McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1916-06-23

teT Wndb tuc UuJcCb. nc Hdo opcHo
the greatest part Of a long life Che
must be far over 70, now in building
up this immense business, but if one
were to ask him of which he was the
most proud, he would undoubtedly
say: my Sunday School," For many
years he has taught Sunday school in
Philadelphia, and may be doing it yet,
for ought know.
The only time ever saw John
Wanamaker was in 1892. when my
brother and |, then in Washington,
called at the Post Office Department
to get look at him. He was then
postmaster general. We had no bus
mess on earth with him; just wanted
to look at him, that was all, for we
had read a lot about him. Entering
the ante-room Of bis Office and look
ing at the slick nigger that stood
guard there, we got scared, and be-
gan to wish we might not find Mr..
Wanamaker there. But we did, and
very soon slender, graY-haired man
with kindly but very keen counten-
ance stepped in, SO spick-and-span
looking that he seemed to have come
from band-box in one of his own
stores, and shook hands with us, and
wanted to know how he could serve
US. What could we say! managed
to blurt out that we were from Flor
ida, and had heard of him. 1t seemed
to please him that anybody from as
far away as Florida had heard OF
John Wanamaker. and he smiled his
brightest and said something nice to
US, which have now forgotten. Some
way we got out of it, without making
downright fools of ourselves, but |
suspect that he more than once
smiled in thinking of our awkward
visit to him. and knew we only want
ed to look him over. His store here
is at the old A. 7. Stewart stand.
Stewart was one of the first Of the
famous merchant princes of New
York, and he was made particularly
noteworthy after his death by the act
of some ghouls in breaking into his
tomb and stealing his body. | don't
think it ever was recovered.
The biggest store in New York is
that of B. Altman, perhaps, on Fifth
avenue. Then there is Gimbel Broth
ers, Macy's, etc. The latter store
occupies corner site. except that
right at the outer corner there is a
little building which no amount of
money seems to be able to buy. No
doubt Macy would be willing to give
the owner several times its real value
in order to own the whole corner, but
he cannot get it.
inquired as to the rental values
along Park Row and other places.
One man. who had about twenty-five
feet front, told me he had to pay
81 900 a month for the one room.
There is store somewhere here that
is only three feet wide, used as a
cobbler shop, and it is always rented
at good price.
The New York Tribune runs a de-
partment in its paper called the "Ad-
VISOR" in which, two or three times
week, people are privileged to tell
Of places where they have been swim
died by merchants. The writers whose
letters are printed get two dollars
apiece for them, and some of the let
ters praise good treatment. while
others show up sharp practices.
Names aud locations of stores, and
the whole transaction, whether good
or bad, appear in that column, and its
publication has had very wholesome
effect upon business men generally,
| for to be shown up in that great
newspaper as a fraud and cheat is a
great damage to any firm. Many of
course threaten to sue for damages,
but the Tribune says all comers in
that line will be made welcome, and
somebody gets hit every week, some
of them big firms carrying millions in
stock.
So far as have seen, person Of
ordinary intelligence stands no more
risk of getting cheated here in pur-
chases than he would anywhere else
He must keep his eyes open for short.
change artists, bad money sharps
etc. (There is little money here that
is not good, although you occasionally
see Canadian dime or quarter.) The