Evening journal., 1907-03-21
NEW COMPANY HAS
LOCATED HERE
Better Cigars the Motto
Of Firm at Fourth and
Market Streets

The United Cigar Stores Company has
come TO Wilmington. This was inevitable
inasmuch as for the past four years Il nas
been reaching out into now territory and
naturally would not be likely to overlook
field as promising as this city. In other
cities. as for instance, New York. Chicago.
San Francisco. Boston, Philadelphia.
Kansas City, Minneapolis, ST. Paul. Pitts
burg. Buffalo Rocaoster, New Haven. In
dianapois and Providence. Il Is credited
with having completely revoiuuonized the
retail cigar business. Its stores every
where are made aa beautiful and attrac-
tive as It Is possible TO get them BY em-
ployment Of modern equipment and the
service IN them Is being kept at the Same
high level. only statesmen trained 70 their
duties are employed. Politeness is cS-
acted OF every salesman az part requi-
site OF retention In the company's employ.
It is the aim Of the company to please GUS
toners at all hazards. mo sale complete
until tho customer Is satisfied Is the
motto OF the system.
The United Cigar Stores Company had
its origin in the mind Of the man, now It's
president. George j. Whelan. who Started
his business career as the proprietor OF
a hotel cigar stand in Syracuse. N. Y. This
was not so many years ago, FOR Mr.. Whei-
an is stll young, with the bclt part OF his
life before him. Being often in New York,
Il came to his attention that outside OF
few places In addition to the hotel stands
the retail tobacco business was In "a bad
, way For the most part Il hid its head 10
dingy, untidy shops that were little bet-
ter chan h9ies in The wall ell over ahe big
town cIcanilness and good order were
visible hardly anywhere. In fact Il was
a matter OF some difficulty to get good
cigar in New York city. There hundreds
J OF inconsequential dealers, with a work
= bench in their shops. we're pushing their
q own brands and leaving the customer no
range Of choice rhey waited on you with
smutty fingers and in their working
aprons
= It occurred to Mr. whelan that smokers
deserved eomething better, and though he
never took his eye or New York he
, first put his idea Of a consolidated system
In force in a number Of the smaller cities
, of New York state. This enterprise was
fairly successful. but with what capita.
he had and the backing OF good friends
Z who believed in him, he finally invaded
4 New York,
I All sorts Of difficulties were TO be con.
% fronted. but in the end he had the United
7 Cigar stores Company going in a little
down town store.
Little by little ne widened his field, un'
I'll to-day the system numbers hundreds o.
y Stores, over $50 II which are IN Greater
s New York. "stores all Overcome always
n in sight" is the legend. Every store is az
J. ornament to its locality, being fitted with
p every device and appointment to render 1
e attractive.
n When the famous Flatiron building a
l. Broadway and Fifth avenue was erectc'
the United Cigar Stores Company rente
: half the ground floor. Everybody knew tn
I. rent must be fabulous-S55,ooO year
!. so the story ran-and everybody said tina
such venture must prove disastrous
But the company had been a revelation q
10 New York. and the country boy In who's
i brain the idea was born soon became al
ENTITY in the great concerns Of the metro
Il polls.
IS Even to-day. however although know
" as the originator and president Of one
y the modern wonders OF business, Mr.
y Nvheian is modest enough TO be contin'l
y ally trying to conceal his identity' IA
I ascribes his success largely to the spill
j. Of Cooperation which has marked the ser
J, vice OF the men he has gathered abou
= him and credits them with the larger par
= of his success.
n opportunity" Mr.. whelan declares. q
It the vital element Of success. Every mai
can do something better than the otho
man, and IL you can only discover wiha
that something is. you can get The bes
out Of him The trouble in this world 2
that lots Of capable men are kept putter
> ing at little things, when If the opportun
lity came their way they would show thei
y, real merit
Opportunity to advance Is all that mos
y Of us need. In the United Cigar Store
" Company that is what we try to Civ
every man from the lowest to the high