The Newtown bee., 1898-11-18
while he wss away, hearing Theodor
Roosevelt several times.
Complete Transformation.

ID. M. READ CO IS NOW PKRFRCT DEPART
MENT CONGRATULATIONS INsTDI
AND OUT IMPRESSIVE IN THEIR COM.
PLETENEss.-Now ONE OF THE BEs7
FITTED ESTABLISHMENTS IN TIL
| sTATE.-THIS Is ..ExHIBITION WEEK.
Among THE BEES substantial list OF
advertisers there is NO more popular and
reliable house than the ID. NJ. Read Co.
OF Bridgeport, whose name is q synonym
throughout western Connecticut Tor hon.
esty and liberal dealing. 1t Ia with
pleasure that TIE BEE gives descrip-
| ton OF the improvements made in their
store recently, which we copy from our
enterprising neighhor, the Bridgeport
Farmer, as follows:
The ID. Nd. Read Co. has practically
completed improvements in their store
In the Wheeler building, at an expense
OF many thousand dollars, and now have
modern department store, unsurpassed
10 lighting facilities and general conven.
fences. An exterior view of the great
store disciOses transformation, the new
front in Main street making q striking
appearance. The windows are the con-
centration of the ideas of the firm after
study OF the great show windows of the
Dig New York and Boston concerns, To-
Gated in modern buildings.
The Read Co.'s new windows, beauti-
fled by the skill OF the window dresser,
are an attractive feature Of the fine es.
tablishment. There are no lights In the
windows, but the illumination comes
from row OF refieetors located above,
giving fine effect at night. Along the
easement outside are uuosrentRtious
signs In metal, the acme of neatness and
striking In their simplicity. The tiling
at the main entrance Ia another feature
OF the exterior.
The company have protected their win
dows by the latest Improvement In avn
ings. The new ones are operated by
means Of key or crank, ,aud when rolled
up present neat appearance.
These exterior alterations give but q
poor idea of the transformation within
the store. Starting at the Main street
entrance, or front of the store, patrons
will find co the left the mems furnishing
departments, presided over by male
clerks. The hesibancy which many men
express against entering dry goods
store does not apply here. The first inn
preston which greets the visitor to this
department is that he Is entering a large
house devoted exclusively TO mems fur
nlshiDgs. The stock carried IL q large
one and the variety infinite.
This is Exhibition week at the d. NJ.
Read Co., aud no better time could be
selected for trip TO the store. The
mems furnishing department is supplied
with handsome new glass cases for the
display of the line of goods.
To the left OF the main entrance the
women hold full sway. Directly In front
of the door is q glass case IL feet In
length, the largest of the kind ever pro-
duced.
The heavy wall that formerly sepsrat-
ed these two parts of the store has been
removed. The staircase to the lower
| door has been removed to the forward
part of the store and next to the north
| wall. On the main foor in this section
are all the departments for women and
| children exclusively, and they are pre-
sided over by young ladies, q feature
which will be appreciated by customers.
To the right of the Fairfield avenue
entrance is the silk and dress goods de-
psrtment. The hosiery department has
right aisle. The silk and dress goods
department has been improved by new
arrangements for admitting light and
shelving for the stock. To the left, as
one goes toward the carpet department
from Fairfield avenue, lie q new depart
ment devoted to stationery and kindred
articles.
The upholstery has been moved to the
first floor, formerly occupied by the
stock Of carpets. On the fret floor are
upholstery goods, Oriental rugs and
draperies of wide assortment. The Read
Co. have taken the two floors above this,
which are reaceed by the OTIS electric
elevator from the upholstery department.
The second and third floors are well
lighted by windows st front and rear
and the finish of the room il in white.
The company prides itself upon these
two rooms, which could not be better ap-
pointed for the display of stock. On the
| second floor are the body brussels and
tapestries, and on the third the Wiltons,
Administers, moquettes and velvets.
The concern also occupies the entire
| top-f1oor, and the three large sections
are divided by fire-proof doors put in 81
great expense. The first two sections
are occupied as work rooms, and the
southern end Of the building as STOCK
room.
| Down stairs there have also been
marked changes made. The stairway al
| the front leads directly into the house
furnishing department which Ia doubled
| in size by the removal OF the toy depart.
ment. The right aisle Is DEVOTED to glass
and .crockery ware, etc. The left Co
house furnishing goods, and st the rear
the wash goods and skirt department
Here there ls arosher Improvement, the
large brick columns having given way to
nest iron supporting posts.
The children's and toy department oc-
cupies commodious quarters leading oul
of the house furnishing department, and
is now devoted exclusively to children'i
wants.
| Description but half conveys an idea
OF what has really been done. Persona
inspection of the store delights custom
ers. Nowhere in Connecticut will there
be found q more commodious or bettel
arranged department store than the ID
NJ. Read Co.'S. Since the company be
gan business at its present stand In 1869
IL has und rgone many changes, grow
ing steadily, but none has been NOR
marked than the Improvements nov
about completed. During the next eli,
days the public will have fine oppor
!. tunity to inspect the big store.
i HIS LIFE WAS SAVED.