The world a department store [microform] : a story of life under a co{uml}operative system

Front matter

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Chapter I

Page The falling asleep and awakening of Percy Brantford . . 3 A desoription of the husiness depressions and financial

oanses in 1900 4

The interest of Harry Childs and Greorge Wilkinson in

the account as told in the " Daily American " . . . . 7

Chapter II

The interior and exterior of the restaurant huilding ... 14 Reception and banquet to Mr. Percy Brantford .... 17 Appointment of Messrs. Childs and Wilkinson as guides

to Mr. Brantford 19

Speech of Mr. Henry Mathew explaining the brief outline of the organization of the Codperative Association of America 20

CHAPTER in

The conversion of back yards into parkways 26

The workings of the restaurant system 29

The treasury building and the system of coupon checks 30

The watchword of codperation, " Economy to save wasted

energy " 34

Members and their labor the capital of cooperation ... 37 The abolishment of insurance companies, stock jobbers,

bankers, trayeling salesmen, etc 38

How the money necessary to start the organization was obtained by the sale of the book "The World a Department Store " 41

Chapter IV

Miss Brown seeks an introduction to Mr. Brantford ... 44 Breakfast and dinner at the private dining-room of our party of six 46

X CONTENTS

Mr. Brantf ord tells Miss Brown his experience .... 46 The trip about the city in the automobile, and its attractions 48

Distinctive uniforms for mechanics 49

Cooperatiye homes 50

An inyifcation extended Mr. Brantford to visit the executive board 51

Mr. Brantford purchases a magnificent bouquet for Miss

Brown 53

Meditation of Mr. Brantford over the change in table

methods and manners 54

The evils of life among the wealthy circles 55

CHAPTER V Our party attend an ideal theatre 58

Mr. Brantford contrasts the faces of those present with

former audiences 60

The absence of disagreeable features at the theatre formerly so prominent 61

After theatre supper 65

Miss Brown and Mr. Brantford mutually interested . . 66

CHAPTER VI The administration building 67

Meeting of the executive board 68

Address of Vice-President Mathew 68

Political life under the old regime 69

Street, poor, and school departments 70

Board of physicians, streets, and highways 70

Treasury department, labor department 72

Growth of the organization 73

Response of Mr. Brantford on becoming a member ... 74

Chapter VII

Mr. Brantford visits the various supply stores 76

Men's and boys' clothing store 76

House-furnishing department 77

Ladies' general department store 77

Mr. John Stewart in charge of one of the supply stores . 79

Difference between the old and new explained .... 80 The millinery department — Mr. Brantford accompanies

Miss Brown 87

CONTENTS xi

Mr. Cooper in charge of the shoe deparfcment 90

<* Cause and effect " the key to the cooperative system . . 05

Preparation for Easter Sunday d5

Miss Brown's growing interest in Mr. Brantford .... 97

Mr. Brantford's meditation 98

The liberality in salaries of the Cooperative Assoeiatioo 99

CHAPTER Vm

The tonsorial parlors ^. 101

Social conditions in Mr. Brantf ord's time 102

Thievery, marriage for wealth, search for employment . . 103

Reduction in wages due to competition 105

Rich property-owners of vile places 106

The athletic building visited by Miss Brown and Mr.

Brantford 107

Object lessons shown in pictures for children 109

Dissolute men and women in hotels, etc 110

The party of six have a game of pool and bowling . . . 112

An automobile carries them home 113

Chapter IX

The fourth ^y of Mr. Brantford's new existence spent at

the publishing department 114

The " Daily American " has no glaring advertisements . . 115

Mr. Emerson explains the workings of the plant .... 117

The newspaper runs on an honest plan 118

Political appointments for party service 121

Literary methods in vog^e 124

The interest of Massachusetts in the social question . . . 126 Boston the first city to have supply stores, outside of the

cooperative city 127

Purchasers of the book « The World a Department Store "

the first investors 128

How land and property were acquired and members joined 130 The construction of the mills for the comfort of employees, in contrast with competitive methods . . . . ' . 132

Why hard times were possible 134

Cooperation a solution of life's difficulties 138

Chapter X

The educational department, and meeting of the board . 141 xii CONTENTS

Dr. Sumner explains the system . 142

The poverty of former schoolchildren contrasted with present conditions 143

Miss Brown and Mr. Brantford visit the school building . 150

The arrangement of the rooms, etc 151

Churchmen on board of education, liberality of management 153

Miss Brown and Hr. Brantford come to a quiet understanding 155

Chapter XI

Saturday evening — a social time with the ladies . . . 157 Table representing wasted energy in the nineteenth century 160

The laboring classes deprived of the fruits of their toil 165

Miss Brown sings a solo for Mr. Brantford 166

CHAPTER XII Easter Sunday 167

All appear in new garments 168

The saloon problem 169

Charitable institutions 171

Mr. Brantford pleased with the striking appearance of

Miss Brown in her Easter costume 174

Changes in church services 175

CHAPTER Xin

The exposition building 176

Easter Sunday, with sermon by Rev. Mr. Canfield on the

lifting up of humanity 178

The competition of the churches 183

The success of the cooperative religion of Christ .... 184 Liberal ministers the first adherents of the new movement

among the clergy 186

A ride into the country on the automobile 192

Perfect roads fascinate Mr. Brantford 193

Politicians and political parties antagonistic 194

Newspapers declare times are prosperous 196

Speculators, etc., the ones benefited by special legislation . 197

The entire world ripe for a change 196

Farming under the cooperative system 199

CONTENTS xiii

They plan to go fishing 202

The ride prolonged at Miss Brown's suggestion .... 203 Miss Brown finds Mr. Brantford's company becoming

dearer daily 203

Chapter XIV

An invitation to dine with Mr. and Mrs. Mathew . . . 204 Ideas concerning public highways copied from the State

of Massachusetts 205

Church subscriptions a thing of the past ; an entrance fee

now in vogue 208

The false idea of heayen entertained by fossilized theologians 210

Mr. Mathew explains the monetary system in use . . . 211 Money a measuring-rod, with no value of itself .... 213 The influence of London on the world's commerce and

finances 214

The Cooperative Association has a continuous-chain monetary system, members spending all their regular income

and thus creating greater business 216

Money of use only to spend 217

The soda rooms largely patronized during the summer

months 218

Intoxicants going out of use; prescribed only by a physi* cian 218

Chapter XV

Alice assists Miss Brown to prepare for the dinner at Mr.

Mathew's 221

The home of Mr. Mathew 224

A discussion of the servant problem 225

Servants now considered as companions 226

Mrs. Mathew invites Mr. Brantf ord to relate his experiences 227

CHAPTER XVI The month of June in the cooperative city 230

A fishing trip arranged to Belgrade 230

A country town under cooperation described 237

The agricultural system 238 xiv CONTENTS

The department store the basis of the Cooperatiye Association 242

The watchword of cooperation ** economy," of law-makers and politicians " extravagance " 247

The effect of new conditions on the inhabitants of the country 248

CHAPTER XVII A fishing trip to Belgrade 250

College students act as guides 250

Comforts of suburban towns 252

Our party of six plan a seaside trip to the coast of Maine . 255 The avaricious character of seashore hotels and boarding-houses 258

CHAPTER XVIII The Fourth of July celebrated 260

On the way to Lisbon Falls, Brunswick, and Bath . . . 263

The prohibition law turned into a private-license system . 265 The great waste entailed by elections and general tariff

discussion 265

Mr. Seward shows them through the shipping department 268

Cooperation brings about universal peace among the nations 269

The ship-building department 271

A sailor's life under the cooperative system 273

Passing through Portland they arrive at Cape Elizabeth,

where their vacation is to be spent 275

The charms of the place 278

Mr. Brantford and Miss Brown, in blissful content, sit and

watch the moon rise ... 281

CHAPTER XIX A ride along the shore of Cape Elizabeth 282

Old Orchard and its transformations 283

Surf bathing, pavilions, etc 285

The religious gatherings and the interest in foreign missionary work 287

They visit Biddeford and Saco 290

CONTENTS XV

CHAPTER XX The summing np of the causes leading to the re-creation of

society 203

Artificial inflations and depressions in industrial life . . . 203 Waste in enterprises that are yalneless to the people . . 204 Believers in competition unahle to see the value of combination 200

Safety of business by combination of competitive firms . 300

Saving to producer and consumer 300

Obstacle to cooperation in the character of individuals . . 302

An evening at the theatre 303

Two couples decide to unite their interests 304