The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-09-21
Wanamaker's First Ventures,

Mr.. Wanamaker's first business ven
ture was made in the clothing business
in store now owned and managed by
one of his brothers. A brother-in-law
was one of the partners. Their capital
was small, and they had to get credit.
So Mr.. Wanamaker and partner-not
the brother-in-law, as the story goes
went over to New York 10 see what
they could do. All day long they
tramped up and down the town, put
ting forward the best front they could
with the wholesale clothing merchants,
but without any favorable results.
When they went to their hotel where
they had engaged one room for two,
they were both pretty well disheartened.
The partner felt so bad that he went
to the bar and got stiff horn OF whisky.
Wanamaker, however, went straight to
his room. Presently the partner went
there too. When he opened the door
he nearly fell over something on the
floor. 1t was Wanamaker on his knees.
"What in the world are you doing,
John?n he exclaimed in astonishment.
"I'm praying"
"Praying for what?"
"Praying for credit, of COURSE" was
the reply of the suppliant.
The next day they went out, resumed
their quest, and found what they were
after in the first store at which they
called.
This was in 1861, and one of his
first sales of any consequence consist
ed of uniforms for custom house en-
ployes. The net profit on this sale was
S3S, and when the uniforms were fin
ished Wanamaker had his clerks deliver
them in push-carts. He put that S36
into a newspaper advertisement.
Wanamaker's next deal-a blue fan
nel-was good deal better, and Melted
him quite handsome sum. He went
into blue flannel because he saw what
many did not; that the civil war, then
beginning would last long time, and
blue flannel for soldiers uniforms
would. be in demand. 1t was a mighty
keen, shrewd stroke of business, and
helped to put the firm squarely and
permanently on its feet.
The great general store, which is
now one of Philadelphia show fea-
lures, was not opened till 1876, the year
of the Centennial A year before that
the Pennsylvania railroad decided to
abandon the structure then used for q
freight depot, rambling, ramshackle
building, and Wanamaker bought it,
For twelve-month, nearly, he lent lite
use to Moody and Sankey as "taber.
nacle" for the holding of revival meet.
ings. Its opening as store was near
ly, or quite, coincident with the open
ing of the Centennial exhibition. Itt
location, close by the Pennsylvania
station, its newness aud its then un
precedented size, won success for it a
once BY this time Mr.. Wanamakel
had passed the necessity of praying fol
credit, but meanwhile there had teer
many crises when the business bari
sailed on the toughest seas, sometimes
for weeks together.
The writer has been unable to fin,
any one willing to make an estimate o
Mr.. Wanamaker's wealth, but it, o
course, amounts to many millions
And in about four years he will be abb
to add cool million and half to hi
cash possessions in one nice fat lump
This million and half will be th
proceeds of his insurance policies, a.
taken out years ago on the endowment
plan. His annual premium payment
are said to be $75, 900, and he is prob
ably the most heavily insured man il
America, the only approach to his pol
ces being that for million inexplics
bly, taken out few months ago b
young George Vanderbilt before b
started on his trip around the world.
Mr.. WanamaRer's abstemiousness
, we'll known. He has never taste
, wine, beer, nor liquors of any kind, ha
never smoked and has never entered
theater or a circus. He doesn't max
, himself disagreeable by preaching abou
these things, however.
t When his second son was married,
{ big silver loving-cup, with Mr.. Vans
; makers name and the names of all th
{ members OF both BRIDES and bride
groom's families engraved upon it, wa
) presented by the brides mother, file
with rich vintage, and passed aroun
; for all to drink. Mr.. Wanamaker too
= the cup in both hands when it came
} him, raised it and appeared to be abol
Z to break his abstinence for the fir
. time. But he didn't. He barely tOucl
: ed the brim with his lips and set
2 down again.
Just after the election in 1888 t
Q gave dinner at his home to Levi
/ Morton, vice-president. The stronge
a drink was ginger ale. II was served