Evening star., 1924-12-19
BY EDOUARD HERRIOT,
Premier of France.
NO. III.

NO. Ill
Commerce reproduces the processes
of industry; simplification and gener
alization. Here, as in the factory, it
is the magnitude of the proportions
which astonishes the visitor to the
United States. Suppose we enter the
Wanamaker stores of Philadelphia
where, as elsewhere, we received a
graceful welcome as Frenchmen.
After having played the "Triumphal
March" by Grieg, and the "Sanctus"
from the Mass of ST. Cecilia" by
Gounod, the formidable organ at
tackled the "Marseillaise" and the
Chant du Depart" They have kept
living the memory OF the war. How
could 1t be otherwise? The personnel
of this establishment had formed sew
eral combat units and in particular
the 103d Battery of Field Artillery.
The names of the dead were posted
on a copper plaque above the heads
of the arriving and departing shop
pers. Was l in a warehouse or a tenn
pie?
Great Field Store.
The same impression of strength
and grandeur at Chicago in Marshall
Field & Co.'S store. the largest in
the world" l was told. The directors
had taken the pains to drape the flag
of our country at the back of the en-
trance hall. There are in this estab-
lishment $4,000 employees to carry on
the retail sale, and 1000 more re-
sponsible for the wholesale stores.
was led first to the thirteenth floor,
into the refrigerators for the con-
servation of furs-the insurance on
the riches stored in these chambers
represented S60,000.000. On an upper
floor there was a little hospital. All
OF the employees receive free medical
service at their homes.
l crossed the counting rooms; 500
women were hardly enough to verify
the operations of the salesgirls. Two
hundred others were working adding
machines. The employees have their
club, with library and music room.
The public restaurant in the store
serves an average of 5000 persons a
day, a whole floor being devoted to
it. At the moment that we passed
they were giving concert in the
narcissus room. My guides assured
me that it was the largest dining
room in the world.
French Authors In Demand.
l could not think of exploring all
the, departments, for they sell every
thing-violins as well as rubber tires:
rugs as well as perfumery. But L
sought out the French book counter
and l questioned the amiable woman
who watched over the distribution of
our lite nature. "Anatole France" she
said. finds the most favor here in
Chicago. After him, Pierre Lott and.
for family reading, Henry Bordeaux.
Paul Bourget They consider him a
little bit snobbish and behind the
times. But they read Roman Rol-
land. Maupassant is a little bit too
morbid for the people of Illinois,
Are German books sold?"
Not much, even though the busi-
ness is increasing" German infiu-
ence seems to be still dormant. but
there is no doubt that it will blossom
anew
Corners for Art.
In this formidable bazaar of geo
metric aspect good taste has re-
served corners for art and given asy-
lum to fantasy. For example, this
room full of Chinese antiquities, in
which the most precious objects were
kept under glass, would have charm
ed a Goncourt. 1t contained objects
of the most supple grace, fantasies in
rock crystal, in malachite, in rose
quartz adorable white plaster and
brown lacquer, such as Korean cere-
monial cups. These great shops seem
to me especially rich in glassware.
caught a glimpse of one whole hall
conse Grated to the most delicate pro-