Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-31
SPRING OPENING.
j. A. Phillips Entertains Throngs
Of People at the Big Store.
CONTINUED TODAY AND TOMORROW
Goods Well Displayed in the Various
Departments New Departure in
Connection With Millinery Display
Other Interesting Features.

From Fridays Daily.
Mr.. Phillips is nothing if not orig
inal, and as usual the opening contain
ed many original features quite out of
the ordinary. THE cardinal of beau
ty" in the millinery department was
the hit Of the evening. Six of Ottum-
was charming young ladies', Misses
Sarah Murphy, Elsie Smith, Mary List,
Rose Ostdiek, Margaret Sullivan and
little Mildred Baker, representing the
various types of American girls, did
their turns on an elevated stage in the
rear of the millinery department, illus.
trating the points of the Big Stores
hats, and fully demonstrating the tai
ent and artistic instinct of Mis- Spur
lock, who believes hat to be a sue
cess, must be becoming and judging
from the EXPLANATIONS of admiration as
the models appeared on the stage,
such was the case.
Lpcius Mahon made the opening ad.
dress in his usual breezy fashion, stating
he came all the way from Paris to take
part in this opening and incidentally
spoke of changing cars at Dahlonega,
arriving just in the nick of time. Mr..
Mahon commented briefly on the Won
lderful growth of the business and said,
''the store showed an actual increase
of nearly $4,000 during the past year
and at the present time was one of the
Ebest paying stores in the city"
The Big Store occupies frontage OF
60 feet with 5-story addition, so feet
wide, making total depth of 236 feet
! Music was furnished by the Schuber
\ Mandolin orchestra and John F. Hank
ammer, of Hedrick, well known i'm
4 personator, read the Chariot Race,
from "Ben-Hur" His recital ELECTED
tInuch applause and these numbers ad
4 ded much to the interest of the even
ing.
! The cloak and suit department Tin
der the direction of Mr.. Young is on
! of the strongest departments of tn
Big Store. The showing OF silk jack
cts, shirt waists and tailor made suit
would do credit to a store twice thi
size. The dress goods department ur
der the management of Mr.. Childs
made a magnificent showing, all of tn
new weaves being on display, the pre-
fusion of fine silks was fairly dazzling
In linens and wash good, Messrs. Wat
: land and Eckles made very credit
able showing, their display of fin
: white waistings was very beautiful.
: In the shoe department, under tn
; management of Messrs. Erland ant
I Breeding, there was an elaborate dis
: play of the celebrated Queen Qualit
n shoe.
The mems spring suits in the clott
4 ing department were displayed by MI
Swanson in a way that did the stor
: great credit Mr. Lafferty has also mad
: an improvement in the grocery dc
r partment. 1t is very bright and clear
: as is the meat department, under tn
e management of Mr.. Shelton.
) Mr.. McGrath has made radica
s changes in the furniture department
), and is showing very beautiful me-
J, line of carpets, furniture and draperie
|, The art drapery in the front of tn
a store, the work of Mr.. Katow, the Jal
r anese artist, was marvel OF beaut!
= Mr.. Katow will give free lessons 0
e the second floor, beginning Monday.
II Taken as whole, the opening was
J. grand success, the store being crow
s ed until late in the evening.