bellishments, they made scene
which might well attract every lover
of the beautiful. The aislcs on each
floor were adorned with arches COW
cred by cloth of different colors, deli
cate shades predominating. The
decorations on the ground floor were
particularly handsome. The window
displays were veritable works Of art.
The visitor found each aisle spanned
by arches in which there were myriads
of electric lights, while at the rear end
there was a brilliant array Of colors
arranged in artistic fashion, and
blending tremendously. The baroness
plants and exotics.
The crowds began to flock in with
the opening of the doors in the morn
ing. All the clerks wore neat bouton-
nieres, and extended every possible
courtesy to the visitors, whether sight
seers or customers. Among the callers
during the day were many Of the older
citizens, who recalled the old Bee Hive
store, which was the modest beginning
of the present big department store
They cOntrasted the two, and expressed
their amazement at the growth of the
firms business. There were other Wis
itOrs who unhesitatingly pronounced
the store as attractive as any in the
larger cities.
The store was thronged with visitors
during the day, but they came and went
without serious inconvenience to them
selves or to the force of clerks. Last
night, however, q remarkable scene
was enacted. 1t was announced that
the Opera House band concert would
begin at eight o'clock, and the band
was stationed on the second floor, at
that hour.
Stone & Thomas store appeared to be
the Mecca for the entire feminine popu-
lation. They could be seen coming
from all parts of the city and surround
ing towns The street cars coming
from every section of the city were
crowded. All cars stopped at Stone &
Thomas, and nearly all were empty
after passing. If they had not stopped
to allow passengers to alight, they
would have been compelled to stop
on account of the crowd in the streets
From 1880 until nine o'clock. Main
street was literally packed with men
and women in front of the store, and
it required the efforts of several police
men to make passageway through the
crowd for street cars and vehicles. In
side the throng was so dense that Wis
itors were crowded beyond the point of
comfort, while at the doors there was a
solid mass of humanity trying to push
its way inside. Tt was an unusual
scene, and a great compliment to the
firm.
The firm showed some handsome
gowns, wraps. and other articles of
wearing apparel. Their special anui-
versary sale is to continue all this
week.