John Wanamaker Regrets That He Could Not Visit Adolph Sutro’s Famous Library

JOHN WANAMAKER (1838-1922). Wanamaker was a politician and businessman, who was best known as the founder of Wanamaker’s department store in Philadelphia. TLS. 1pg. May 4, 1891. Enroute San Francisco to Tacoma. A typed letter with an autograph correction, signed “Jno Wanamaker”. The department store magnate wrote to future Mayor of San Francisco Adolph Sutro (1830-1898), regretting that he was unable to visit Sutro’s famous library during his recent visit to that city. “My dear sir: With all my great desire to see your library the time did not permit, and in leaving it is the largest regret I have that I could not avail myself of the opportunity offered. If the days had been four times as long the time would have been insufficient to have met the demands upon me. I do not think that I took more than one good meal while in the city beyond the one I had in your house, solely for the reason that we were so hurried at every point. I need not say to you that I cherish the highest regard for yourself personally and the great work of philanthropy you are engaged in. I trust you will live to see all your beautiful dreams fulfilled. I have also to acknowledge your letter of the 2nd. inst, relating to a site for the post office, and beg to say the suggestion shall have my most careful consideration in connection with others now before me. Very truly yours, Jno Wanamaker”. It is in very good condition with folds.