New-York tribune., 1902-10-01
A NEW FTF%H-AVE. STORE,
1T WOULD SURPRISE THOSE WHO FREoUENTED
KNoXs HOLE IN THE WALL IN
FUEroN-sT.

Il Advance and / Accomplish" the prsceue
auopted oy Knox. the Halter. "MoveO et Prohcio..
mas oeeh as suide0oard TO that house during the
sN'y-'"o years OF It's existence. In 1898 Charles
Knox opened hat store az No 10 FultoDs.
which was known In the vernacular of The 1s,, a.
the Hole I'm the Wall" Here he houriShed sfte-
years of success at this stand he leased and aftar
Wsrd bought the building at the northeast corner
OF Futon-st. and Broadway Baruum's Museum,
then occupied the corner OF Ann-st and Knox
often stood In hts doorway and enioved the con-
certs as the band played the balcony OF the
museum close by. Knox had become strors, IN
the friendship OF many prominent men OF the day
and could be found enjoying his midday meal az
the Merchants Hotel IN Cortlaudt-st IN tLo1
company
Knox had many tdosyncrasies. He would for
considerable time after the Hole In the Wan'.
was opened. persist in taking down the shutters In
the morning and replacing them at night For a
great many years he wore apron IN the store.
such as the fullers used at the bench aIthouzh
he never went the bench 10 exercise anv az th
duties or the trade. When friend OF his entered
the store Knox would invariably take the hat from
his friends head and throw 10 one or his CLERKS
telling him at the same time to either sau bIs
friend a new hat send the hat upstairs "a he
ironed. He was given much TO talking with h,a
clerks and would often reprove them for indis-
cretions in the store and in their private life Hs
would tell the young applicant for clerkship that
Clerks were born. not made" After the war and
when the reconstruction days had come and gone.
many OF the old downtown houses moved or opened
branches further uptown Knox opened store at
Sprlns-st and Broadway, and later. when the
Fifth Avenue Hotel was built he leased the store
stu occupied by him in that building
Charles Knox died In 1895 bur long bafora hfz
death another Knox Edward NJ. had begun his
career in his fathers store. and IL was after the
younger knoX.s entry into the business that It's
most marked development took place.
without dtscOntinuiHg either of the old sfOras
knox mas again moved uptown This time he IS al
rorueth-st. and tiftn-ave Across the WAY Is tha
site OF the old reservoir which supplied the citv
with water in 1870. now the OF the New Public
Library. Back OF this is Bryant Park which held
the crystal Palace. Here. upon the most promi-
nent avenue In New-YOrk and upon one of the
choicest business sites in the city. palatiai office
building has been erected The store would have
surprised the frequenters OF Merchants Hotel
could they have seen u in their day. Is safe to
say that no such gorgeOusly fitted store existed
anywhere on the island in that day. In this store
the woodwork is of CirCassian walnut. handsomely
carved and panelled. Counters of bronze ana mar
| ole nave been made. Huge mirrors OF plate glass
nave been set in hand wrought iron frames. A
railing with handmade ornaments decOrates the
gallery which enctrcles three sides OF the store
Gold plated drawer and slide pulls for the wall
cases are used. Beautiful chandeliers make the
ceiling brilliant with light and gorgeous with orna-
ment A Womens 3 department unthOught OF in
the early days receives an important place for the
modern halter considers dealing IN hats for women
/ legitimate part OF the hatter's business. NIL
liners VIII be constantly employed upon the prem
lses. star Of highly efficient attendants are
Il already installed