The Washington times., 1903-07-19
SMALLEST BUSINESS HOUSE :. :. :,
:: : IN THE CITY OF WASHINGTON
1t IS on u Street North
west, in a Fashionable
SectionIof the City, and
Serves Uncle George
Weyman as Shoe Shop
and Residence. - :.

wv houses that cover nearly a
square, but a store on U
Street, between Sixteenth and Seven
teenth. bears off the prize for being the
very smallest in the city. The smallest
business house in Washington is one of
the smoothest running establishments in
the world-bar none. Disputes and diff
ferences between the manager and the
clerks. bad blood between the floor walk
er and the shop girls. friction in any de-
partment-all these are absolutely un-
known. Cashiers never steal, nor clerks
deceive. nor cash boys read dime novels
under desks when the cry is .Caaash.
CAAAAASHi"
One saleslady never says to another.
"Ohi You wretch. l wouldn't give you
a mouthful OF food II you were drown
ing. I'm lady, I am" The proprietor's
name in the smallest business house in
Washington is George weyman. a good
name, and not unknown to fame The
managers name is George Weyman; the
cashiers is George Weyman; the floor
walker requests that he be called G.
weyman; the saleslady's name is George
Weyman, as is the scrublady's, the cash
boys, the shopgirl's and the ash mans.
You have guessed already that all these
positions are rolled into one. and that
it is filled by a single man in the small
est business house in Washington.
The Proprietor.
uncle George" as he is known to ev-
eryone was a slave about forty years
ago. and made shoes for his master and
mistress. He was seventy-five years old
on his last birthday. and declares that
he would not mind II he we're to see sew
enty-five more birthdays He saw the
first steam cars that ran from Balti-
more to Frederick. he remembers when
gentlemen wore peg top trousers and
ladies tripped along the streets in hoops.
His shop is fifteen years old. and is
eight feet high by twelve feet long. Two
fat men could never pass one another
inside. and even when one customer is
buying the other has to wait outside in
order that he may have free elbow play
But the shop is not considered small by
It's patrons. Its smallness only renders
1t the more coy and comfortable.
Interior of the Smallest Business House
Boots, shoes. slippers. sneaks, sandals,
every sort of footwear is here displayed.
Uncle George hangs the pair of shoes
which are brought 10 him for mendinR
In his tiny window before he starts TO
work upon them. He does this that the
passer-by may see the condition of these
pieces of leather before he has taken
hold OF them He puts those shoes in
hiF window with the spirit of the Eng
lish knights who cast their glove into
their foeman's face II is a gage of
conflict. a dare to the trial Of skill. It
is as IL Uncle George said: Oar. now.
ladies and genelmen. you see what dem
shoes is. don't yer? Now, you Jes' wait
twill I gifts arter EN-"
few days later the shoes will reap-
pear, neatly mended and completely re-
tuvenated. Uncle George is boldly de-
liant now He has yanquished the en-
emy He will look at them every now
and then as II 10 say: Oar dey is. Ia
dies and genelmen. dar dey is. Use done
fixed UNI I'd laak ter see anybody whut
could do any better"
A Pair o. Boots.
Here is pair of long boots so dis
played. leather challenge 10 the shoe
making world. They are Just such boots
as a cavalIyman might have worn dur
ing the civil war. They are neatly
blackcd. but there is slit an inch long
on the side, just over where the small |
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