The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-03-29

of what may be called commercial archfteeture. It's front, on Court Square, Stretches wide and high. of chaste white enamel brick with blue trim uings. It Is topped by handsome par apek and for recommendation has four beautiful heads of medallion form. Not fhe least attractive of its beauties is the bread display of plate glass win aows. extended. except for the vesti- bufea entirely across the front of Mont gomery Fair. The vestibules extend within the building and reach swing tng plate glass doora.
 The building Is entirely modern in construction. and Is hreproof. It has . frontage Of 100 feet on Court Square ana has a depth of 14e feet 1t eon- tntns feur stories and the basement.
 2 It is the interior of the building that is most admirable. Within the walls no contrfvances or plan that tends for comfort and safety of employe and pat ron, and for effectiveness of display of merchandise as well as convenience in handling 1t. has been omitted. Light and ventilation of exact degree of san ttatfon and hygiene are afforded in every nook and corner. as well as in the wider spaces of the building. in which there has been employed every scheme to eeonomize space and yet lav- fnhiy allow ease of movement through an imrnensity of materials and throng of busy employees and eager customers that with less of system would be but insurmountable obstacles and an animated hurly-burly.
 The Ground FI0Or.
 Upon the ground floor. entering from Court Square, the patrons of the Fair hnd themselves within a hall whose extensfveness of nearly an acre is hard Ay realized because of the remarkable arrangements Aisles are so wide that hhere is no possibility of a crush, for while the departments even upon one noor are numerous. they are not ir- regular; wide are the passageways on each side of the generously large dis play tables on which are the big stocks of silks. dressgoods, embroider- 5es, laees. white goods. linens, wash fabrics handkerchiefs. hosiery gloves clothing, mems furnishings, notions neckwears, pArasols.
 The entire space across the rear of the first floor is utilized for the shoe ,AsaafSrasnt for men. women and chill ssdren.
 Not that only the arrangement of the floor spaces on the ground story, or, indeed, on any story, is admirable. Tne interior decorations are beautifu# The finish Is in mahogantzed birch from cellar to roof, and 1t affords Tor nrtisticalIy grouped and placed stuffs
 
 ground. Walls, tables and other store Furniture are of the same material, de- signed simply and with striking eneet of strength and richness. And at the rear is a stairway of singular beauty.
 Here may best be mentioned the wonderful illumination of the building
 To illuminate a building of such size as is Montgomery Fair. as 1t stands in the middle of a block with tall buildings hedging 1t about, is an sarehitectural problem of singular diff eficulty. But the solution of the prob lem. however hard it may have been to get at. was made completely and finally | gby the men who planned Montgomery | Fair And 1t was very simple too | after 1t had been done. With the use | of a primatic construction of window | glass, the multiplied sunlight until, | At not made darkness visible. as it Is | said in a line of Milton, but made | brfghtness daTkened; some of the lights | are so intense that they have to be softened with double shades.
 The artificial illumination of the ]. building naturally-if there Is a pun "a that H is both incidental and acei- dentat--ths artificial illumination. of | cour6e. offered no unusual difficulties With the softened brillianee of 1eS arcs and hundreds of ineandaAcent ElohaA