A Universal Provider.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 150, 2 June 1883, Page 3

A Universal Provider.

William Whitley, whose premises at Vi estbourne-grove, London, have been injured to the amount of £100,000, by a fire, is perhaps the most interesting specimen of the British tradesman extant. He set up m ltf 63 with a staff consisting of himself, two clerks, and an errand boy ; now he employs. 3400 persons, 1800 of whom he boards at his own hotel, to supply which ami his customers he maintains a farm at Finchley. He gets his mail m a waggon, and sends oat 140 men to deliver his goods. The clerks have lectures and Bible classes, teachers of French, German, and music, shorthand, drawing, &c, and inumerable dramatic, literary, and athletic associations. Wh'tley calls himself the ""Universal Provider," and lives up to his name, furnishing dry goods, groceries, meat, provisions, confectionery, bread, cake, furniture, muaical instruments, toys, coal, railway tickets, theatre tickets,; books, newspapers, stationery, boots and shoes, patent medicine!], hardwate— -if' heeds fcrbarbersj waiters and clergymen, ; cradles and coffins. " Whitley, U.P." it was who furnished a gentleman going to India with a complete outfit at an hour's notice, wife^ included, and who, when a rash youth: went to Westbburne Grove (to win; a : £50 bet) and ordered an, elephant, asked politely, "African or Asian, Sir ? How many feet high ?" andi had the animal up for inspection inside: pf an hour. •■■'•■- • ■■■■• '-■•

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