New-York tribune. [volume], January 06, 1901, Page 9, Image 23

About New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
REFORMS IN THE LAW.
HOST PROGRESS MADE BY ENGLISH
SPEAKING NATIONS.
Tie most important reforms in jurisprudence
rf t he last century without question have been
j-a2e by the two great En speaking nations.
3ot 99 survey of this field would be complete
eitß out at least a glance at the effects of the
jgoption of the Napoleonic Code in France and
a tbe advances made In international law in
-jvet Continental countries.
Xapoleon availed himself of the great oppor
rznlty presented to him whan he became Consul
to reflnce the French civil law to a homogeneous
'- ej-stea- Before the beginning of the'nineteenth
rt cttrry there was no such thing, strictly speak
tf, as French law. In fact, there were nearly
v macy different kinds of French law as there
, re cities and provinces. There was the sharp
edge of truth to Voltaire's satire when he said
tULt tie citizen travelling in France must change
vjg law with his horses, In these circumstances
the work of Napoleon's commissioners . was not
£sdl£cation. in the modern sense of stating the
la* as they found it. but the creation of a new
md complete system of law. without regard to
precedent or custom or statute, except as any or
g3,cf these aided in determining what was the
t*e t law for the whole of France.
Szcha. work brought into being in that manner
gr /. nso short a time must contain many de
fects, and the French Civil Code has not escaped
severe criticism. But it has successfully with
stood all attacks, and to-day rests upon a firmer
Validation than ever, not alone in France, but
iu.-Mg the other Latin races of Europe. Its
greatest triumph outside the boundaries of
ffctnee was when the most essential provisions
and features of the Code Napoleon were adopted
ts the Italian Civil Code upon th? establishment
of Italian unity in 1886.
The writings of Grotius. of Bynkershoek, of
vro'.tf and of Vattel have produced greater and
mire beneficent results in the realm of inter
ne-! r.al law. in the Netherlands and Germany
especially, during the last century than during
tie • mes when they lived and wrote. This has
&;-p>-.r.red in time of peace in the additional
privileges and protection extended to aliens and
foreigners and In the opening by treaty of such
rivers as the Rhine, the Scheldt and the Danube
is the use of those who live on their upper
raters. In time of war the advance In human
ity *nd Justice has been still greater, especially
to protecting non-combatants in the prosecution
> «f their peaceful interests and in the enjoyment
of their homes, and much progress has been
¦bsbb toward exempting Innocent traffic on the
BHi from interruption during war. Earnest
f£orts have been made by European Powers
to restrict or abolish privateering, to sustain
impartially the rights and duties of neutral
nations and the liabilities and rights of neutral
trade. • , .
! VIQVE POSITION OF SUPREME COURT.
The position of the United States Supreme
Coat at the beginning of the nineteenth cen
tury was unique. It was the only national-tri
bunal in the world that could sit in judgment on
a national law, and it could declare an act of all
the three powers of the Union to be null and void.
No such power ever has existed or probably can
exist in England. In nothing was the young
Republic more fortunate than in the men who
were called to exercise the great powers and
fcsctlons of this court. In the first year of the
century John Marshall, who will always be
known &c the great Chief Justice," was placed
at its head. Upon him and his associates de
volved the duty of interpreting the new Cou-
Klintioa and of harmonizing with, it the acts of
the. executive and legislative departments. The
services which they, and especially Marshall,
performed as judges in this court entitle them
to a foremost place among the founders of the
Government. If the United States Supreme
Court stands before the world as the most dis
tinguished and influential tribunal of the nine
teenth century, it must be admitted that this is
due more to John Marshall than to any other.
"He-was," said one of his admirers, "con
science" wade flesh, reason incarnate." "His judg
ments." said Justice Story, "for power of
thought, beauty of illustration, variety of learn
ing and elegant demonstration are Justly num
bered among the highest reaches of the human
...;nd."
Bat even in the early years of the century th!s
great tribunal bad other Important problems to
sohe besides those affecting governmental func
tions. None of these causes were more Impor
tant than the Dartmouth College case, decided
la 1619, in which Daniel Webster appeared on
behalf of that Institution. The principle in our
constitutional jurisprudence which regards a
charter of a private corporation as a contract
and places it under the protection of the Con
stitution of the United States dates from this
decision, and to Mr. Webster belongs the honor
of securing its Judicial establishment. It is in
teresting to note that, as this court was called
upon at the beginning of the nineteenth century
to decide questions of the most stupendous and
far reaching consequence- to the young Republic
growing cut of the adoption of the Ff leral Con
stitution, so now, at the beginning of the twen
tieth century. it is to pass upon constitutional
questions of almost incalculal "c importance
springing from the acquisition of our new Isl
and possessions at the close of the Spanish war.
PROGRESS SLOWER IN ENGLAND.
Great progress was made In jurisprudence also
In England in the early part of last century,
but of course it v/as not so rapid there as In
this country. It was not until 1&13 that insol
vents were placed under the jurisdiction of a
court and entitle*! to seek their discharge on
, rendering a true account of all their debts and
property. "A d.st!nction." says May in b.s "Con
stitutional HlFt&ry." "was at length recognized
let* poverty and crime. This great rerae
clal .&.-•: restored liberty to crowds of wretched
dc -tors. In the next thirteen years upward of
C cy thousand were set free." But it was nearly
tilrty years later before the beneficent princi
ples of this law were sufficiently extended so
thai debtors were net only released from con
finement, but able to claim protection to their
liberty on giving up all tV ir goods.
. The second quarter of me century was char
. *cterizrd by many other legal reforms on both
• •Mcc of the Atlantic. The Legislatures of the
various American States began early to
pass laws exempting from execution necessary
household good* and personal apparel,, the
beasts of burden and the implements of the
farmer and the tools of other workers. In
1836 *.he Republic of Texas passed the ilrst
Homestead act. Judge Dillon calls it the great
gift of the infant Republic of Texas to the
world. In 1S1I» Vermont followed, and the
*«ac policy' has since been adopted by nearly
ell the other States, so that throughout the
greater part of the Union a homestead of mod
erate value for the- shelter and protection of the
family is now exempt from execution or judicial
•sic for debt, unless both the husband and wife
chall expressly join in subjecting it to the claim
ef creditors.
Scarcely any other legal principle is more
irmlf fixed in the common law of to-day than
the rale that an employer. if himself without
malt, is no* liable to an employe injured
through the negligence of a fellow employe en
cased in the same general employment. But
although this rule is sometimes considered an
eld one. It was in reality first decided in the
Knfjlish courts in 1837. and in this country in
'ML In South Carolina, and has since been fol
lowed In nearly every Jurisdiction, both State
Mid Federal.
The flrst steps in the emancipation of women
dates from about the same period. According to
*»* old English theory a woman was a chattel,
M of whose property belonged to her husband.
He could beat her as he might a beast of
burden, and provided he was not guilty of what
would be cruelty to animals the law gave no
r~4r«es." • In this reform Mississippi led off.
-York followed with Us Married Women's
, *ct of 1818, which baa since been so enlarged
* r '4 extended and so generally adopted by other
Slates that for all purposes of business, owner
ship of property and claim to her individual
tarri!ngfi a married woman Is to-day, certainly
, ¦ in New-York, as Independent as a man.
Tho influence of Bentham was very great in
'¦' ting reforms In the law of evidence In Eng
.•and. But his writings did not produce their.
|**t fruit until after hie death. He died In
*¦'- tut it was not until 18*3 that Lord Den-
Urr * act declared the rule for which Bentham
, ¦ Jfd earnestly contended, that Interest In actions
»i common lav/ should not disqualify a- witness
from "'Wring. By Lord Brougham's acts, in
rul?n?7' I£sl, parties In c!vU actions 'were, US ,, a
¦fui*' Kikie: corr:pci<::iL ar.d oo:Tj]»el!ab!c.to testify.
11-I 1 -- UJmi'uiJj V; upon the--nile.in New- York to
*£ ar* Kxirtmfly to.w. Cm* of the preateat
¦**hoiities has *>xt<rfsfi<"3 ¦ft afi'th* ¦ nnlver«u».l
I
beSclai {* the '™ fess! °n that changes more
and that ul? rarely taken place 'now law.
ment that L £ S a , matte r of profound amaze
a DlarV? th Uc , h exclu sionary rules had ever had
ahS t« rJ^ cir ?' and cs P e cially that they were
ssjasaas?? neariy the middie ° f the
A LEADER IN REFORM.
In legal reforms the State of New- York has
frequently led the Union, and it has sometimes
enthusiastically been declared that she has led
the world. Her great Chancellor Kent was ap
pointed In 1814 and served until after the Con
stitution of 1821 went Into effect. Although a
devoted child of the new Republic, he was
thoroughly imbued, with the spirit of the old
¦^nglish Chancery law. In the Constitutional
Convention of IS2I he stoutly combated, but was
not able to withstand, the force of the demo
cratic spirit that animated the majority of that
assembly, led by such men as Daniel D. Tomp
kins and Peter R. Livingston.' Although the
Court of Chancery was not abolished, the Legis
lature was authorized to vest equity powers In
the common law judges, and practical experi
ence soon demonstrated the feasibility of merg
ing legal and equitable powers In the same offi
cer. The natural consequence followed In the
making of the Constitution of IS4O that Instead
of the old Supreme Court and Court of Chan
cery a new Supreme Court was established, hav
ing general original jurisdiction in law and
equity.
The revision of the New-York statutes under
the Constitution of 1821 Is one of the great
achievements of the century in the progress of
Jurisprudence. It demonstrated that the com
mon law of English speaking States and origin
was susceptible of important statutory modifi
cations by legislative agency without the de
struction of those essential principles of growth
which had been unfolded in the course of the
history of the English people. Its influence In
other States has been pronounced. The com
missioners to whom credit and honor are chiefly
due for the creation of this great work were
Benjamin F. Butler. John Duer. Henry Wheaton
and John C. Spencer: but to Mr. Butler must be
assigned the highest distinction in results ac
complished.
As the natural sequence to the Revised Stat
utes followed the efforts at codification author
ized by the New-York Constitution of 1848.
When all the other laborers In this field and
their efforts have been forgotten, the name of
SOME INSTANCES OF HOW THE 19TH CENTURY IMPROVED FOR THE
20TH WHAT IT RECEIVED FROM THE ISTH.
U^IVBD TWO* THB EICHTKKVTU. PABSKO «N TO TH« TWUXTIKTH.
. , I . . The 1... ..motive, the dining ear. the *»?»-
The sprinkles!, stacc conch. 15 , .... i 1 ... the bicycle "'••' the pneumatic
tired snllcy
' noentsc* ray. and the elcctHc -arch-
Th- flint and nteel to »•'".' lire. The inlpknr match.
TUe needle. • The sewlns machine ami the Unlttlnc
machine.
Toothle*. 01.1 »*«.. . Artificial teeth.
The lUI pen. The typewriter and the fountain pen.
The nece SS ity of climbing stair,. The pa,.en er elevator.
The wooden ,v.,,.r wheel. The rotary -team *«' M »''
The snapshot miners and niovlnu fliet-
Crmle heliographs. ores.
¦¦¦ -. • ¦/- ¦;¦•¦'„¦¦- »¦•" ¦ "¦;,.:;:":v:."::..-.".::
(inner ¦ harvt'stluK tool*.
Only thirty element, Uno~u to .elenee. Abet eighty element. known to -clence.
. m -«-«»••¦*¦ Octuple stenm press, mriiliiK •">• I. '•'?*'
The aflaw hand printing swess. ¦ pp * peri( . nllnote , ted, folded and
inl-'.l
Setting type by M.H. - The almost human Ilnot s pe machine.
t The stenm flre engine »n.i vrater tower.
HI ZL r.J.n« one pair of shoe, £\ v d h ;jvr:':;:r ™""* mai "
several days.
Sixty per cent of the rrorld'. area — Oal^J£ r "'" ° f **' ""'"' '"" """"
plored.
, - (irrlriml nuhmnrlnf torpedo bon<».
Wooden war vessels. ifii»»
5»..,.i,»0r, .....i. ...»•<." «"»¦• nreech •""¦"•" •"""" ""¦"
«moothbore murile loading guns.
pj... to . t the United State., about Population of the TTnlted Stale*, nbont
Population of the unitea , 7C.000.000.
5,500,000.
A ,.. „, a . r^.« .««... «7..,..,..~ *~ * -•„¦• "¦"- **"*"
mll<*». . l']» !
T>»vid Dudley Field will be remembered as the
J3SSSS and several y^fb^ore his death
the great Jurist came to realize it. But his civxi
Code na«s in substance been adopted in other
liliiil
mn«»r The New-York Code of Froceaure,
SUM
York has led America and America, toe wona.
A YOUNG BUT VIGOROUS GROWTH.
Since 1854. when a royal commission was ap
pointed to consider the subject, the "»PU^
of titles and transfer of land have received great
attention in England. The English acts of 188.
and 1875 and the New-York Block Indexing act
of 1889 are the main statutory steps taken In
th* reform, except in some of the new States
of th" West.' where excellent systems have been
followed from the beginning of the State govern
ments. ..
Corporation law Is almost entirely a growth
of the nineteenth century. At the beginning of
the century the law of private corporations In
its modern sense could scarcely be said to exist.
It played a small part in the commercial or
business world. At its close, it is estimated that
four-fifths of the wealth of the country is held
by corporations. Despite all the difficulties and
ihe variety of Jurisdictions, a surprisingly uni
form system of corporation law has gradually
been worked out.
But great changes are constantly occcurrlng
to meet new conditions. The present struggle is
on the part of Legislatures to repress the com
binations formed under the name of "trusts" by
corporations engaged in similar industries to re
duce competition among themselves and to en
gross the markets for their products. The con
test Is now on. and perhaps will soon be at its
height. Other abuses and evils in corporate man
agement are also receiving the repressing atten
tion of Legislatures and court?. Great as have
been some of the reforms in the past, they
promise to be still greater in the near future.
Not least in the splendid achievements of the
century was the securing of constitutional safe
guards for liberty of speech and of the press.
Alexander Hamilton, in the famous Crosswell
case in 1803, stirred the hearts of the people to a
realization of the wickedness of the old maxim.
"The greater the truth the greater the libel." then
still applied to cases of criminal libel, and in
this State they put an end to it forever by pro
viding in the Constitution of 1821 that In such
cases the truth and the good purposes of ..the
publisher might always be giver, in evidence,
and that the Jury should be Judges of the law. ax
well as the fact So now. the courts of England
and this country are taking another great step
In abolishing the old barbaric law of libel, and
are permitting the jury to learn by evidence the
real character, as well as reputation, of the
plaintiff in a civil suit, in estimating. the damage
he ha« suffered by c defamatory publication.
, ; HENRY W. SACKETT.
OUTPUT OF CARS AXD LOCOMOTIVES.
Figures compiled by "The Railroad Gazette*"'
show that the output of locomotives and cars In '
ESS was greater ihnn in any previous year. All
in*- contracting locomotive wort* built a.1./J loco
motive. Tills I. 680^ or 27.8, per cent, moro than
in l&W* when the record wan ;il?o broken. Of the
total output last year.- .".0r., or about 1»> per cent.
wore exported. In 1839, £14 locomotives were «
iWrt^d Tho various car bulldinff works In the
iTnlreii -Staffs' Mult iji 10.; cars during th year, ¦¦
... „ .,:,;M VS>,>'.<>. In-ISW. Of this output 113.070 ;
w..r.' fr.-iKht. 1.515 passenger and 6.091 street cars !•
for use in this country, nnd 2.lM' freljrht, V.'.i pas- ;
sender and 748 etroet cars ¦ for ' export. The <:.x- ,
irnsloti of the steel car industry 1.- shown ', in- i
tart that of the total freight oars turned out. In I
1»U !4.4«4 w-re all steel: 447 of th^so . ••- were '
for export In 18W The total wns 10.5'»-> while In
\f><t* bin 2.70/' stf*. cits were »>uilt. /
NEW'YORK DAILT? TRIROE. SI .\ DAY. JANUARY 6. 1901.
THE LABOR MOVEMENT.
ITS History MOSTLY MADE IN
r • THE LAST CENTURY.
In a general way. the history of the so-called
labor movement can be said to have been made
In the century just closed, although previous
to that the need of organization and concerted
effort had been felt by the toilers of the earth
in their struggles for sustenance. But the time
had not arrived for perfect or effective union,
and the little that was accomplished to bring
about better conditions was done by occasional
uprisings of men driven desperate by their
hardships. The first attempt of the laboring
classes to assert what they deemed their pe
culiar rights was the organization of bodies
known as guilds. Long before guilds of working
people were formed, however, there had been
guilds of merchants and of religionists; but
craftsmen were not permitted to join these
suilds.
It is asserted that the organized labor move
ment as It is known to-day was flrst started in
Massachusetts when, In September. 1832, a
meeting of farmers and mechanics was held In
the State House. Boston. This meeting was
called to protest against the excessive hours of
Tabor required daily of the mechanics and other
manual workers and against imprisonment for
debt. The meeting was the result of consider
able agitation and friction between capital and
labor, which caused one writer of that day to
remark: "The American laborers resist the <-on-
KSlon of this prevailing economic sys em
which gives even to a slngl* daring capitalist In
any one of the trades the power of reducing the
incomes of all persons engaged in it.
ThT first tradV union-American at least-was
the members of the ui»ion decided to hold re
ligious services on July .4.
The labor movement spread throughout the
manufacturing towns of Massachusetts, and.
although it met many rebuffs, refused to
give up the ghost. Even the women work
ers became Interested In It. and the flrst
union strike on record occurred In Lowell. Mass..
about 1849. It was a* strike of factory girls
against a reduction of 'wages, and one girl,
eleven years old. was characterized as the "ring
leader." These girls must have been not only
aggressive, but also possessed of their full share
of brains, because they published a small news
paper called "The Offering." Its motto was:
•The worm of the earth may look up to the
Th<» flrst National central body of mechanics
organized in this country was that of the
blacksmiths and machinists, which was formed
In 1869. In the same year the iron moulders
signified their Intention of forming a National
union, and applied to the United States Govern
ment for a charter, but their application was
refused. The breaking out of the War of the
Rebellion did much to retard the labor move
ment in America, although in 1860 as many as
twenty-five or thirty trades had formed Na
tional organizations. Four years later the flrst
convention or congress of trades unions wan
held in Cincinnati, and similar meetings were
afterward held in thiß city. Philadelphia and
Chicago. The result of these meetings of the
labor unions was the beginning of the agitation
for the eight hour workday. About the same
year the agitation for organization spread
among the employes of the railroads, and the
lirotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, one of
the most powerful and influential labor bodies
in the world, was formed. Ten years later the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen was or
ganized, and the movement then became gen
eral all along the line of the mechanical trades.
It even reached the miners of the West, and so
successfully did they accomplish th* objects of
organization that from 1875 to 1880 they kept
the wages of manual labor In the mines at >»
a day.
By this time other trades not only had their
local unions in all the cities and larger towns
Of the country, but many of them had formel
National organizations, including the cigar
makers and printers. The Knights of Labor, a
National body, was also formed. This organi
zation, which became a powerful one, was
founded as an educational order by Uriah
Stevens, but it became rather an- aggressive
labor organization and played a prominent part
in a number of great strikes. At one time it
was said to have reached a membership of
nearly one million, but its power and influence
waned largely through dissensions among Its
leaders, until now it ha;; only a remnant of its
former greatness. Since then the labor move
ment has grown apace, and other great organi
zations, some international in their scope, have
come to the front, among them the American
Federation of Labor, with a membership of one
million and with affiliated unions In all parts
of the country. Business relations have also
been formed with the great labor organizations
of Europe, especially those of Great Britain,
until to-day organized labor is no longer an
experiment, but an established fact, which en
ters into the life of the Nation. In no branch
of industry has the labor movement spread
more widely than among the employes of the
great railroads. Almost every employe in on*
or the other ot the mechanical departments of
the railroads is a member of a union. There Is
not only the Brotherhood of Locomotive En
gineers and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men, but other organizations, including the
Brotherhood of Railroad Conductors, Brother
hood of Trainmen, the Switchmen's Mutual Aid
Association and the Order of Railroad Teleg
raphers. G. R. KELLY.
TRJiXSMISSIOX OF POWER.
From The Iron Age.
Bo rapid have been the strides In the successful
transmission of power l.v electricity over consid
erable distances that the liinitioe factor is no
longer the length of the transmission line, but is
now merely a question of the in irk. [•: !¦ > at
which the power can bo sold. Power at a loss of
only 8 per cent on the line is to-day being trans
mitted eighty . miles In California. The electrical
equipment 1! water power* heretofore considered
60 inaccessible ... to bo of no commercial va.luo
:u • to-dny among the most desired .[' .ill prop
erties. Tho electrical transmission of power from
Coal mines— using slack lor fuel— ls now beginnine:
to aura : th ititontion of. capitalists.' and .it th.
close of tli. year JOOO there are several- plants- of
this character in different sections of the country
¦which ' have proved to ' bo ' great, commercial ' suc
cesses. , -. - .¦ ¦• :'.;,--/ •.^;; „'"-;;¦¦ ;;,:..f ';•¦••
THE ROAD TO SUCCESS.
LESSONS THAT MAY BE LEARNED BY
THE YOUNG MEN OF TO-DAY FROM
EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS.
Possibly the success of no individual move
ment in the retail development of the retail trade
of this country has been so rapid or so unique as
the growth and progress of the 5 and 10 cent
stores. - The tale of success of this commercial
enterprise has in it a bit of encouragement for
the humblest beginner. It bears a lesson that
may be learned by the young- men of to-day
from experience of others. F. "W. Woolworth.
whose "> and 10 cent stores are strung all over
the Eastern seaboard, began in 1879 without
enough to pay his month's rent, and the rent was
only. $30. To-day he has sixty stores In the
territory east of Pittsburg. Naturally Mr. Wool
worth thinks there is just as good a chance to
day as there ever was for the man who is con
tent to begin at the bottom. He began without
any more exalted aim than to make a simple
living, without any thought of making a fortune.
But Mr. Woolworth Is not given to generaliza
tions. His version of just how he did it is In
structive, however. "It was about twenty-three
years ago that the Idea had its Inception of
establishing stores where nothing should be
sold exceeding in cost of 10 cents. These stores
have now assumed an importance and the mag
nitude of a great commercial industry whose
conduct involves the expenditure of millions of
dollars annually."
In the old building erected by the great mer
chant prince, A. T. Stewart, at Broadway and
Chambers-st., New-York City, a capacious suit
of offices is occupied as the headquarters of the
Woolworth stores. From his private office here
Mr. Woolworth keeps Jiis hand upon the pulse of
the large commercial fabric he has reared. With
the telephone he talks with the managers of
his sixty stores whenever occasion requires,
hears their verbal reports and gives orders for
their guidance. He employs a local manager,
who is responsible to him for the conduct of
each store: one man who does nothing but look
after the fixtures of the various properties, an
Inspector, who keeps constantly on the move
and arrives when least expected, and six buyers,
two of whom operate entirely abroad, besides a
large force of office employes.
HUGE FOREIGN PURCHASES.
Mr. Woolworth himself goes abroad on busi
ness every year, and so large Is the bulk of the
engagements he makes there that the population
of several German towns are entirely employed
in filling his orders, and when these are given
and the price Is named they know where their
bread and butter is coming from for the next
year. These large purchases direct from the
manufacturers go far to explain the large value
received by the purchasers of the Woolworth
goods. Cash is paid, and there is no middle
man's profit to be added to the price the buyer
must pay. An approximate notion of the hulk
of the business may be gathered from the state
ment that Mr. Woolworth imports a larger ton
nage of toys and tree ornaments than all other
United States buyers put together, or over one
half of the product of the world.
When the newest of the Woolworth stores was
opened. June 30. 1900, in East Fourteenth street,
no less than 25,000 people entered this huge
building during the day. So great was the crush
that, jammed beneath the maroon and gold sign
that distinguishes all the Woolworth stores,
and which many rivals have copied, several
women fainted, while many others found re-
P. W. WOOLWORTH.
pairs necessary to their clothing:. During the
recent holiday season these stores did a very
large business. In the Sixth avenue store alone
they made 44.060 Individual sales in 'a single
day. This is larger than the aggregate sales
of their great store In Lancaster. Perm.. mad*
during its first year's start in that city.
AN ARMY OF EMPLOYES.
Mr. Woolworth's employes vary in number
according to the season. In the holidays they
frequently exceed 5,000, while In the dullest sea.
son, midsummer, they are never less than 1,500.
His total expenditures last year were over $1,
000.000. while his salary list exceeds half a
million.
F. W. Woolworth, the proprietor of the Wool
worth stores, and the man who has pushed the
five and ten cent store from Its extremely modest
beginnings to the great prosperity It has at
tained in his hands, is typical of the Americans
who have pushed their way to success by a com
bination of an original idea and the pluck to
back it up. On the sunny side of fifty, erect,
clear eyed, vigorous, and direct of speech and
manner, it in not difficult to see in him the qual
ities that have made American trade and com
merce synonymous with enterprise and energy
the world over. Mr. Woolworth comes of Eng
lish and Irish stock. He was born in the tiny
little town of Rodman. Jefferson County. N. T..
where his father tilled a farm. April 13. 1852. In
his early childhood he got seven years' schooling
at the district school, walking two miles and
back for it fn the hard winter weather of that
country, and in summer helping his father on
the farm. The elder Woolworth moved to Great
Bend about this time, where he bought another
farm. Here the boy led the life of a farmer
until he was twenty-one years old, when
his mother induced him to go to a commercial
college in Watertovvn. It was only the closest
economy that helped him there In the winter
of 1871 -72. and until he was graduated, but
young Woolworth and his chum boarded them
selves, while his mother not only made his
clothes, but once a week drove the old mare
ten miles into town and brought him a basket
of board.
Following his graduation, he then went la
work in the drygoods store of Moore A Smith,
in Watertown. Mr. Woolworth tells the story
best In his own words:
"The first three months I got no wages and
paid |350 a week for board, and the second
three months I got y-\:«< a week, and so on.- I
stayed there six years, and never got more than
$10 a week. I can see now as I look back on it
that' l wasn't worth anything. But out of that
?1" .1 week I married and lived, and yet man
aged to save ?"><> a year.
"About this time, they put In a five cent coun- ,
•— i* the store. 11 took from the first. Event- J
ually they got to wholesaling five cent goods.
It occurred to me that. l would like to : u:i a
five cent store, but I had no money to get the
goods.
"In January, ISTO. however, I told my employ
ers of my wish, and they agreed to let mo have
*cx.ds en credit. I got $325 worth and found a
vacant store -in Utlca. The rent was $30 a
month, and I finally got them to trust me for
the first month. I opened up and did very well
at the start. But soon business began to fall
oft. I made the mistake a great many others
do. I was afraid to replenish my stock. I did
not realise that to sell goods you have got 1 to
have goods. The result was that 1 practically
f ailed. -J?~ v-lTiTv^f:
"I wanted to try it again, and Moore & Smith,
against the advice of Mr. Moore, agreed to let
me have another bill of goods. After looking
THE WOOLWORTH Bru.niSfS. T.ANVXSTKR. PKNN.
about In various towns I finally started again in
Lancaster. Pa., in June, 1579. I had $425 worth
of goods this time.
"I remember it was 1 very hot day. Every
thing depended upon that lirst day. .During the
forenoon not a person came into the shop. In
the afternoon and evening they fairly mobbed
in. We sold $128 worth of the stock. I tele
graphed that night to duplicate the order. Be
fore the goods arrived I bad sold everything in
the shop. That was the beginning of my suc
cess. The result was that within my first year
I cleared $1,500. Then the business began to
grow. I started stores in other towns. For the
flrst ten years the growth was slow. Since then
it has been more rapid. Now we have sixty
stores, all east of Ptttstrarg.
"Is there the same chance now? 1 should
say so. for the man that is willing to begin at
the bottom and take something of his size. The
trouble with too many is* that they want to be
gin on too large a scale."
In Lancaster. Perm., where Mr. Woolworth
flrst found success, he has erected, partly by
way of commemorating that fact, a business
structure that for beauty of design and com
pleteness of detail has few equals in tho State.
It is located in the heart of the city's business
centre, and was designed with a view of making
its every condition favorable to the transaction
of business. The Woolworth building is of the
French Renaissance style of architecture, and
Is built of stone, steel, iron and brick, five
stories high, and with .1 roof garden above sur
mounted by colonnades and provided with a
stage 35 feet wide. From this garden is af
forded a view of the country for many miles
around. A large awning protects the roof gar
den from the sun and bad weather, so that en
tertainments planned to be given there are not
dependent upon the caprice- of the skies. Two
stately towers surmount the building at its
frcgit elevation and at nisht are so illuminated
by electricity as to make them landmarks to be
seen from afar. The building is supplied with
electric freight and passenger elevators, is light
ed by electricity, heated by steam, and fur
nished with sanitary plumblns of the most ap
proved type, and a United States mail chute
from which frequent collections are made.
Schickel & Pitmars. of New-York City, who
have had a wide experience in the building of
'"akyßcrapers," designed the building.
MR- WOOLWORTHS CITY HOME.
Mr. Woolworths new home at the northeast
corner of Fifth-aye. and Eightleth-st. enjoys
a location that Is remarkable for many things
that are thoroughly typical of the growth and
F. W. WOOLWORTH'S ROME. FIFTH A VL AND EIGHTIETH ST.
the genius of the Nation. The stately avenue,
on. the easterly side of which It stands. over
looking one of the roost spacious and beautiful
si the public playgrounds of the world. Is the
symbol and sign and content of the chief ele
ments in American history and achievement.-
The forces that have combined to make it the
centre from hi. 1, radiates the Influence of the
home life of the 111...-1 powerful and representa
tive of Americana are full of interest and sig
nilk-anc*-.
OVERLOOKING. THE PARK.
Over this matchless prospect lying just be
yond the new park gate at Eightieth street, and
over the Metropolitan Museum of Art. which
shelters the most costly collection of art objects
in thin country, and over the ancient Obelisk on
which th- pyca.of the prophet Muses ma* well
have. looked, for scholars, tell us that Moses was
a contemporary ,•: It? makers, look the window*
of Mr. Woolworiirs house, "which is built in the
graceful style of Francis I. faced wl;h Hjcht, bufT
Indiana limestone carved la so many an i rare
and curious shapes that many a passer by lin
gers to study it. and beneath a roof of red slate
and dormers elaborately crested * with c.-pjKr.
The main entrance, on Eightieth street. is a
spacious affair, and over it rises a balcony in
closed by an ornamental balustrade. _ ¦
A MARVEL OF INGENUITY.-
On entering the portals one passes through a
lofty vestibule or foyer cf^ark green and gold,
the walls of which are of rich mahogany, and
beyond which I? a grand staircase, also of ma
hogany, leading to the upper floors. At its foot
is an alcove fireplace, sursßour.-.i bj 1 wi<i*
mantel of costly Ilrm marble, and havin*
cosey seats built In at either end. s*M xrhi h
rises the dark mahogany wainscoting. Jvst to
one side is the entrance to the etevator. which is
one of the most convenient of 1 ram ¦leans) and
which is. in addition, a marvel of ingen-.irv.
The machine hi automatic. On no floor can ¦¦
door of the shaft be opeaed uatll the ear is or
poslte. ready to.' whoever is waiting to
enter, thus obvie.tiriavaft danger of a fan down
the shaft. A set of Indicators presents ttsett.
and a simple pressure on a barton brines Mm
elevator, of its own motion, to the desired floor,
when another pressure on the proper button
sends it up or <V)wn v tii the floor where the pas
senger desires to ansnt.'* It is operated. witH th
noiselessness of f wn; try"electrlcity. and Is pro
vided with every known safety appliance to
prevent a fall. In case all these should by any
Inconceivable chance fail at once, a set rt.rr
cushions is ready to break the fall and vender
it practically harmless.
On the Fifth-aye. side, to the left of the
foyer, the billiard room is reached through ft
passage provided with a barrel vaulted esftsssl
lighted by electric bulbs hidden in the cornier s
at the edge of the vault. The billiard room
itself, overlooking the avenue, is w^WlHfl la
dark oak with brighter decorations which set it
In relief, while the ceiling is jewelled in COtM
of an ivory tone. The Dutch smoking room ad
joining has Flemish decorations throaghom.
with a panelled ceiling, and is illuminated t>v
bullseye windows. The music room, which will
receive a more detailed description: the draw -
ing room, the foyer and the conservatory, which
extend far down on the Eightieth street side of
the mansion, are so arranged that they can all.
by means of sliding doors, be thrown late on»
huge chamber on occasion.
THE MUSIC ROOM AND ITS ORGAN.
The music room, which Is by an odds rh»
grandest apartment In the house— la fact, ;h«
feature of th- structure— is nn.~h-t irt pur*
white and gold, while the walls are ksasj with
red silk, a cove ceiling standing oat la isflM
high over aIL Opening off from this gtsssfat
room is the organ chamber, a awst unusual
feature, even In tbe houses of tv wealthiest.
Here rises, inclosed by aa elaborately caned
screen, a large pipe organ, which Mr Wooi
worth has installed at a co=: -f $s.iH>\ It is nt
the most approved pattern, and experts have
pronounced it a more than usually fine instru
ment. It has two manuals, an echo attach
ment and an a-Uian device, by means of which.
If a performer be not at hand, the L;»trum*^
i". in be intid.' to play no less than 6,OG£ difftur
ent selection:).
Th- decorations of the spacious drawing room
are of silver and the wails are. hung with white
silk. Concealed electric lights so Illuminate the
apartment that no direct ray strikes the eye
All tho woodwork of the dining; room is of ma
hogany, while upon the walls hangs the cost
liest of handmade tapestry, beneath a ceiling
that i* panelled in gold. A feature of this im
pressive room is the mantel, which is of raiv
Caen stone Th-- extreme eastern end ..of. thin
floor is Riven over to the servants' dining room.
the kitchen, storeroom, butler' 3 quarters,- etc.
The construction- of this beautiful home has
been designed throughout by C. P. H. Gilbert,
one of • New- York's most eminent* architects,
while Harvey Murdock is the builder. .T". T "
y