New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-15
THE PASSING THRONG.

r. X Matthews OF Chicago. who Is Just now In
This city has some strong views the question Of
practical philanthropy, which he
co.OpERA expressed at the Waldorf-Astoria
TIVE STORE yesterday as follows: The grea,
rop THE department store Of the present
poop day" said Mr.. Matthews. 1t seem.
TO me. Is only carrying into effect
g., ,ho city what the ancient country store had al.
rs.av done in the country. The saving OF expense
together with the convenience OF shopping where
everything wanted could be obtained under one
roof made the fGr 0ns x1 s Is
cities Through It's enormous safes and quick
turning over OF stock Il Is ena oed 70 sell goods at
are its rule. the idea Of the department and coun.
Try stores has sggesSss 20 would Tp provd good
paying Investment II put into practice. and had
the money ! should certainly give ,b u t thorough
the rich pay for their luXuries Early asparagus
worth its weight In gold and peaches at g or a
story writer's but In proportion 70 what they have
has never seemed to mo that the rich pay anything
Ike az much IA the poor for what they put into
their stomachs on their backs. haven't the hg-
by me now, and am urwilling 70 trGs, TO my
the poor pay far more than the rich DO for certain
Il the stape necessaries Of life Flour they buy by
the pound coal by the peek and Dushel potatoes
ne % Proportionase price Of these small measures
makes he cost Of a barrel OF Hour. ton Of coal
and bushel Of potatoes FAR greater than II
idea is this: In the poorest districts Of our great
cities TO establish department or cooperative
stores. under able and judicious management.
where all the staple necessarcs TO sustain life
he obtained in small quantities a. ne same pro;
IL taken in bulk. A system OF credits could easily
be arranged to offset the malign influence Of tha,
OF the poor. tho tradesman VINO trusts and
to my mind the scheme presents W addition 70 ts
philanthropical features : good. sound business
proposition. into which money could be put With
almost moral certainty Of receiving good dvi-
dends on the amount invested Some years ago
the Tuxedo colony found themselves confronting
"A theory.
there were charging them any price they pleased
for what they sold and the drain the average
Tuyedote's purse IL consequence something
this avarice on the part of the tradesmen and
have always understood the scheme has worked to
a charm. At Harvard College q cooperative store
has been In existence for many years. with equal
satisfaction 10 the students using II and 70 the
originator OF the plan: you my scheme only
presents novelty In being applied 10 another class
than that 10 which It has been heretofore but the
basic Idea Is as old as the hills
Mr.. Matthew's reference 10 asparagus being
worth its weight in gold said II. B. Minor Of
Washington. D. C.. who was sitting
ASPARAGUS in tho group reminds me Of an OK.
OUT OF perience had in Paris year or
SEASON two ago. when I was abroad x,,h
COMES HIGH. Mrs Minor We were dining IN
restaurant in Paris noted for the
excellence Of its cuisine. and had selected our din
ner with considerable and due eye 10 econ
omy. I had completed writing the order when
Mrs. Minor said: oh. they've got asparagus: LET'S
have some" and SO. without looking at the price
added portion OF asparagus. Never again will
order anything In France without first looking
at the price for il happened that asparagus was
out OF season, and. Of course. high in price and
than did all the rest OF the dinner put together IN.
GLIDING the wine"