The Washington times., 1922-12-12

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he was educated in the public
schools. later receiving the degrees
r. of doctor Of laws from Ursinus Col
lege. and the University OF Penn.
sylvania. He began his actual bust
ness career as an errand boy In a
book store at the age Of fourteen.
When young man ne went to In
diana, and for several years was a
travelling salesman for clothing
house. g.. s..
However, he returned to Philadel-
phia q few years before the outbreak
Of the Civil War. and with the money
he had saved entered into a partner.
ship with Nathan Brown, which
continued as the firm Of Wanamaker
& Brown until 1876, the year Of the
Centennial Exposition, when he es-
tablished his own business. ,."
As a pioneer in the department
store merchandising he foresaw the
vast opportunities that lay In the
idea of collecting in one building
many different lines of goods. but
the enterprise was too expensive
for him to undertake with his still
limited capital. However, he per-
suaded manufacturers that by Of
fering their wares to the public
under his salesmanship plan, the
management to take a percentage
of the profits. all would benefit
through /an exchange of concen-
trated buying patronage, which was
the basic fundamental Of his Idea.
Store Became Show Place.
With the close of the Centennial
Exposition and the return to nor
malcy 'of business conditions In
Philadelphia he managed to obtain
an option ON the most desirable
business site of the city, directly
east of the Philadelphia Mint. and
In the heart Of the city, opposite
to the plot which later became the
site of the new city hall. He
acquired the building used as the
Grand depot and converted II into
''Wanamaker's Emporium" which
soon housed clothing and household
articles Of every description, re-
sembling a mammoth general
store"
Visitors to Philadelphia who came
to see Independence Hall and other
historic points of interest inspected
Wanamaker's big store, which
looked like a large barn inside with
it's one floor and improvised bal
comics. The store was regarded as
q novelty and the fame of its
founder carried far and wide. In
later years the Philadelphia mer-
chant prince introduced many in
novations and was said to be the
first department store proprietor TO-
use Santa Claus In the toy do.
partment at Christmas time. while
ne also installed 100000 organ
and chimes which were played by a
atx,f. aNf AA N0 hu
store. Mr.. Wanamaker was also
the first merchant to see the wis
dom of permitting regular charge
accounts and devised the system of
giving all regular customers coins"
bearing q number which they used
at the time OF making purchases.
Although he was known princi-
pally for his department store sue
cess, particularly his philadelphia
store. after which his New York
establishment was patterned follow
ing It's purchase from the estate. of
the late A. T. Stewart in 1896. Mr..
wanamaker Nas active in many
other lines of endeavor.
He was particularly active In I'M
dependent politics in Pennsylvania,
being an avowed opponent OF the
old Matthew 8. Quay machine" u
He declined the Republican nomi-
nation to the Forty-eighth Congress
and was an Independent candidate
for the mayorality In 1885, being
showed under by the regular Re
ppblicans of that period.
He was q member OF the Repub-
lican National Committee from 1889
TO 1898 in which years he also
served In President Harrison's Cab
inet as Postmaster General. Mr..
Wanamaker was active In a large
number of religious schools and So
cieties and at one time was super
fntendent Of one Of the largest
Sunday schools In the country. He
gave much of his wealth to chart.
ties, especially hospitals and similar
institutions. He also was instrti-
mental in finincing the extension
of the Y. NJ. G. Amovement In In
dia. China. Korea. and other for
In. isi2 he was decorated as an
officer, OF the French Legion Of
Honor. At the outbreak of the
world war he sent two relief ships
10 Belgium with clothing and ra-
tions. For many years he was a
regular coptributnr TO the national
campaign war chest of the Repub-
lican party and, vas often consulted
on matters of international party
by the Republican administration
leaders in Washington.