The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-05-10
Snobbery in Gotham.

The New York correspondent of the
Atlanta Constitution tells something
about dude clothing store
We worship that which is expensive
was reminded of this forcibly by Il
firm which has won its way to the top
rank in its own particular line by un-
blushingly and shamlessly overcharging
for everything they sell. They describe
themselves as "haberdashers,n and
keep what is known in the vulgar par
lance OF the day as gents furnish
inc goods store. They have 4
superb establishment. 1t is the size OF
two stores is fitted in polished mahog-
any from floor to ceiling, and filled
with 4 small army of snobbish clerks.
A page in livery opens the door for
those who enter. and they never allow
customer to take any article home
himself Ii it is only a neck-scarf they
will send it to him, though he lives five
miles away. They have two delivery
vans for that purpose, driven by uni
formed coachmen with tlunkies by their
sides to deliver the goods. Altogether
the style Of the establishment is stun
ming. The prices are so high that men
Of modest means do not buy there.
This is entirely to their satisfaction, as
they do not want that kind Of custom
Nothing in their shop can be Dough. at
the regular prices. Collars, for in
stance, which sell usually at % cents,
ara ~ cents there; and they charge 81
cents Q pair for cuffs that are elsewhere
50 to 40 Ii j. impossible to buy any
SORT II scarf or necktie for less than
s.. and the prices for smoking jackets,
ta-L-ro5es, and articles Of that sort
arc positively enormous. They de-
maud SIS for q bath-robe of Turkish
.owa.ing which could be bought any
where else in town for Sl2. A few
days azo = friend Of mine dropped in
casually 90 order some shirts. The
1-a- w1s swung oUen oy al obsequi0us
45-=-t5--, who bowed and pointed to
I clerk w-1 was leaning gracefully on
--= end Of the counter The clerk
stepped forward ben. and smiled.
Il want some shirts, said my friend.
VIII you be kind enough to step
tbs way, sir ?" and the clerk rubbed
his hands together and walked softly
down the store.
The customer followed until they ar
rived at the office in the rear There
the clerk was met by a member Of the
firm, who was introduced to the GUS
toner. The customer, rather aston
ished at 50 much ceremony, was asked
with great pOlltencS5 10 step upstairs,
| which he did. On the way the pro-
prietor asked him ii he would exchange
cards. This being accomplished, the
! next floor was reached, and proved to
| be a r.chly-uphOlstcrcd and heavily
carpetcd parlor The proprietor
! touched an electric bell and conversed
easily with his customer until the shirt
maker appeared. He said nothing
about the shirt, and seemed to treat
the call as purely social. After he had
been measured, the customer said
you may make me 4 sample shirr
| frs"
I'VE never make less than half ;
dozen shirts, sir, and our price is $5(
dozen" said the shirt-maker laconi
cally.
But ! don't care to pay $25 fer ,
half dozen shirts, and then find tina
they do not fit me and | think it is III
extortionate price, anyway
"Our customers said the proprie
tor, grandly, never suspect US of ill
fitting them, and never ask the price.
81 don't care whether they do 0
not" said my friend, II want one shir
for trial and | will pay you So for il
and that is the end OF the whole mai
ter. If you want to do it you may;
not, don't trouble yourself, There ar
plenty of shirt-makers in town VIII
charge at least reasonable figures"
The proprietor looked at him coldly
twirled his eyeglasses in his fingers
and said "Our customers, sir, are nj
grumblers
Thereupon my friend freed his mine
stalked down stairs, ana out into I'll
street, while the turnkey opened I'll
door and bowed to him respectful,
And yet, this sort Of snobbishne.
takes in New York, for the firm is IL
most successful one of its line.