<PAGE>






                            FORM 8-K

               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C.  20549



                                           


                         CURRENT REPORT

             PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                 SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934




                Date of Report: October 28, 1998
               Date of earliest event reported: October 8, 1998



                 THE MAY DEPARTMENT STORES COMPANY               
     (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

   Delaware                   I-79               43-1104396      
(State or other           (Commission         (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of           File Number)        Identification No.)
incorporation)



  611 Olive Street, St. Louis, Missouri               63101    
(Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip code)



       Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                          (314) 342-6300                  






                             Page 1

<PAGE>
Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)  Exhibits.  The following documents are filed as Exhibits.

                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
Exhibit No.    Exhibit                               

     99.1      Press Release dated October 8, 1998










































                             Page 2
<PAGE>
                            SIGNATURE



     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                              THE MAY DEPARTMENT STORES COMPANY



Dated:  October 28, 1998       By:  /s/ Richard A. Brickson       
                                   Richard A. Brickson
                                   Secretary and Senior Counsel



































                             Page 3
<PAGE>
                        INDEX TO EXHIBITS



                    
                    
                    
Exhibit No.    Exhibit

     99.1      Press Release dated October 8, 1998










































                             Page 4
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "MAY DEPARTMENT STORES CO", "cik": "0000063416", "assigned-sic": "5311", "irs-number": "431104396", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0201"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-00079", "film-number": "98732170"}, "business-address": {"street1": "611 OLIVE ST", "city": "ST LOUIS", "state": "MO", "zip": "63101", "phone": "3143426300"}}
FORM 8-K

               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C.  20549

                                           

                         CURRENT REPORT

             PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                 SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                Date of Report: October 28, 1998
               Date of earliest event reported: October 8, 1998

                 THE MAY DEPARTMENT STORES COMPANY               
     (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

   Delaware                   I-79               43-1104396      
(State or other           (Commission         (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of           File Number)        Identification No.)
incorporation)

  611 Olive Street, St. Louis, Missouri               63101    
(Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                          (314) 342-6300                  

                             Page 1
Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)  Exhibits.  The following documents are filed as Exhibits.

                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
Exhibit No.    Exhibit                               

     99.1      Press Release dated October 8, 1998

                             Page 2
SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                              THE MAY DEPARTMENT STORES COMPANY

Dated:  October 28, 1998       By:  /s/ Richard A. Brickson       
                                   Richard A. Brickson
                                   Secretary and Senior Counsel

                             Page 3
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

                    
                    
                    
Exhibit No.    Exhibit

     99.1      Press Release dated October 8, 1998

                             Page 4