The herald., 1898-10-23
TWENTY YEARS old
ANNIvERSARY OPENING OF THE
COULTER DRY GOODS co
Beautiful Decorations and Goods Of the
Highest Grade-Previous Efforts
Outdone in Artistic Work

Twenty years ago F. b. Coulter, tne hoAo
, of the Coulter Dry Goods company. opened
!, his doors for business In Los Angeles, In
a room lsx6O feet, with stock Of goods
worth 5000. in front room In the Downey
block. at the corner of Temple and Spring
streets Yesterday the anniversary was
observed in a store In which the original
could have been set down twice In one aisle
and the value of the stock multiplied by
| many times one hundred. The doors were
| closed in the morning to allow tho work
| of decoration to be completed. When they
i opened, at o'clock, the entire establish
ment presented picture of the most elabo-
| rate but thoroughly artistic establishment
| and arrangement
The entrance to the center aisle was
| spanned by an arch constructed or white
| silk, with letters in purple ribbon, with
| these words: 1--WE are twenty years old
today" Suspended under this hung a
| shield of dark red crysanthemums, with
a monogram of white flowers, &c. d. G.
| Co." In every aisle in the store heavy
| ropes of smilaX were carried from the
shelves to the large arc lights, alternating
! with countless festoons of ribbons. each
| in its own colors. Smilax wreathed all
sorts of pretty arrangements for the dis
! play of goods, and was placed everywhere
| 1t could be made artistic and effective.
| Three thousand pieces, averaging seven
| feet long, were used in the decorations. 1t
seemed marvellous that such a quantity of
| this graceful, glossy-leafed vine could be
gathered together In one city, and in the
east 1t would be worth a fortune alone.
The flowers were confined almost exclu-
sively to immense jars of roses, vases of
carnations and all the other varieties of
flowers obtainable. arranged on the cOun-
ters. the bright-hued ribbons in lavish
abundance giving color to the festoons
overhead.
The first aisle on the south was in white
ribbons, the beautiful dress goods and ele-
CANT silks adding color in manifold hues
The aisles are one hundred and twenty
feet long. and in the mems furnishing de-
partment, that came next the entire length
was a blaze Of gold and green. Mems
shirts and collars and fine wear Of all de-
scriptions reposed in variety of designs
on banks of green foliage. In the rear
large American flags were gracefully ar
ranged.
In the rear of the center aisle an excellent
crayon portrait of f. b. Coulter was hung.
with the words underneath, "Our Found
err Brilliant yellow delicate lavender and
white ribbons in profusion were festooned
from the shelves to the arc lights.
Here the finest imported kid gloves are
shown, and ribbons in all the new Partisan
colors and designs. On the opposite side
the latest novelties In chiffons, striped and
plated, are displayed. In a case at the
end is delicate point lace overskirt val
ued at $3.50
The lace department Is extensive and
elegant; scarfs worth $3.50; collars of point
d d'Alencon, ranging from 800 down to $40
Here are fans also hand painted, mounted
In mother of pearl. from 500 to $40. Trim
mings are shown In the most elegant va
riety. from $50 per yard, suitable for trim
ming the beautiful silks which sell at Sc per
yard.
In the art department the decorations are
cream and gold and here are elegant arti-
cles for table and house decoration. Art
linens in beautiful hand-embroidered de-
signs. from s25 down. fine collection OF
metal belts, as high as S25. and a beautiful
FAM painted by a French artist, at $3.50.
All the latest European novelties may also
be found here in bags, purses and chate-
laines. On the opposite side there is dis
play of buttons as high as $23 per Dozen
in rhinestone and steel settings. The
latest things in cape and cloak fastenings,
dress buckles and other novelties are
shown.
The next department is devoted to linens.
and In quality and variety would fill the
widest dream of the most ambitious house
Keeper. Elegant towels from the looms of
Austria. at IS each; table cloth woven In
Belfast, with the sheen of satin, valued at
1925; the thread Of which 1t Is woven Is
inner tnan one hundred and eighty spool
cotton. There are a dozen napkins to
ma tch. The opposite side of the store is
stacked with California blankets, and that
brand always insures the softest and feeci-
est that are manufactured. There are also |
robe blankets and an endless variety of
quilts.
The drapery shows a handsome line of |
point de Calais. Brussels net |
and Irish point curtains. There are hand |
woven silk portieres. scarfs, throws and all |
the upholstery novelties for Turkish smok- |
ing corners. The cloak department and the |
aisle through is artisucally decorated in |
pink. and wraps are displayed in the latest |
Partisan novelties. A large variety of silk |
waists is shown. as high as ss5, all hand |
made. The finest lingerie. silk petticoats
muslin underwear and everything dear to |
the feminine heart may be seen.
The infants department Is the daintiest |
display In the store. Beautiful, fine gar
ments of every description even to the |
for the little flower girls at we'd (!
dings. The infants wardrobes are of the |
finest material, and are hand made to |
order.
. The window display is bewildering ar |
ray of the finest garments and goods, ar
ranged to the best effect by the window |
dresser, Henry Marcells. w. B. Whit |
horne superintended and designed the
whole. assisted by ]. b. Cornell in the silk
rtv,,n ,.t,I