, 1922-12-12

'eCaUe through PRACTICES tuhA were
then general. Aside from his ambl-
ton to make money my paramount
purpose" said Mr.. Wanamaker, -was
TO help save the mercantile profes-
sion from lowering its flag before
other professions and occupationsr
There were In those days no fixed
selling price for goods. Business
then demanded a thirtsen-hour day
from all Its employees. Customers
spent hour price haggi ms with sales
men. Mr.. Wanamaker was impressed
with this waste OF time and to elm
inate 81 he became a pioneer IL fix.
ing a selling price for gooSs. Il
was one OF the beginnings OF many
mercantile reforms which today are
40 generally followed that the present
gcneration can scarcely find any
where n trace Of the old practices.
Mr.. wanamaker was "a years old
when he entered upon his career, In
partnership with HE hrotherin-iaw.
Nathan Brown.-on a joint capital OF
$500. In a clothing business at Phiia-
dclphia. He had been born in that
city. July II. 1888. His father and
his fathers father had been brick
makers. and John Wana'nakcr's first
work was turning bricks" He was
the Oldest OF seven children and
early in his boyhood he was obliged
TO give up schooling and earn his
WI way. His first wages were
s1.25 a week as an GRAND boy in a
Philadelphia book fore. and the
rs a young man he was employed for
n time at Tower Hall, a famous old
D~hnrdalnht rlr4hfoo hat.ea .rAo-.
his personality rnd busienss abiI ty
were developed for his venture in
business for himself. Tho Brown &
with n first days sales account OF
s24. and ended It's first year with a
record OF $4,000 buSness. Mi.
Wanam3ker and his brotherin-iaw
| were during their few months OF bust
ness unabie 10 afford n horse and
wagon for delivery. and Mr.. Wanna
maker himself pushed a two-wheel
cart 20 deliver his goods. His part
~,ner's health falling. most of the dc
tails OF the business devolved upon
Mr.. wanamaker.
Aside from establishing MS one
price policy and making O shorter
business day. Mr.. Wanamaker estab-
1ished in the new store two systems.
ono OF sales and the other Of or
ganizslion- He learned 1t was cheap
or to manufacture some classes OF
goods thar to buy from manufacture
ers and he became one of the first
retailers 10 do this. He found It DIFF
ficuit 10 get employees who were
properly instructed in their duties
and he organized training schools
where his workers were taught the
"wanamaker system"
Mr.. wanamaker interested himself
in many Give activities. He was the
first saiaried secretary in America
OF the Young Mems. Christian asso-
citation. In 1858. one OF the four iers
OF the Christian Commission dur NJ
the Civil War. and one OF the organ
izers of the Centennial Exposition in
1876. In the latter year he began
the development OF his department
store. establishing the house OF John
wanamaker & company on Chestnut
street. philadelphia, and twenty years
later established n similar business
in New York as successor OF A. 7.
stewart. It is estimated that during
his entire business career Mr.. Wanna
maker had distributed into American
homes merchandise reaching nearly
a billion dollars In value
He .Ss known as a great believer
In advertising. in newspaper adver-
CONTINUED on Page Seven.)