The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-05
Employe Must Have RESPONSE
bility in Order to Insure
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Concern.
VISITING MERCHANTS
EAT AND MAKE MERRY
Miller and Rhoads Act Hosts
to Five Hundred Southerners
Here for Spring Trade
Week Big Firm Has Open
House.

ness men from the South confronting
him last night, W. S. Rhoads. of the
firm of Miller a. Rhoads. gave away
the secrets OF the success of a great
department house.
The road to success, said Mr..
Rhoads. lies along the line of pro-
gresfiveness. And TO he progressive
a merchant must first give the people
the best, the latest, the newest, and
that which he advertises. and think
of the price after all"
The occasion was the reception
given the visiting merchants from
the Caroiinas. Virginia. Georgia, and
other States. Many of these mer-
chants have been in the habit or GO
ing TO Baltimore and other Northern
cities for their goods 1t has cost
them much more, and they have
found that there Is no difference in
the quality, except perhaps in favor
OF Richmond. They are here this
week as the guests of the Trade Ex-
tension Bureau of the chamber of
commerce. and the city of Richmond.
and Incidentally iast night. they
were the guests of Messrs Miller &
Rhoads.
All during the week the merchants
who are getting in their sprng and
summer stocks have been coming into
Richmond. Every train from the
South has. brought them. They have
been taken in hand by the commit
teemen. and have been given insights
into the cordially and hospitality of
Richmond They have been gwen
the key of the city by Mayor Ainsln.
and have been greeted by Governor
! Stuart. They have dined and rub
bed shoulders with the best Rich.
mond has TO offer. and the apex of
the week was reached last night,
when the great department store of
Miller a. Rhoads was thrown open
to them. and under the personal
conduct OF the proprietors. they were
given practical illustrations of the
manner in which great stores are con-
Quoted.
The irrepressihle Alvin Smith. of
the Smith-Courtney company acted
as master of ceremonies. The diff
flcult duty OF introducing the speak.
erss fell TO him. After introducing
himself, MIR. Smith presented Mayor
Ainslie. For two minutes the mayor
was unable to speak. The applause
was too deafening. II there had
been any rafters they would have
rung.
Mayor Ainslie gave the visitors and
their ladies most cordial greeting.
He told them that the city was theirs
as long as they remained here. He
explained that the movement by
which the merchants were induced to
come here was primarily for the pur-
pose of getting acquainted.
For Common Cause.
by getting acquainted with each
other said Mayor Ainslie, I'VE grow
fonder. We find that we are all
working for common interest. What
is good for us must be good for you
We cannot afford TO give YOU some
thing which may not prove to &c
worthy OF the object we have in view.
We benefit little; you benefit a little,
and both of us profit all together"
Mr. Smith then introduced Presl-
dent Reed, of. the chamber of COM
merce. who spoke along the same
lines as those Of the mayor, going
probably a little stronger along the
get together" proposition.
1--WE want our friends to the South
of us to feel that they need go no
farther in the search for supplies. We
can give them to You as well, If not
better, than the more Northern cities,
and we want you all to feel that what
you are. getting Is the best" said Mr..
Reed
In the meantime, Professor kess-
nich's orchestra played all the old fa-
mi1iar Southern airs. and kept every
one moving when the quadrille and
Turkey in the Straw was played.
Then Mr.. Rhoads. as one of the hosts.
gave his secret way. The party sat
around innumerable tables. graced with
cut and growing plants, and with
hanging reminiscent OF oriental SPLEEN
dor. while the Kessnich music from
behind a bank of palms. broke forth
with strains which arose or sank as
the occasion required.
The remarks of Mr.. Rhoads were re-
'ceived with prolonged applause. He
gave the visitors many pointers and
AZ was apparent that what he said inn
pressed his hearers.
secret OF Success.
we do not always realize how. much
progress throughout the country de-
ponds upon the country merchant in
the furnishing OF implements, provis-
ions. and general merchandise supplies
said Mr.. Rhoads..
"A community Is aided or handi,
capped according to Its ability to OBJ
tain its necessary supplies from local
sources. The farmer and the country
merchant are the real pioneers In the
development of any country. Other
lines are largely incidental. but the far
mer and the merchant stand out as
the basic factors In the nphuilding OF
q community.
THE country store Is the original
department store. 1t has merely reached
Its climax in the larger cities And
now my subject leads me to modern
merchandising methods in modern
department. store.
Modern merchandising has practi-
caily become science in the CONNER
cial world; but there In no mysterious
Lxn.
(Continued On GoaonA nawa.l