Judge Hilton had offended the Jews in America because
his hotel, the "Grand Union" in Saratoga, had refused to
accommodate Joseph Seligman, whom both the New York
Chamber of Commerce and Union League Club honoured
by electing as one of their vice-presidents. Hilton did
not then realize that this act not alone involved the loss
of his Jewish customers, but it would also influence a great
many of his Christian patrons who would resent such dis-
crimination, and withdraw their custom from his firm.
Most of this trade went to the rising firms of B. Alt-
man & Co. and Stern Bros. and so strengthened them
that they became great competitors of Hilton, Hughes &
Company, and precipitated their downfall. John Wana-
maker bought the lease and stock of goods. I remember
distinctly with what satisfaction, when the transaction
was closed, he told me that this was the first time that he
had ever heard of so valuable a franchise being given away
for nothing. Wanamaker shrewdly disregarded the short
existence of Hilton, Hughes & Company, and advertised
John Wanamaker as the successor of A. T. Stewart &
Company.

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