Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-01
THE TRADE IN AESTHETICS.
CUSTOMERS WHO PAY 1,5O0 FOR SINGLE
PLAQUE.


On the way up Broadway this afternoon (writes
New York correspondent Of the Aubus7siaa)
loitered along, gazing into and stopping at show
windows where anything novel or handsome IL
displayed. like to do this. 1t is said that peO-
pie from the country are distinguished by the
fact that they stop to stare into the shop win
dows. Not so!-it is the manner in which he
does it that the stranger is betrayed. Some of
the handsomest goods for sale in the metropolis
are displayed in the store windows; why, indeed,
should not people stop to criticise and admire
that's what the show is furnished for.
found myself standing at the show window
of a concern who deal entirely in the antique
and bric-a-brac wares, as they are termed-art
furniture. you know. In the window were sew
eral old jugs with pictures smeared over their
bullying compliance; there were old dishes 1Oridly
daubed as though stewed pumpkin had been per-
washstand that can go over in the Bowery and
discount for beauty at five hundred per cent less
than this specimen will bring: grandfather clock
stood back little. and squatted around 1t were
more measley old Jugs and dilapidated crockery.
The center piece in the window was big case
filled with tea service which was all painted
over.
"Hullo. Morello, is that you?" This was
what startled me while I was staring at that
window full of pitiable truck, and az the same
time gentleman who seemed to belong to the
store stepped out of its doors and came tOward
me- had not seen him before since we de-
clined Greek verbs together at school.
well yes this is me-" ref as as took his
Chats what We used to call him), has come
to anchor in q juno shop of this sort" He
laughed and explained that he came there fifth
salesman and was now the first.
Finally pointed through the glass at pair
of overgrown spittoOns with gilt handles on
them and says /:
"Frenchy. do you sell those things, or do you
aim to get hideons refuse into this window just
to attract attention."
''Sell them! we'll I should smile to murmur
II suppose that's an aesthetic idiom.1 Sell them!
Why, what do you suppose it would cost you for
those two pieces?" l looked at him pityingly.
for he was really getting enthusiastic, but l did
not aggravate him. "Why," he exclaimed, 1.-The
price of that pair is 81 COO"
care they for slop jars?" asked.
"SlOp jars! slop jars-huh! those are porce-
lain and the handles are solid bronze, triple gold
plated
began to understand why he had been pro-
NOTED so much. but didn't aggravate him with
words"
"That old wreck of chair there, 'Frenchy,'
do you suppose that will bring over dollar and
quarter" asked again while l pointed. l
could feel that he was beginning to pity me. but
he only said: ''The price of that is S1Oo-it is
very old"
Then 1 asked him who his customers were. He
led out Mrs. Vanderbilt, (the CommOdore's
widow, the first one. He said she came to the
store in person. and whenever she saw anything
she wanted she simply said: II want that" and
never asked the price.
"She came here one day." said he, with
couple of old Dresden caps and wanted them
fixed Whatever fixing cap means], and had
to send them to Europe to have it done. The
bill was 800, but she never said wOrd''
''What does she buy?-What class of the stuff
YOU have here?" asked.
swell. let me see!" and he took look at the
cOrnice of the building, ''let me see; the last
time she was in sold her plaque, which she
wanted for a wedding present. 1t cost her
$1,5OO." Just here was about to jOt down some
thing about the painted tea set, when he asked
what was doing. Then told him that l was
newspaper man, and wanted to remember
about some Of his wares.
"FOr Heavens sake!" he exclaimed, ''you
don't propose to write anything about what
said. do you?''
'Exactly!"
"Oh, but that won't do: Mrs. Vanderbilt never
would come here again. Those kind offOlks are
very particular about such things. and am cal
culating, at the very least on S5O, 900 worth Of
trade for the new houses of the Vanderbilt's.''
''Be perfectly easy. my boy, shall not infct
your juno shop with any free advertising. I'll
not even mention the name of your house; and
now sO-long. I'll come in and mouse around
when 1 feel too jolly, some day" left him
smiling. but looking little puzzled and uneasy
N