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��tools and work out his designs, and business and executive ability to suc- ceed in what he should undertake. He has this advantage over the most of his rivals, that he is thoroughly fa- miliar with every detail of the busi- ness. Unlike most workmen he can build a piano from the raw material, tune it, and then sell it, which latter becomes the easiest task to perform on account of the many merits of the instruments. The Briggs piano meets a want in the community which it fills to perfection. It is at once a fine instrument, and one within the reach of all who can afford a good thing.

��The prices are the lowest consistent with thorough workmanship and the best materials. The stock is received in the basement, and thence carried to the upper story by a commodious freight elevator ; thence its course is downward, story by story, until it reaches the warerooms on the first floor, a large and commodious room, filled with finished products of the factory. These pianos are very pop- ular with the people, as shown by the thousands in use in every part of our country, and the Briggs pianos are as well known as any made.

��A SKETCH OF ONE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE'S MOST ENTER- PRISING BUSINESS CONCERNS.

��In 1871 Mr. p:dd. F. Higgius made a beginning in a small store in Man- chester, N. H., which has grown into the largest house-furnishing store in the state. Soon after starting, he perceived that the city of Manchester and the surrounding country needed an establishment at which good, hon- est goods could be purchased at reasonable prices, and set to work with the end in view of gradually building up and maintaining such an establishment. He soon associated with himself his brother, Mr. H. F. Higgins, under the firm name of Hig- gins Bros., and *o their small stock of crockery, cutlery, &c., they began to add the cheaper grades of furni- ture, at the same time increasing the size of the store bv taking additional room from time to time as needed. In February, 1878, having carefulh' felt their way along amid the break- ers of the business depression then

��sweeping over the country, they de- cided that the generous support given by the puBlic warranted them in still further catering to the wants of their patrons. Accordingly, after leasing the entire building of Wells block, in which they were situated, they fitted up in the basement a carpet room, the best in the state, and opened a large and varied assortment of car- petiugs, which venture proved an immediate success. During the sum- mer following the floor area of the main store was nearly doubled by adding the next store north of theirs, and, the partitions being removed, they had the largest and handsomest store not only in Manchester, but in the state.

Still their increasing trade, and the desire to please an appreciating pub- lic, urged them on to greater efforts. They began the manufacture of up- holstered furniture ; their carpet de-

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