Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-11-27
FIRST Day Of THE OPENING
OF THE STONE s. THOMAS ENLARG-
ED DEPARTMENT. STORE AT
TRACIED BIG CROWDS.
BAND CONCERT A FEATURE
During the Aftcrnoon-Thc Building
Was Handsomely ID d
Throughout-A List of the Differ
ent Departments and Personnel of
the Heads of observation-disclosures
ing to Continue All Week.
Notwithstanding the disagreeabls

weather the first day of the opening
Stone & Thomas enlarged depart
ment store was attended by thous-
ards of ladies and very large sprink-
ling of the sterner sex. Almost as
soon as the doors were opened in the
morning the visitors began to arrive,
and the number from distant towns
was remarkable.
In the afternoon the full Opera
House orchestra, stationed in one of
the balconies at the exteme north end
Of the first floor, rendered a very fine
concert. The orchestra will be in at
tendance every afternoon this week
and the musical programme will be
changed daily.
Never did a store present a more
beautiful appearance than did the mag
nihcent establishment yesterday. The
interior has been tatstelully decorat-
Ell and the large show windows re-
flected the beauty of the inside with
displays that would be a credit to
Seigle-Cooper or Wanamaker.
The first floor as seen from the
Ladies reception room, which is an
elegantly furnished balcony in the
northwest portion of the building, pre-
sented a sight that will live in the
memory of all who see it. The long
lines of modernly arranged depart
ments all in their best holiday attire
and the wide aisles thronged with
spectators and purchasers was in keep
ing with the elegance of the decora-
tons and pen or tongue could not de-
scribe the scene adequately.
In the south aisle the silks, dress
goods, dress trimmings and patterns
are displayed, and such a display has
seldom if ever been seen in many
larger city. The art department, UNI,
trellas, ribbons, hosiery, linens, jew
elry, mems furnishings, domestics, kid
gloves, handkerchiefs, perfumes, sta
tionery, notions, Innings, underwear,
laces and embroideries, etc., ETC., are
all on the main floor.
The second floor is taken up by the
ladies ready made garments and mill
1nery, and is furnished and equipped
second to none in the country. There
1aay be larger millinery and suit par
sors. but it is doubtful if any can out
class Stone & Thomas in richness of
furnishings.
The third floor is given up to lace
curtains and draperies, furniture, wall
paper and boys and young mems cloth
ms, and is arranged in beautiful man
ner.
'.he fourth floor is generally occupied
entirely by the carpet department, but
Christmas is coming and about half
of the floor is given up to toys or TOY
dam, as the advertisement say. The
Juvenile visitors were very much in
eTiFence. There is about everything
Imaginable in the toy line.
The fifth floor is given up entirely to
surplus stock and there's an astonish-
ing array of it. To the average visitor
there looks to be enough surplus stock
to last the firm for years
The basement is busy place. Here s
where there are many stores in one. A
large and very complete china store
occupies the south end; then comes the
book store in the new portion-the
mouse furnishing department; silver
ware store in the from, and beside it
the trunks and travelling bags; in the
rear the shipping department she de-
Every system is perfect.
Tie new electric plant and boilers are
also in the rear of the basement, and
che visitors yesterday were greatly in
sofested in these. A glass partition
airides the salesroom from the electric
Slant, and the engines and dynamos
are in full view of all who go into the
easement. The plant was put in bv
u. s. Sands, and consists of two West
eEgEouse dynamos with a capacity of
16ot lights, and two fine. large Russell
ergine of so horse power each. The
engines are of the direct connection,