The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-12-20
PECULIARITIES IN ENGLISH SHOP
PING.

ANA provisions wedding oui:ltS (Wltn bride
maids thrown in for the occasion, ifdcsiretl),
iewelry, gentlemen'S furnishing goods, hats
and caps, fishing tackle, bookS-this con-
Glomeration is generally found satisfactory,
in variety at least, to the most er;yent of
buyers. Still, there is {; story extaut of a
gentleman who stroied into this shop one
day, and quite casually ordered an elephant
to be sent to his residence
An elephant, sir gasped the astonished
attendant. We've don't keep Them sill"
"Indeed:' was the response, uttered in a
tone Of half surprise. 81 understood you
called yourselves universal Providers
The clerk reported the incident to the head
of the establishment. The amour prone of
the latter was 1T once aroused. Going to
the geological gardens, he obtained, Mt IN
immense price, the loan of ;sn elephant for
an hour. This accomplished, he, in COM
pany with the elephant and his keeper, made
his way TO the given address. 1t is to he
hoped that the originator Of the practical
joke was able to appreciate the inastcrly
manner in which the tables We're turned
upon himself. The affair caused great
| laugh all over town, and in the end proved
Il much better advertisement for the enter
rrising tradesman than could have been
given him in Il whole page OF the Ti,ncS.
Ill all The large stores, Of shops as they
are called in England, Young women are
almost exclusively employed in the milin-
cry and mantle departments. These young
persons must possess good figure and
| stylish appearance, and are universally at
tired in trailing GOWNS of heavy black silk,
furnished them 10y the proprietor. \ lady
purchaser requests to he shown a variety of
outside wraps. Instead of showing them
| upon I steel-frameI dummy, the young
woman in attendance draws garment after
garment over her own shapely shoulders
and handsome silk skirts, until something
| is found to suit. The result is that many
woman who has hardly as good an idea of
the nature Of cause and effect as for her
own sake, could be desired, buys q garment
which proves most unbecoming to herself,
simply because it looks well upon her slim
AMI graceful attendant.
Very different is the course pursued by
the French customers. While the customer
is looking over the latest fashion plates, or
examining the costumes Of the large wax
dolls displayed iii cases about the room, the
! head Of the establishment is rs attenfively
studying her face and figure with the good
and bad points of each
81 think would Ike this shape" decides
the lady, pointing out a coquettish garment,
cut short At the sides, and extending Mt the
back into long tails, after the fashion of a
| gentleman's dress coat.
"Will madam have the kindness to walk
across the room? ~
Madam complies.
"No," decides the arbitcr of fashion in
the poitest but tirnest OF tones-"no, mad
am can not have that. Madam, unfortu-
nately, has TOO much hip" And, If madam
abiles by her choice, she finds she must go
elsewhere to have her wishes gratified
Bat to return to our London Shops De
Scending from millinery and nantes TO the
| lower departments, one is Immediately ac-
ce>ted by an attendant stationed ut the foot
Of the staircase. "What can we show you
| in oar department. madam :''
"kbhons.
| "Ah, N0aLs-Ribbons, Mr.. Jones"
| Mr. Jones marshals the customer on
Ribbons, Mr.. Smith" Nj. Smith takes
mp the cry, gibbons, Mr.. Robinson" un-
til the purchaser finds herself finally landed
AT the desired counter. While she is max
ing purchase, her friend casually takes up
a ribbon lying near. Immediately another
attendant springs into action. "A shilling
Il yard, madam. What else can i show
| y0u?''
"Nothing to-day"
! "Ah, Nu!ks.'
The two ladies rise and make their way
! toward the door. But even then they are
| not left in peace.
What department, madam" inquiries
another obs"quious parsonage, placing him
self in their path
Owe arc going out, ," is the somewhat i'm
patient reply.
".th, HaakS;;" and he makes way for
them to pass, one of the ladies' remarking
to her friend As they reach the door that she
had often been thanked for going 10 place,
but never before for tearing it,
This extreme Difference Of manner, which
| TO an American savors closely to servilitv,
is noticeable among all English trades-peo-
pie, from butchers and bakers up to MERGERS
and diapers.
Unless especially requested, no tradesnan
|
once a year; in some cases, once in two
years. II is then paid or suffered to have Il
longer run, according to the convenience or
amiabiiity of the debtor. Unlimited credit
is expected by the creditor, and given long
after his sulvency is doubted, as the trades
man finds in the majority Of eases that some
member Of the family will, sooner or later,
| srttle the claim. Family claims of this kind
| are much stronger than in cur own country,
where, after :; man has reached years of dis
erection, and has started ont fairly in the
race of life, he seldom finds any rich uncle
or equally well-endowcd third cousin will
ing, even il able, to pap his Legitimate debts
for him.
Payment being thus generally secure the
| merchant finds it advantageous to favor his
customers with almost implicit trust. 81
never was more surprised said an Ameri-
can, discussing This subject, than when |
received by express from London Diapers
shop Il large box, filed with various kinds
Of embroidered table covers, in answer to a
letter Of mine requesting prices and aescrip-
tons hadn't even said that intended to
uurch:;s, one. and the firm knew absolutely
nothing about me
"What kind Of paper did you use in writ
ing that letter. inquired Il friend
My ordinary note paper was the re-
ply.
Had it a crest o.
Yes, and a monogram"
"Ah, that explains tho matter. Luxurics
of that kind are exclusively the property of
the upper classes here: SO they felt them
selves safe.
1t Is aisu {; very ordinary occurrence for a
lady who finds herself short of money to be
cntreateI to take with her tie article at
which She has been looking. "Nou can pay
for it any day when You happen to be pass
ing, is the coEtidins suggestion at the end,
and that when she is a perfect stranger in
the shop.
81 was looking at some iaces one day"
! yni1 L. .sr,I r.,,,llp'f ,lec;,lr ,,pnp &,