Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-11-27
BUYING BUTTONS.
How the Philadelphia Young Lady
Doesn't DO 1t.
PHILADELPHIA Record.

Philadelphia Record.
An extensive dealer in notions, par
ticularly buttons, on Chestnut street,
declared yesterday that the counter
over which these little articles are sold
is the best place in the world to study
some of the inexplicable ways of the
gentler sex. "Though buttons" he
said, go but short way toward rend-
ering the life Of a man agreeable, yet
to the opposite sex they seem to be
necessary to absolute felicity If you
would learn how they purchase these
little articles, step this way" Behind q
counter were four attendants. doing
their utmost to answer a thousand and
one questions, and wait upon at least a
dozen customers at the same time.
The customers all wanted buttons, all
were in q hurry; not one of them had
decided upon any particular style or
pattern, or price, and each and every
one expressed desire to see the whole
stock at once, and wondered how in
the name of goodness they could not
get a dozen buttons Or SO without wait
ing all day.
The way it is done is this:
A lady rushed breathlessly up to the
counter, and, while waiting for the
saleswoman, began to claw over every
box within reach, just to get an idea of
the styles. Presently young lady
snatched an opportunity from a fat,
fussy customer to ask what she wanted.
"Thank goodness, you have come at
last" said the purchaser. 81 have been
standing here an hour. am in a very
great hurry. Please show me some
buttons"
"What style?" inquired the attend
ant.
"Let me see what you haye."
con! This is your whole stock, is it %
Goodness gracious! oeventy-five
stylesr
"No. Those are too large"
cts really too bad those are too
small"
Yes-something like that; only
more snowy"
81 can't understand it. I'm SO easily
pleased, too"
"Thats too high. The idea One
dollar Dozen"
"Why. really. SO you did show me
these before"
"Well, Inever. Did | say they were
too small? So did"
Eyes, but [ want something real
snowy"
"You really confuse me with so many
patterns"
About this time the fat, fussy Gus
toner glared at the saleswoman, who
glided over to where she was digging
down to the bottom of a large box.
The young lady protested on her sacred
word, for the fourth time, that she did
not know how many buttons were nee
essary for the front Of princesse wrap
per for young lady Of Is, very large for
her years.
Customer No. = discovers the absence
of the saleswoman, and calculates:
"Well, / never; | wonder when | am
to be waited on; | declare / will 60
right out"
The attendant rushes back. excuses
herself, and waits for the volley of
questions. .....
"Show me something for gros grain
street dress"
ooh, goodness. how horrid!"
"They are entirely too common"
Haven't you got something rather
sort Of"
"There is something | like in that
box"
"To be sure. The same as I saw.
How ugly" :....
"Why, in the name of goodness,
don't you get new styles %
"What poor selection"
Rubber buttons, girl? You are
mad.
cob, did see these"
Chow much for this style?"
"Ah, yes. [ remember you did say 81
Dozen"
81 want them for a gros grain street
DRESS"
"That is something like it. A leetle
too large, though"
"Ah! dbl! So [ did"
The saleslady again steals over to the
fat, fussy customer, who says she thinks
she will wait until she can find out
| whether she will require a dozen or
eighteen.
Customer No. 2, with a tinge of as
perity in her voice, remarks to the
salesWoman, who has returned:
Show me those in that upper box
Is that really the style I detested ~
$50 it is"
ooh, myp'. -ss.s.......... .rs
How much better they look in the
box" e..> {. a.:... gss.....E
"Don't they?' ..s..I
| "Hum."
Once more she clawed over the en-
tire stock, remarked that New York
was the only place to buy buttons, and
said it was no matter, as she only want
ed six. and hOunced out.
| Why Chickens Scratch.
Instincts must originally have been OF
an intelligent nature, but the actions
which they prompted having through
successive generations been frequently