UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13G

                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                               (Amendment No. 2)*

                          Edison Brothers Stores, Inc.
                                (Name of Issuer)

                                  Common Stock
                         (Title and Class of Securities)

                                    280875303
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                December 31, 1999
             (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

     Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
Schedule is filed:

     [X]  Rule 13d-1(b)

     [_]  Rule 13d-1(c)

     [_]  Rule 13d-1(d)

     *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would
alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

     The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of
the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see
the Notes).

                                  SCHEDULE 13G

CUSIP No. 280875303                                                       Page 2

1    NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
     I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (entities only)

          Principal Life Insurance Company

2    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions)

          (a)
          (b)

3    SEC USE ONLY

4    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

          Iowa


NUMBER OF           5    SOLE VOTING POWER                           0
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY        6    SHARED VOTING POWER                         0
OWNED BY
EACH                7    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER                      0
REPORTING
PERSON WITH         8    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER                    0


9    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

          0

10   CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
     SHARES (See Instructions)

11   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

          0.0

12   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions)

          IC

                                  SCHEDULE 13G

CUSIP No. 280875303                                                       Page 3

1    NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
     I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (entities only)

          Principal Mutual Holding Company

2    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions)

          (a)
          (b)

3    SEC USE ONLY

4    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

          Iowa


NUMBER OF           5    SOLE VOTING POWER                           0
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY        6    SHARED VOTING POWER                         0
OWNED BY
EACH                7    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER                      0
REPORTING
PERSON WITH         8    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER                    0


9    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

          0

10   CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
     SHARES (See Instructions)

11   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

          0.0

12   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions)

          HC

                                                                          Page 4

Item 1(a).  Name of Issuer:

     Edison Brothers Stores, Inc.

Item 1(b).  Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

     501 North Broadway
     St. Louis, MO  63102

Item 2(a).  Name of Person Filing:

     Principal Life Insurance Company
     Principal Mutual Holding Company

Item 2(b).  Address of Principal Business Office, or, if None, Residence:

     Principal Life Insurance Company
     711 High Street
     Des Moines, IA  50392-0088

     Principal Mutual Holding Company
     711 High Street
     Des Moines, IA  50392-0088

Item 2(c).  Citizenship:

     Principal Life Insurance Company - State of Iowa
     Principal Mutual Holding Company - State of Iowa

Item 2(d).  Title of Class of Securities:

     Common Stock

Item 2(e).  CUSIP Numbers:

     280875303

Item 3.  If this statement is filed pursuant to section 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d
         2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

         (c) [X] An insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the
         	 Act (15 U.S.C. 78c)
     	 (g) [X] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with
         	 section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G)

Item 4.  Ownership:

     (a) Amount Beneficially Owned

     0 Shares Common Stock presently held by Principal Life Insurance Company
     0 Shares Common Stock presently held by Principal Mutual Holding Company

                                                                          Page 5

     (b) Percent of Class

     0.0 Principal Life Insurance Company
     0.0 Principal Mutual Holding Company

     (c) Number of shares as to which the person has:

         (i) Sole Power to Vote or Direct the Vote

         0 Principal Life Insurance Company
         0 Principal Mutual Holding Company

         (ii) Shared Power to Vote or Direct the Vote

         0 Shares Common Stock presently held by Principal Life Ins. Company
         0 Shares Common Stock presently held by Principal Mutual Holding
         Company

         (iii) Sole Power to Dispose or to Direct the Disposition of

         0 Principal Life Insurance Company
         0 Principal Mutual Holding Company

         (iv) Shared Power to Dispose or to Direct the Disposition of

         0 Shares Common Stock presently held by Principal Life Ins. Company
         0 Shares Common Stock presently held by Principal Mutual Holding
         Company

Item 5.  Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class:

     This statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date
     hereof, Principal Life Insurance Company and Principal Mutual Holding
     Company have ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the
     class of securities addressed by this report.

Item 6.  Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person

     N/A

Item 7.  Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the
         Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company

     See Exhibit attached

                                                                          Page 6

Item 8.  Identification and Classification of Members of the Group

     N/A

Item 9.  Notice of Dissolution of Group

     N/A

Item 10(b).  Certification

     By signing below I certify, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the
     securities referred to above were not acquired and are held in the ordinary
     course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose
     of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer
     of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with
     or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

Signature

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify
that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Principal Life Insurance Company
By: INVISTA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

By /s/ Dennis W. Cameron
Dennis W. Cameron, Chief Financial and Compliance Officer

Principal Mutual Holding Company
By:  INVISTA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

By /s/ Dennis W. Cameron
Dennis W. Cameron, Chief Financial and Compliance Officer

Dated Tuesday, January 25, 2000

                                  EXHIBIT 99.1

Principal Life Insurance Company
Item 3 Classification:
(c) an Insurance Company as defined in section 3(a)(19)
    of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c)