The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-06-07
ApRopos OF OLD HOME WEEK.

The other morning as was going to
the store, / overlook business neighbor,
and before we had walked twenty steps
together he began a glowing description
OF a department-store that he had been
shown through on q business trip to
T, n. Y.
He waxed eloquent concerning the
beauty Of its interior, the volume and
variety Of the stocks; the unexpected
lines of merchandise handled there; the
number and intelligence of the employees;
and he wound up by saying, "Now
T isn't..much bigger than Portland
and / was amazed to see the thoroughly
metropolitan store In city Of that size. "
Just then we arrived at j. r. Libby Co. S
store door. / said come in here min
ute, I've thing want to show you.
The elevator took us to the third floor,
We stepped off the lift and my friend
saw the great salesroom, filled with hand
some furniture. Then 1 brought him
down to the second floor, and he saw the
department of Women's Suits, which is
larger than any entire store that existed
in Portland not many years ago; the
Millinery Section; the department Of
Women's Muslin Underwear; Infants
outflttings, Corsets, Shoes, Trunks, Sew
ing Machines, contained in salesroom
having about ten thousand square feet of
floor space, all glass on three sides. He
didn't say much, but drew in his breath
and looked.
Then to the first floor, covering the
same space as the second, filed with all
manner of Silks, Dress Goods, Notions,
Toilet Helps, Patent Medicines. Sheet
ings, Art Goods, Books, Mems Furnish
ings, etc., etc.
Then one more drop to the basement,
light, ''roomy, well ventilated, crammed
with every housekeeping article from an
exquisite set of Haviland Chinatown to
tin Upper, or mouse trap, sporting
goods, Hammocks, Games, Hardware
etc., etc. My friend running common
tary was "Well-well-welli" you d have
thought it was Base ball game he was
calculating about.
When / got through with him and es-
corted him to the door, he took out his
watch and said ''Well s. I've been
here full hour, and until this hour l
had no notion of the establi shment had
passed four times every day. didn't
Unlnk lntTe Was sucu u sOoAO INNS SAuo Va
Boston
Now, Mr.. Portlander, "Old Home
Week. is coming up the lane (it's only
a couple of blocks away, and so are your
friends who emigrated 20 years ago.
You'll be proud to show them the diff
ference between the Old Portland of jon
athan Morgan's and Bobby Hull's day,
and the New Portland" that's lat
homer today.
But how about our Portland retail
storesS What do you know about themY
and how they compare with the mer-
chandising Of other cities Of similar
Honestly, Mr.. Busyman, have you any
idea Of the scope of the great department
store of j. r.. Libby Co. that is bounded
by Congress, Oak and Free Streets, its
sizs, capacity, stock, volume and methods
of businessg OF course your wife has,
but have your Did you ever investigate
the Splendid Furniture and House outfit
ting store of Oren Hooper's Sons and
watch how those snappy young men do
businessY
Did you ever go through Rines Broth
ers, Eastman Brothers or Owen & Moore S
brisk business placesl
l advise you to make the Grand tour
of them before your emigrant friends ask
you some questions you can't answer.
The writer lived five years in Philadel-
phia, and although his business place
was within 90 feet of the United States
Mint, he never went inside that building
until the day before he came away, and
he has been ashamed of it ever since.
Take this advise and don't neglect this
luty day longer.
III -.