The Washington herald., 1907-02-24
YANKEE SHOPS IN LONDON
Ambitious American Merchants In
vading the British Metropolis.
Modern Methods TO Be TntrOd uccd in
Trading-Direct Connection with
Tubes" Novel Feature.

Just 10 the west OF Duke street. and on
TIE north side of oxford street, remarks
the London Telegraph, some buildings
ere being pulled down and others are in
state of decrepitude which herdlds
speedy disappearance Il is evident that
something new must take their place. and
q representative OF the Telegraph, who
has been visiting various sites that have
changed their aspect lately. made iHquir-
les yesterday morning at the new build
ings with which Messrs WAITING and Gil
low have beautiied oxford street. He
was referred direct 10 Mr.. Selfridse,
whose temporary Offices are just opposite
494, so that he can keep his eye on the
site that viii shortly be changed out Of
al knowledge by the enormous scheme
which he is beginning TO develop. When
It is understood that Mr., Selfridge is the
man who practically created Marshall
Fields huge store in Chicago, j., will be
realized that he knows his business. our
representative discovered that he was
quite able to explain it, too, so far as it
was advisable at present for the public to
get some idea Of the future as he plans il.
You must understand, to begin with
10 pose an as American INVASION Under
no circumstances has the thought oC-
CURED 10 me Of tedching you anything.
That would be impossible. ] have come
here because / am attracted. as many an
other American has been before me. BY
the opportunities afforded for a large
and digniHed business in your great and
wealthy metropolis, q business that will
not interfere with existing English c0n-
Germs. but that is intended to introduce
something new. / propose to learn all
can before we start, in order to begin on
lines that will not only be prosperous.
but uD 10 date and lively. The motto of
Nessrs. ScifTi6ge and Warnings store
viii be integrity Of business principles.
the highest quality Of merchandise. and
accuracy in all our statements. We shall
stock only the best. A purchaser remem-
bers the quality Of goods long after H.
flrgets their price.
On tie table WAS a pile Of architects
drawings in white lines on blue paper
They showed d fine building. go feet by
200 feet, stretching back from Oxford
street TO Somerset street. and with thirl
open side on Duke street The front is
to be decorated with graceful COTinthiau
pilasjers and the whole effect is likely
TO add to the imposing appearance of this
important thOrOUghfare The Coustruc-
ton viii be Of Portland stone and steel
throughout. and as freproof as modern
ingenuity can make a bUilding on which
the brightest energies OF both English
and American architects have been con-
centrated. rs was explained in the Teie-
graph the inventiveness Of the American
genius has already been displayed in the
proposal that the new store should be di-
rectIy connected with the Bond street
station OF the Tube Railway, so that pas
seugeIs could pass from the train
through an underground passage into the
shop without having 10 go out of doors
at all. Whether the local authorities viii
admit a principle so novel in under
ground metropolitan traffic is get to be
seen. but Mr.. II. O. Wells would have
little doubt about its benefits. and it
might we'll be that a subway, which would
serve other public uses as well as that
Of bringing customers 10 a particular
shop, would obtain careful consideration.
Whether this detail in the scheme goes
through or not, il is typical of the cner-
getlc spirit that animates the whole Of
this new undertaking; but our Tepresen-
tative did not touch upon it yesterday,
aud only asked for more information
concerning the big store that was short
y 10 be set up.