Evening star., 1922-12-12

VINO arrived 100 late.
Life Insured for 13,O00.00O.
The Wanamaker store here and the
notice appearing on the doors that
tho stores would remain closed until
further notice. The funeral day will
be announced later.
The death of Mr.. Wanamaker. who
spent his entire life IN Philadelphia.
and was always one of its leaders IN
civic movements. was received with
sorrow by all classes of citizens.
Mr.. Wanamaker's life was insured
for more than S3,OOo.O00, he having
been one of the leaders among the
heavily insured men in the country.
ton of the department store as an
institution in American life. In 1861
when he began business for himself
in a humble way i'll Philadelphia. re-
tail merchandising In this country
was in a disorganized state. There
were in those days no fixed selling
nr:ce for goods. Business then de.
manded thirteen hour day from all
its employees. Customers spent hours
price -haggling with statesmen. MT.
Wanamaker was impressed with TINS
waste of time and to eliminate II he
became pioneer in fixing selling
price for goods.
First Wages $l.25 n Week.
Mr.. Wanamaker was twenty-four
years old when he entered upon his
career. In partnership with his
brother-in-law. Nathan Brown. on
joint capital of $4,000. in clothing
business at Philadelphia. He had been
born in that city July IL, 1898. His
father and his fathers father had
been brekmakers. and John Wana-
makers first work was turning
bricks" He was the eldest Of seven
children, and early in his boyhood he
was obliged to give up schooling and
earn his own way. His first wages
were $1-25 a week as an errand boy
in a Philadelphia book store. The
Brown & Wanameker store began
business with a first days sales ac-
count OF s24 and ended its first year
with a record of $4,000 business. Mr..
Wanamaker and his brother-in-law
were unable to afford horse and
maker himself pushed a two-wheel
cart to deliver his goods.
Aside from establishing his one
price policy and making shorter
business day, Mr.. Wanamaker estab-
lished in the new store two systems.
y
ization. He found it difficult to get
employees who were properly instruct
ed in their duties and he organized
training schools where his workers
were taught the "Wanamaker sys-
tem."
Believer In Advertising.
Mr.. Wanamaker was the first salaried
secretary in America of the Young Mems
Christian Association, In 1858: one of
the founders of the Christian commits
sion during the civil war. and one OF
the organization of the centennial ex-
position in 1876. In the latter year he
began the development Of his depart
ment store, establishing the house OF
John Wanamaker & Co. on Chest
nut street. Philadelphia, and twenty
years later established similar busi-
ness in New York. as successor Of A.
T. Stewart. 1t is estimated that during
maker had distributed into American
homes merchandise reaching nearly q
billion dollars in value.
He was known as a great believer in
In newspaper advertising;
above ali other varieties. He spent
millions of dollars in it.
In Harrison's Cabinet.
In political life Mr.. Waaamaker was
prominent as an Independent republican.
Upon the election of Harrison, Mr..
was invited to enter the
and although there was much
criticism to the effect that a mer-
chant was unfit for a cabinet position.
Mr.. Wanamaker became Postmaster
and was acknowledged later
by his critics to have worked many
desirable reforms in the postal sys-
tenn. He spread the fast mail service
and opened sea post offices In which
foreign mails are distributed and
made up on the sea, and. among other
things, advocated the parcels post and
postal savings which were later real
ised. and also urged government own
ership Of telegraph lines.
Very early in life Mr.. Wanamaker
became a member Of the Rev. John
Presbyterian Church in
and it Is related that
when DIR. Chambers appealed to his
its needs. Mr.. Wanamaker. then a boy,
shouted enthusiastically: T'n give a !
load of bricks from my fathers brick |
yard" Later he gathered together . |
handful of boys in shoemaker's shop
was the nucleus of what is today tha
Presbyterian Church Of Phila- |
delphia- Bethany Sunday School, OF |
which Mr.. Wanamaker was superin- |
has 5000 members, and il |
said to be the largest Sunday school |
in the United States. Early in his
career Mr.. Wanamaker married Mary
B. Brown. who co-operated with him |
IN much of his philanthropic work.
ORDERS FLAGS LOWERED.