Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-01
LONDON SB|G STORES
Distinguished From " Shops
by Selling Everything.
MAKE LARGE PROFITS
ARMY AND NAVY ESTABLISH
MENT VERY EXCLUSIVE.
The Duke of Marlborough's New Town
House a Very Imposing
Structure.

/
| blne many departments under roof. and
| practically sell everything that is wanted
in the household. The best-known stores
here, and the original of the idea, is the
Army and Navy Cooperative Society. This
is sort of a close corporation, and was
intended, when 1t was founded many years
ago, to cater to a small and privileged
class. 1t is still supposed to be limited to
| the people connected with the army and
navy, though a much wider class trade
| there now. The foundation shares were issued
| at IL; they now stand at about $50 The
| society holds no public meetings, no divi-
dends are ever announced and its shares
are never quoted on the stock exchange.
| The property is however, paying enormous
| ly, but to own shares one must be con-
| nected with either of the services or the
| civil service, or be the widow or orphan of
such person. No one else may purchase
shares even in the remote possibility of
| there being any to buy. All such trans
| actions are carried on through the secre-
! tary of the society.
Difficult Even to Be a Customer.
Even to be customer a the stores re-
| quires some management You must be in
| troduced by a shareholder, and you will be
| turned down unless your social pro-
| fessional qualifications come up to the
| mark l remember in my own case in my
application L had inserted merely the word
| Journalist after the qualification ques-
ton. My application was returned for fur
ther information as to whether l was a re-
porter or editor. AS 1t happened 1 was
an editor, and that went" l suppose a
mere reporter would not have been ad-
mttted to the exclusive circle. When you
are finally allowed to become a customer
you pay shillngs for a ticket, which
gives you a number and the right to pur-
chase at the army and navy stores. This
Is rene able yearly at half a crown. When
You purchase any article you give your
number and your name and sometimes you
are requested to show your ticket, the theo-
ry being that no one without ticket can
buy anything there In practice, however,
this rule, like many others in England, is
evaded and have known wicked non-sub-
scribers to give their telephone number.
The enormous success Of the army and
navy stores, which has branches In Bonn
bay, Calcutta and Plymouth, has given rise
to the growth Of this sort of enterprise.
Perhaps the next best known stores are
those Of William Whiteley, who is popular
ly known all over England as the uni
versal provider." In my time in London
have seen simple diapers shops turned
into stores" which now are paying large
dividends. Such places as John Barker up
in Kensington, who was high-class draper
few years ago; Schoolbred, on the north
side OF London, who only sold furniture and
carpets, and many others that could men
ton have found It profitable to add meat,
vegetables turnery, hardware photography
and geological departments and are paying
humping profits on original shares. There
are probably about two dozen such COM
panies In London today, most of them hav
ing risen from small concerns, but none of
them, though older, can show such extern
sive premises as say Macy's In New York
or Marshall Fields in Chicago. The new
est of these stores here is Harrods 1t has
been going on for some dozen years now,
but 1t began in very small way in few
shops In the Brompton road and only re-
Gently has branched out into a great build
ing of Its own. Last year they paid 10 per
cent dividends and their shares are steadily
increasing in value. They have at present
the newest and most up-to-date place in
London. Their building is very beautiful
and each department Is well regulated and
separated from all the others.
Big Profits in the Stores
To return to the army and navy stores,
their turnover must be something enor-
nous every year, but with true British
grasp of details the most minor transac-
tions receive polite and scrupulous atten-
ton from the dignified secretary, who, I
believe. is retired lieutenant general or
some high officer. Just to illustrate this
will quote letter which was received
yesterday at my house. Empty bottles in
England are a perquisite of the cook, and
we having some to return post card was
sent to the army and navy stores to send
for them. The following is the letter re-
ceived:
I'm reply please refer to empties."
Madam: With reference to your inquiry
of the 11th instant l beg to inform you
that basket was sent capable Of holding
two dozen bottles, but only sixteen claret
bottles came to hand on the 18th instant.
1t Is therefore presumed that you had no
more to return.
AS the value of the sixteen bottles does
not amount to sixpence credit note can
~ do 10,
On personal application, however, at the
chief cashiers Office any time after Mon
day next SID. will be handed to you by
quoting petty cash sheet sheet, dated 18th
November, OF" / am, madam,
Your obedient servant,
Now this letter took some time to write,
being done in the oldf ashoned way, not
on the typewriter, which the army and
navy stores would Scorn to use, and cost
a penny to send through the post, which
would bring the sum up to more than the
sixpence required for credit note. So
the cook will present herself in person at
the chief cashiers desk and receive Oh
large coppers, but note the scrupulous
courtesy with which this small matter was
attended to by great company having
FIVE large depots and representatives at
thirty foreign places
New Town House for Marlboroughs.
The Duchess of Marlborough will soon
have a sumptuous home in London. The
traditional affection of the Churchiils for
housebuilding has been inherited by the
| present Duke of Marlborough. One can
| now get an idea of the magnificent proper
| tions Of the great mansion which the duke
| is erecting in Curzen street, MAYFAIR on
| the site Of the Old Curzon chapel, opposite
| Crewe House, where, it is said-though the
| point has been disputed-the Rev. Charles
| Honeyman, the tutor of Give Newcome,
| preached and let the cellars beneath to a
wine merchant. The chapel was what is
known a proprietary chapel, and until
| three or four years ago was one of the most
1 fashionable places OF worship in London.
1t was sold by Earl Howe to the Duke of
| Marlborough, who pulled 1t down and pro-
| ceeded to erect mansion thereon, which
| will hereafter be the London house of the
| American duchess The workmen have bees
| eighteen months at work, and are likely to
| be another eighteen months before the
| house is ready for occupation 1t is built
! of Portland stone, and although there is a
doric simplicity about the columns in the
| front, there are signs that 1t will contain
| some elaborate carvings The building con-
tract runs into six figures, but the total ex-
| Dense of getting into the h0lise W II Is