The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-06
FIRST IN KANSAS
Wholesale Millinery Opening
of WalIenstein & Cohn
ON SOUTH MAIN STREET
Marks an Epoch in One Line
of Wichita's Jobbing.

The first wholesale millinery opening
at the wholesale house of Wallenstein &
Cohn, at Nos 2SS to 235 South Main street.
Several times yesterday an Eagle re-
porter noticed groups Of styMshly dressed
lady strangers vending their way down
South Main, and seeming news item he
followed until the crowd stopped at the
doors Of the building formerly occupied
by the Potts Drug Co. Here the reporter
found out what but few people in Wich-
millinery house that would do credit to
Of the larger cities. And herein is proof
of Widhita's superior location as whole
sale center. Seven years ago Wallen-
stein &, Cohn started their wholesale mil
linery business over their retail store on
Douglas avenue, IN a room fifty feet
square. The first two years of this bust
ness was done principally by personal
correspondence; one man being able to
fill the position Of bill clerk, packer
stockkeeper, buyer and salesman. Since
then Wauenstein & Cphn have been con-
tinually crowded for room in which to DO
their jobbing business. Four times they
have had to move to accommodate their
growing trade, and now the building on
South Main, with its three stories high
and seventy-five foot front, promises to
be 100 small for them within the next
season or two. The reporter on gaining
entrance found twelve stockkeepers,
packers and bill clerks busy handling
goods Throughout the house miliners
from other towns were busy looking at
the new stocks. Some, in charges OF sales
people, buying their spring assortments;
others looking at and anticipating the
spring pattern hats on display, while
others yet were seated at tables in the
trimming room copying styles for their
spring trade.
Mr.. Henry Wallenstein acted as guide
for the Eagle man. and they first visited
the ribbon and flower room. By counting
and multiplying the reporter calculated
that there were enough ribbons to lay
bicycl path from here to Derby, and
enough flowers tc cover the outside walls
of the city building. And then through
the hat room where over twenty thousand
the stocEkeepers, some being laid ont for
shipment while others were being placed
In stock from the cases that were opened
outside Through the ornament room
where thousands of dazzling gew-gaws
for hat decorations awed and bewildered
the uninitiated onloOker, and on to the
display of pattern hats. Here Mr.. Wal
lenstein picked UP first one hat and an
other, explaining the artistic points OF
this and the expensive parts OF that,
handling each one with the tender touch
Of an artist showing his masterpiece, and
speaking Of them as an enthusiastic in
yentor would Of his model. He talked of
'sPompons," Tuscan straws, real
Renaissance" Point De Flanders
''Machlin Galloons," and Pastel Shades"
until the reporter bewildered into an
swering a feeble yes, yes" finally made
his git away
A wholesale millinery opening is much
unlike the retail openings that Wichita
sees every season. Here there is none OF
that noisy unceasing chatter, added to
by the twang of strinsed musical instru-
nents All is quiet All is business. The
visitors are not trying on the various
hats and conversing about their becom-
iagness, but instead they are looking at
them with mercantile eyes, counting the
cost and, figuring their future profits.
This opening is for the wholesale trade
exclusively, who were notified Of the fact
by special invitation. No others can gain
admittance. The Eagle man had TO es-
tablsh his identity before he was allowed
TO pass the auburn-haired lady who was
acting as door-keeper.
Wichita is proud of her wholesale mil
linery house and proud OF her Wallen-
stein e Cohn.
To secure the original witch hazel salve,
ask for DeWitts Witch Hazel Salve, well
known as a certain cure for piles and
skin diseases. Beware of worthless
counterfeits They are dangerous. Gus
Saur, 524 z. Douglas Ave; Geo. Van Wer-
den, S2S N Main st.