Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-04-04
Rain and Mud Gould Not Keep the
People Away.
AN ELABORATE WINDOW DISPLAY
The Grand Spring Opening Brilliant
Success-UntiI Late in the Evening
the Store Was Filled With People
Easter Millinery Attracts.

lFrom Wednesdays DAILY
That it takes more than rain and
bad weather to keep people from at
tending any special event at Phillips
Big Store was strongly illustrated last
night.
Since Mr.. Phillips opened this es-
tablishment, people have expected a
great deal of it. That they have not
been disappointed was fully proved
by the crowds who came down town
last night to attend the grand spring
/ opening of the Big Store. Altho it
had rained all day and the streets
were covered with mud and water,
hundreds of people crowded in the
store and witnessed the great display
that was to be seen on every floor.
Nothing but an opening at the Big
Store could have drawn such crowd
down town on such a night. 1t was
public endorsement of the faith the
people have in the Big Stores an
nouncements. All who attended, how
ever, were highly repaid. The whole
store inside as well as out was blaze
of beauty.
The display in the three large Win
dows could not be excelled. The west
window was devoted to the cloak and
of what can be found in this part of
the Big Store. The arrangement in
this window was one of harmony and
beauty. With surroundings of dec
orations and palms, were three beau
tiful tailor made suits. One of these
suits is an imported English Kersey,
Eton jacket, pan velvet trimmed, sat
in lined and bell sleeves. The skirt
OF this garment is full flare. seven
gore, inverted pleated back. nine inch
drop. with the bottom trimmed in pan
velvet. In the center of this window
was one of the finest of silk suits. The
jacket is Elton style, Persian trimming
and five tucked belt Finest French
taffeta silk skirt, fancy tucked flounce
bottom and Near silk lining. This is
in every sense a novelty suit, having
all the Partisan effects and style. The
sotfer suit is beautiful Venetian
cloth. Elton jacket with a detachable
vest front. It is trimmed in satin
duchesse and tinsel and has full bish-
OPP sleeves and panquin cuffs. This is
one of Bifield's latest creations.
In the center window was the mil
linery display In this window in
the midst of beautiful settings
of flowers and palms, were
some of the most beautiful concep-
tions of the milliner's art. Here were
pattern hats and bonnets that have
been received daily for the last two
weeks and there were also beautiful
creations made by the expert trimmers
in the Big Stores millinery depart
ment.
The east window gives one an idea
of what can be obtained in
the shoe department. and gents
furnishings and clothing depart
ments. 1t was tastefully arranged and
showed to advantage the high class
goods which it contained. Inside the
store, the departments which this
window represented, were brilliantly
lighted and showed very prettily
any and every article that could be
thought of in this connection. The
gents furnishings department is ably
managed by Mr.. Prizer, who takes 9
special interest in answering all uues
lions that are necessary to give infor
nation in regard to what he has tt
sell.
Last evening the whole interior o.
the store was beautifully decorated
brilliantly Illuminated and tastefully
arranged. Mr. Tyler, the decorator has
CGTtdlIlly GACeGuGu l.. NO SuS
gestions could be offered that would
in any way have added to the looks o
the windows or the interior of the
store. The wapello Chief orchestrs
rendered beautiful selections during
the evening.
In the front part of the building, Mr.
Childs, manager of the silk and dres.
goods department was busily engaged
helping to make the visitors feel vel
come and explained to them wher,
the other departments of the store
were located. During the last two
weeks there has been considerable
changing around on the first and sec
moved into the room just remodeled
!. and the ladies' suit and cloak depart
|ment moved from the second fool
Io the space formerly occupied
BIZ the clothing. The millinery de
partment has also been moved from
theSsecond floor down to the first
With only three more days unit
Easter it is natural that the mil
linery department should be the cen
ter of attraction. This department i!
ably managed by Mrs. Matte Grave!
with Miss Peckham, of Chicago, heat
trimmer. Mrs. Graves, in speaking o
the styles for this spring said: "Tht
prevailing tendency for this spring Il
for the hat that lifts from the face. o
course, as is usual this time of thu
year, the most of the trimmings are o
flowers, with entire facings of rose
and foliage. Everything inclines t
the brighter shades with pink probabl
leading in popular favor. All tn
trimmings this season are fiat effects.
This department of the store wa
crowded until 10 o'clock.
In the cloak and suit department
Mr.. O'Connor and assistants were yer
busy showing their line for this sea
son. Mr.. O'Connor is very enthusiast
tic over his department and is yer
entertaining talker as well as an e1
pert salesman.
On this same floor, in the shoe d
partment, of which John Erland
manager, was beautifully displaye
some of the finest footwear imagil
able. There were slippers, shoes, an
everything pertaining to every elias
of footwear that could be of use