The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1907-01-29
GREAT STETSON
AUDITORIUM OPENED
Growing Act Of the Great Hat
Manufacturers Life.

udy DeIOFe GHTISbfHaSs W6F'
thrown open the doors of struc
ure nearly block in length
with seating capacity Of 5000
This is the Stetson Auditorium
the complication of which wa
the cherished wish of the found
er OF John b. SIetson Company.
In Philadelphia, a city of d mil
lion and quarter people, tbs
Stetson Auditorium outranks all
other edifices of similar charac-
ter in point of seating capacity,
simplicity of utility and massive
ness of construction. Upon its
stage is an immense pipe organ,
which cost $4,000. The interi-
or of the structure is not CON-
pIetely finished, but it is under
stood that the art Of the fresco
painter and the interior decora-
tor will be utilized in a truly
pleasing way, calculated to
arouse the esthetic sensibiIities
and make it a thing of beauty
and inspiration.
Early on the morning in ques-
tion the army of employees, in
their best attire, with bright, ex-
pectant faces filed into the struct-
ure with almost military precis-
ion, aud in a few moments COM
pletely filled the place, the female
employees entering through a
bridge thrown across the street,
they being seated in che encir-
cling balcony. While this wa3
going on the immense or
gan thundered out strains of
majestic, finally dropping into
the rendition of sweet songs,
which were hummed by hun
dreds In the audience.
j. Howell Cummings, presi-
dent of the John B. Stetson Com
pany, who sat upon the platform
with the various officials, raped
for order and, addressing the
sea of faces before him, referred
to the pleasure he and the others
felt upon the opportunity pre-
senting itself to be able to hold
this Christmas anniversary in
the Stetson Auditorium. TT @
almost inaudible murmur, which
always accompanies the congre-
eating Of such a large mass of
hea ers, became even more in
audiole when the speaker feel
ingly referred to the fact that the
pleasure of all would have been
able to be present to participate,
the man whose great business
ability and foresight had brought
about this wonderful and beauti-
full structure, and whose Iovable
nature and. broad, sympathetic
mind had been a source of help
and inspiration to so many. The
speaker said there were 4,215
persons in the employ of the
firm in 1906, an increase over
1905 of 927 persons.
The distribution of cash,
watches, chains, John B. Stetson
Company common stock and
John B. Stetson Company Build
ing & Loan Company shares was
then made to the various en-
ployes, which act was accompa-
MED by the keenest interest of
the employees, sthe numerous re-
cipients being applauded most
vigorously. Two hundred and ten
boys in one department. got
50, ,450 in cash; "a got gold chains
who last year got gold watches;
% got gold watches. Quite a
number of hands were each allot-
ted three shares of Stetson Com
pany common stock, par value
500, present value $3.50 per
share. for long and meritorious
service, while others, for the
same reason, secured five shares
of the building stock, valued at
1000. Each girl secured box
of candy and pair of gloves; six
ty-two of the highest grade solid
gold watches were allotted to 81
young men and older men.
President Cummings then an
nounced the statement of ssper-
centages,' saying there were
383 men in the sizing department
alone, who were to receive a to-