The San Francisco call., 1909-03-14
DISPLAY PROVES
UNEQUALED IN
FASHION MARTS
Thousands Attend Reception in
Great Store and View
Costly Stock
Return of White House to
Downtown Location Is Last
Step in City's Recovery

Ten thousand persons attended an
inauguration at the White House last
night. There was no blizzard this time
10 mar the occasion; no gusty winds
howled nor keen sIeet cut to the skin.
Refreshing breezes through open win
dows famed the guests. for the inaug-
lration ceremonies took place in San
Francisco at the corner of sutter street
and Grant avenue
The reception was given to the people
OF the bay cities by Raphael WE'LL &
Co. to signalize the reopening down
town OF the famous store, which was
first opened at Kearny and Post streets
40 years ago.
To the city Of san Francisco the in
augurstion at the White House last
night had all the significance that a
presidential Inauguration has to the na-
tion. 1t was the inauguration of the
newer. greater. grander San Francisco.
II marked the return down town of the
great bulk of the stores that had been
swept away in the big fire. They have
been coming back in greater or less de-
gree for months. The return Of the
White House to the old down town
marks the last step in the shifting back
Of the shopping center.
FINER THAN EVER BEFORE
Tile new White House is far bigger
and finer in every way than it was be-
fore the fire. one million dollars is in
vested in the building, and hundreds of
thousands more in stock of goods that
for rarity and artistic standards is un-
excelled in the fashion marts Of Amer
ica.
To Raphael Wein. president of the
White House corporation and founder
OF the great institution, is practically
alone due the restoration OF one Of San
Frsnoiseo's most notable stores. Ra-
phael Well is not merely a merchant
prince. he is, FIRST of all. a citizen Of
san Francisco. His prominence in every
movement for the public welfare and
his ready help for every worthy cause
have long been known to every man and
woman in san Francisco.
The great White House store,
A
floor space jammed with the finest Of
the worlds merchandise. is monu-
ment 10 Raphael Wells public spirit.
His foresight. his indomitable enter
prise and loyalty TO the city of his
adoption, are in no small measure re-
sponsible for the rehabilitation of San
Francisco. 1t was his encouraging
voice and steadfast optimism which
was not the least factor in the de-
termination Of the burned out citizens
10 rebuild a finer city than before.
WELLS FAMOUS TELEGRAM
Raphael weills famous telegram to
his Paris buyer sent on April p, one
week after the earthquake and fire
had leVeled the entire business district.
IS one Of the prettiest bits of history
OF those portentous days.
Cancel no orders for Christmas
goods" wired Weill while the ashes
OF square miles of business section
still smoldered; send every piece of
goods ordered. / predict the biggest
Christmas sale for 1906 in the history
of San Francisco" His prophecy was
a true one.
II was Raphael Weill who clothed
5000 deserving women with the best
that his store contained, freely, in the
days following the FIRE. For this he
was made a chevalier Of the French
Legion Of Honor. But his proudest dis
unction is that Of citizen of Cali
fornia.
He has been banqueted and dined and
presented with loving cups and decora-
tions innmnerable BY grateful citizens
Of san Francisco 1t is Characteristic
OF the man that those nearest TO him
love him best His employees are his
inost loyal supporters.
Raphael Weill came to California
from France January -, 1854 He
passed year ia Los Angeles and then
moved to San Francisco. where he en-
tered the store which was the founda-
tion Of the present White House. This
little store. which was run under the
firm name OF Davidson & Lane, was
located in Sacramento street above
Montgomery.
BECOMES SILENT PARTNER
Lane quit the firm in 1858 and
Raphael Weill became a silent member
which then assumed the name of
Davidson & Co. IN 1864 the firm. fol-
lowing the line Of commercial prog
ress, moved 10 a location beneath the
old Lick house in Montgomery street
Then in 1870. nearly 80 wears ago the
store paoved 10 its best known location
At Kearny and Posts streets. where
it remained under the name Of The
White House" until ii was DESTROYED
by the connagration Of 1906.
when the new enterprise was begun
after the fire Raphael Well took his
associates into the firm and increased
the capital stock Of the corporation
from 100000 to s1,5O0,00O. fully paid
up. The officers Of the corporation as
81 is now organized are as follows:
Raphael Well, president; Eugene CAL
lois first vice president; A. Roullier,
second vice president; A. J. Fair
weather. director: D. O. Davis. director.
Each Of the members OF the firm has
been with the White House for more
lhsn 2 quarter Of a century.