The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-12
ON A BIO SCALE
Is the Holiday Trade Being Catered
to by Stone & Thomas-A Force Of
1876 Clerks-MagniAesnt Line Of

to by Stone & Thomas-A Force Of
1876 Clerks-1ragniAeent Line Of
Goods.
The holiday shoppers of Wheeling
and surrounding towns have reasons
to feel proud that in this city there is
big department store that offers adj
vantages comparing favorably with the
leading retail houses OF this vast coun-
try. Year by year Stone & Thomas
have been increasing their facilities and
to-day their mammoth establishment,
on Main street, now in the full glow Of
the Christmas trade. is one to which
wheeling can point to with pride. tits
the deserving Mecca Of the holiday
buyers, and never before in the firms
long and honored history has the
Christmas trade been catered to on
such an elaborate scale, and at that
the force Of 1865 clerks-an increase Of
twenty-five over last year-is taxed to
meet the demand. The stock is COM
plete in all details. and 1t is no exagger-
alton to say that old Santa Claus win
pay many a visit to this store before
making his pilgrimage Of the city on
Christmas eve.
The hosts Of shoppers have but q
faint idea of the treat by the magnih-
cent window displays, for the four
floors and basement are overfowing
with the choicest and freshest OF holi-
day novelties. From basement to the
roof It Is one verttabie paradise. On
the upper floor Is wide eXpanse IN
which children would delightedly revel,
It being given over to toys almost ex-
clustVely. There are Punch and Judy
shows, steam engines, dolls, sleds' etc,
and among the new things the most
noted are the miniature theatres,
which are certainly clever conceits.
There are forty clerks on this floor.
ON the third floor, among the draper
les and the furniture ara some pretty
ladies dressing tables and writing
desks, as well as fancy rocking chairs,
always an acceptable Christmas gift
Features Of the holiday novelties on
the next floor beneath are pictures and
art goods, the Arm carrying the finest
line ever seen in this city. On this
floor Is also q general line of furs, suits
ana INFANTS Wehrs
But the climax Is reached on the
ground floor. The artistic decorations,
the various dainty booths and the long
counters with their varied displays
form a scene that might have been ia.
ken from Fairyland. Here smilax and
magnolia leaves festoon a booth con-
taining toilet articles, in striking relief
looms at another turn in the store q
tall white arch, under which stands the
handkerchief booth. and so It is all
over this beautiful floor. There are sill
yer and ebony goods perfumes and
other exqulgltes, umbrellas. sterling
mounted leather goods, boudolr gold
plated clocks, and other delights too
numerous to mention"
Down in the big basement Is the CHI
ma department, and in keeping with the
other departments 1t embraces the la
test designs and the most comprehen-
sive assortment in the city, and for
that matter It Is n question II 1t is ex-
celIed in more metropolitan centres.
Oakland Faience goods, cut glass, pipe
racks, terra Gotta busts, onyx topped
brass stands, Japanese. Royal Sake.
TeplitE and Royal Bonn vases and
lamps figure in this magnificent dis
play.
tremendous sales Is the book and sta
tionery, on the first floor. Throughout
the day and evening the stores pa
irons are RECALLED with musical selec.
lions on every floor from the celebrated
Olympia music boxes. The enterprise
ing Arm of Stone & Thomas will enjoy
the biggest holiday sales in its history
this year beyond q doubt,