Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-08-22

Curious Customs.
One would naturally suppose that every
persons who enters shop Is aware Of wha;
he requires. Our experience, however,
shows that shopkeepers and shopmen are ac-
customed to recognize two classes of Gus
TONERS, those who know what they want,
ank those who do not. In the first is to be
found that customer who is so rare and 50
perfect that we will call him the Ideal Gus
toner. He exists as a sort of fond dream in
the mind of the shopman, sometimes, but all
too seldom, realized. lie knows what he
wants, and he knows the price; lie asks for
it. pays for it, and takes it away. Heaven
prosper him on his way He is a model to
all customers.
Now if the shopkeeper did not possess the
article required by the Ideal customer, he
would inform him so, and the customer
would leave the shop. In this respect, and
customer, who, although quite as clear on
his requirements, gives far more trouble.
For he Is no sooner informed that the article
he wishes is not kept, than he betrays a be-
lief that it is, and that only laziness or lack
of understanding prevents his obtaining 1t.
He therefore institutes little search on his
own account throughout the shop, naturally
inhicting annoyance ON the feelings Of the
shopman.
We will suppose the Obstinate customer
enters a chemists shop, and asks for pair
of Westinghouse. He is told that I'VE do
not keep them"
Don't keep them - lie exclaims, gazing
keenly around the shop; dear me, that's
very awkward What is that pile of things
on the shelf just above your head there?'
He is told that they are chest protectors.
= Oh, indeed chest-protectors, ell ? They
wouldn't do then-they- wouldn't g
This is said slowly as the speakers eye wan
ders searchingly around the shop. Presently
he says again probably pointing rudely and
offciously with his umbrella
- Isn't that pile of things there with the
red borders to them washing-gloyes? think
they must be -
They are accordingly taken down and
shown to be something quite different TO
washing-gloyes. \ glimmer of intelligence
will then, perhaps, shine upon him, and he
will say, . Well, if you haven't got them |
can't have them-can | - And then, east
ing suspicious glances around him, he leaves
the shop slowly, and the shopman may
think himself fortunate if something in the
window does not attract his notice, and
bring him back again.
\ customer much TO be avoided IS the In
discreet customer. lie orders readily. and
| speedily finds what he wants. But he never
thinks about price. and generally never in
quireS until his parcel of goods i packed up.
1t most frequently happens that the price is
! three or four times what he expected or can
afford, and an awkward dilemma Is the re-
suit. 1t generally ends in the parcel being
opened, and goods extracted until theamount
Is reduced to within the reach Of the lndiS-
Greet customers pocket.
! This customer is the more annoying. as
the mode of dealing with him i, 50 difficult
Ifit be attempted to discern the probable
worth of the individual by his dress and ap
pearance, there is the utmost danger of con-.
founding him with the Unknown customer.
who Is at once tie horror and delight of
shopkeepers We will narrate an act we
came across to illustrate this
\ shabby old gentleman walked into a
jewelers. shop, and asked to be allowed to
look at some topazes. Three or four were
accordingly shown to him, and he quickly
selected the best, which he said was hardly
good enough. All, but you see these stones
are expensive = said the iewcler. rather pat
ronizngly. :" can assure You the one You
have selected would answer any ordinary
purpose"
The old gentleman looked around him in
a dissatisfied way, and presently caught
sight Oft large and beautiful stone in a cor
ner Of The jewelers. glass case.
d" That looks more like what want. p. said
! hq =. lpf mo lon1- n tlot ono mill ..,, ~"
= Ii will be very expensive. sir: very. in
deed-more, dare say. than YOU would ike
to give. The stone You have Is very good,
sir"
In n quiet voice the old gentleman asked
if the stone was for sale or oaly on view. At
this rebuke the ieweler produced it, naming
a high price. 1t was Immediately chosen.
and his customer, taking sketch from his
pocket, said - Get that coat-of-arms en-
grayed upon it, and send me word, when it
Is done =
lie gave his name and address. He was a
noble earl, and the shopkeeper had committed
the grievous error of treating him as an In
discreet when he was an Unknown custom
er.
One Of the most remarkable specimens Is
the Communicative customer This person.
it appears, will, with the slightest encour-
agement (and sometimes without. converse
freely about his personal and private affairs
over shop-cOunter, to an individual he has
never seen before in his life. \ gentleman
of this class, on the simple introduction oc-
casioned by the purchase of half a pound of
fgs, told the grocer's assistant that he should
have been in the grocery trade himself if he
had stopped down in the country, where he
was born but that he always had fancy
to come to London 50 he ran away. and
came.
- | wasn't worth much when first ar
rived, y said the Communicative customer.
50 but I'm worth few thousands now.
bought a house yesterday shat cost me over
fifteen hundred pounds and I'm going to
furnish it, and let it furnished never could
get on with unfinished houses. One of
my tenants" &c.
Another instance was man who within
FIVE minutes of entering the shop informed
the shopman where he was going to dine.
what he was going to have, and what his
balance was at his bankers
OF course, the most troublesome ofail Gus
TONERS are to be found amongst those who
do not know what they want Foremost
1
| The difficulty those fair creatures have in
making up their mind is only equaled by the
difficulty the shopman experiences in making
it up for them. They are impressed with
the idea that the task of buying must be
performed slowly; and if an article is found
| speedily, that is primd facie evidence that it
is not suitable. The experience of shop
man in fancy shop was interesting on this
point.
If lady and her husband are about to
purchase, the lady herself. of course, per-
forms the selection.
''That's pretty, dear-isn't it p she will
say.
- Yes, very Suppose you have that"
The fair one shrinks from the conclusion
She searches further. Presently she exclaims
again:
''Therel 1 think l really like that the
best of any,
Her husband observes, not unreasonably /:
swell, then, my dear, you'd better have
that one'
And we are assured that the lady will
then invariably put it one side, and look
over the Others again.-Cdsselrs Magazine.
| Danbury young man, who was once n
clerk, lately went out on farm to work.
The first night in the new position he was
detailed to remove calf from the apart
ment of its parent to another shed. and
while engaged, as thousands have been be-
fore him, in showing the contrary beast along,
the mother reached under the tails of his
coat with her horns, and suddenly lifted him
up against the roof of the building with a
force that threatened to shatter every bone
in his body The first thing he did on re-
turning to earth was to rub himself, the
next thing was to throw up his place. lie
said he didn't doubt that agriculture was a
was a noble pursuit. and Chat the farmer
needed an assistant in the discharge of the
multifarious duties, but he didn't believe
the Creator designed him for making sky