The Romance of a Great Store

by Edward Hungerford

Overview

The department store as we know it today has its natural place in all the large cities of this country, and indeed in many of the large cities of Europe. In line with the trend of modern business methods these glorified editions of the "country store at the cross roads" ofl'er ideal labor conditions to their employees, and pay good salaries. Consequently, a very different type of worker is attracted to these modern marts than could have been found in any drygoods store of a decade or more ago.

In writing "The Romance of a Great Store," Mr. Hungerford has told the story of the development of the Macy store in New York City in such a way as to make it very interesting reading. He introduces many items of human interest, while at the same time giving valuable information to the laity about the development, methods, conditions, volume of business, and organization of this mammoth enterprise.

At the conclusion of a brief introduction based on the " Caveat emptor,"-in modern parlance, "Let the buyer beware,"-he dramatically says: "The stage is set. . . . The curtain rises."

In the prologue young Rowland Hussey Macy returns to Nantucket from a long whaling voyage. His forbears have lived on this little island for eight generations. But being convinced that the sea is no calling for a married man he has the courage of his convictions and determines to depart for Boston to follow his natural bent for trading in a shop of his own.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781663513809
Publisher:	Barnes & Noble Press
Publication date:	06/06/2020
Pages:	294
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.66(d)

About the Author

Edward Hungerford (1875 – 1948) was an American journalist and author. His main interest was the railroad, about which he wrote many books and articles. He travelled extensively by rail and was a specialist in organizing railroad exhibitions. In 1925, Hungerford approached Daniel Willard, the president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and offered to write a history of the company, which was shortly to reach its centenary. Willard not only took up the suggestion, but also hired Hungerford to be the B&O's centennial director. Hungerford had seen a railroad celebration in England and created an extravagant exhibition at a park outside Baltimore. The "Fair of the Iron Horse" opened on February 28, 1927, including displays and a two-hour play, Pageant of The Iron Horse. It drew crowds averaging 50,000 a day.