Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-14
Prominent Republicans OF
WaterVille and Vicinity.
NO. v, LUTHER H. SOPER,
OFFICE, 100 MAIN STREET.

Luther II. Soper, the subject of this
sketch. was born in Old Town May %,
1852. He was educated in the common
schools of his native town and at a
business college in Augusta. At the
| age OF 16 he began work, and later
| entered store in Old Town as clerk.
He was employed for a time in the
store of Woodman, True & Company,
| Portland, but returned to Oldtown and
engaged in the dry-gOods business. In
1871 he came to 7Waterville and i'm
| mediately set up in business for him.
self. In 1890 he built the fine brick
building now occupied by the L. III.
Soper Company, and at first occupied
the first floor of the building. The
dry-gOods business steadily increased
and Mr.. Soper as steadily added to his
room until he finally occupied the en-
tire building. Mr.. Soper has a large
branch house in Madison and has been
extensively engaged in numbering BUSH
ness. He is a member of the Congre-
Gational church and of the /. o. o. F.
In 1905 Mr. Sopcr bought the building
on the corner of Temple and Main now
occupied by Haskcll's grocery. as well
as the Phoenix block just south OF it.
of any individual in the city.
In conversation with Il Journal repre-
sentative Mr.. Snpcr told some interest
ing facts regarding the dry goods BUSH
ness, past and present.
81 have seen the advent of great
changes in the dry-goods business since
I first entered the business. Take for
instance the first thing that occurs to
tha
hosiery. When | came first to know
the dry goods business almost the sole
thing which was sold for underwear
was the red flannel. Today ALL or
nearly all, of the ladies' underwear is
knit goods. The hose of my early cx-
p"ricnce in the business were entirely
white hose, While today We have them
in all the coiors of the rainbow. and of
the most fancy patterns. Take ladies'
garments, Where the cape and doIo-
men was the sole variety that were Of
fcrcd the purchaser years ago, there
arc at present scores of styles from
Which she may make her selection.
The rcady-made dresses and the suits
of today We're a thing totally unknown
in the first days of my experience.
What is known now as the "shirt waist
suit" an article which women con-
slider one of the greatest blessings Of
modern times in the way of things
wcarablc, was convenience not
dreamed of thirty years ago. And
women are now able to pur-
chase all tho articles of apparel which
they need today. while in those times
there were not nearly as many articles
of wearing apparel upon the market.
1.-THE same thing is true of chill
dren's and infants clothing. Once Il
mother who wished to dress her child
bccOmingly and prettily must have re-
course to her own needle. for the mar
ket did not supply the styles for the
little ones as it docs now. The child |
today may be clothed from exactly as |
large Il variety as its elders, and the
different manufacturers vie with each
other in striving to produce the dainti- |
est possible creations for the little |
ones. When | went into the business |
almost nothing could be had for them. |
but today they can be clothed from |
head to foot in single store. and the |
need no longer exists for the mother to |
make all the garments with her own
hands.
'"Thc people demand more ana more |
with the passing years, said Mr. |
Soper. land the variety of nccktics, |
belts and other fancy goods is almost |
DverwhC Inning to the mind. Further !
more, the variety in these goods in