The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-05-08
A MILE OF EX ,LUslVE
TRADE---ODD LITTLE STORES
 ON

Street--yvhere People to Whom Cost is No Obj eot Gny The'r Goods Stockings ut SI5O a Par and Tinrras From $I5O,OOU Up Dealers Who May Get Rlch on One Order a Week.
 The thing that most distinguishes New York from other cites is found in Fifth avenue, between Twenty-siXth and Forty second streets. Here for nearly a mile, stretch block after block of little stores. Many of them are no larger than the shops Of Hester street The majority are smaller than the av- craze retail stores on Third avenue The narrow, low buildings frequently con- taintain several establishments, one to each floor. And yet the men who do business here pay enormous rents, for they occupy part of the most valuable ground in the world. There are, of course, in other cities small stores in localities of great wealth, but here is a, whole mile of them, in two almost un- broken rows. These stores are the most pronounced evidence of New York's enormous wealth for nowhere else could they have survived, in face Of the great department stores and large houses in the more active centers of trade.
 These small stores could not compete with the larger ones, but they exist be- cause in New York so large propor- tion of the people do not need to con slider the cost of things. A small, eX- elusive place appeals to them because it is small and exclusive. They value their wealth principally because it per- nits them to pursue their whims, and they are willing enough to pay the price sufficient to maintain compara- lively private emporium.
 There is very little about these stores that is in touch with the modern life of trade There are no cash registers, no cash boys and girls, and in most of the places no cashier or bookkeepers, and one might be tempted also to think that there were no customers. For an hour at time in more than one of these places yesterday, no one entered, One can pass the entire day loiterlng here, and scarcely see sale made. And yes~ terday was an ideal day for shopping The avenue outside was thronged with a wealthy, leisurey multitude. Few however of the passing carriages ana automobiles stopped. Of the people passing from window to window idly inspecting the displays, not one in hundred went inside. Under such cir cumstances, the merchant on Ihlrd avenue would go bankrupt. In most or these places, however asingle purchase is often enough to provide fine profit for week.
 One of these stores sells nothing but hosiery. The average price of stock ings here is S10 pair, but any one who wishes can pay $150. Most of these stockings are made to order, after spe- cial designs. Elegance just now is rep rented by black lisle. with white em- broidery or insertions of real lace, Some of these stockings are so fine that they can be wadded into thimbe An un- usually attractive design was conceived not long ago by a manufacturer in Philadelphia. The leg was of black llsle and miEht have been woven by spider. The lower half was an open web, over which was worked a delicate vine, also in black This was hand embroidered. It was beautifully done, and produced most striking result But there are now no more of these stockings to be had. The girl who was employed in the task is in tha hospital and this Philadelphia manufacturer is o peculiar in his nature that he has refused to put another to the ordeal
 The trade in stockings made to order seems to be an unusually good one. A customer who came in yesterday to in- uuire for S75 pair intended as pres ent, was told that he must wait for a few days, as the factory where they were being made was $500O0 behind in orders,
 A little further up the avenue was a iewelry store into which no one might look. Close against the glass of the windows was carved oaken panel, ris- ing some three feet. There was nothing but a word, in small gilt letters, on the door. to indicate that there jewels might be had. Inside, the glass cases were filled with brilliant gems. The office was in the rear, and consisted of lit tie roll-top desk behind a rail, where a. pleasnt faced, gray-haired old gen. Liemdn was lelsulely NlltliiS " iCNtNl with quill pen
 "Why do you have no window dis play?" he was asked.
 He looked up with a quiet twinkle in his eve as he said, Because we do not want any," It took some time to ex- plain to him why so personal question might properly be asked but, finally he explained the philosophic principle underlying the barred and bolted ap- pearance of his front.
 "Our customers, said he "are class of people who like to think their deal- ings are exclusive. They would not readily buy costly necklace that every passing eye had seen. It would lose its value if it became too common,
 And then he added: We feel that we are safer as we are. Your jewell thief seldom enters store after what he has not seen. That is, perhaps a curious fact. for. of course, he knows that a store like this would have valuable treasures. even if they wer not in the window. But when such crimes have been run to earth, it has almost in- variably transpired that the thief has seen the jewels exhibited, and went ir search of them, But still, that is only incidental We wish to cater to those who come on purpose to buy, and are ,,,;1I;ng +o nav for property that Is real