St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-08
A BUSINESS oYERDoNE.
Hoie "a Sesr York Bo,c.ry Merchant Rather
Orerreaeled HfBlseiE

Hone "a Sesr York Bosc~ry Merchant Rather
OeerreaeIed Himself
Clara Belle in Cincinnati Enquirer.I
AID awful business blunder was made in
this city by anerehant in Grand streeiwhich
Is our avenue OF east-side gfflism Of the
boweTy stamp. There are big dry-goods
stores over there, but they are for the masses
aud when we make excursions to that quar-
ter from the swell part Of town II is merely
for diversion. On one Of these trips the
other day l came across q new piece Of the
sensationalism with which trade is conduct
ed there. AL sorts Of devices 70 force at
tention 70 the windows are in vogue, snch as
making candy in plain sight, running sew
ing machines by pretty girl power, displaying
the mysteries of corsets recklessly aud oper-
ating the various inventions in folding sofas
aud beds. Well, on this occasion l came TO
crowd 80 dense that one couldn't get past
without taking to the middle of the street.
The el0owing, the pushing, the neck-stretch-
ing were indications of something worth see
ing, and sacrificed good part Of the trim
ming of my dress, 70 say nothing Of damage
10 atemper ever fragile, in forcing myself
through 10 the front The window had been
]
or knitting machine bad been set up. and
was being operated by very pretty girl. Its
action was very rapid and hosiery was fOrmu-
lated so fast that a whole stocking. Of fem
mime length, emerged like the output OF a
sausage machine in about five minutes. The
intention was TO alluringly illustrate the self
bullying qualities Of the hosiery manufactured
and on sale here. The knitting began at the
toe, and the foot was shaped automatically
by the intricate arrangement of hooks and
needles-all quite wonderfully. Then came
the narrowing to a neat ankle, while the fair
attendant naively extended and distended
the work for the dedication OF the open eyed
spectators. Phenomenon is the word for the
next development. After leaving the ankle
the shopping process rapidly produced a ire
mendous swen for the calf, and we saw that
an immense augmented amount of material
was being absorbed in the operation. The
spOols from which the yarn was unwound
fairly buZzed with their swift revolutions aud
the fiber zip-zipped along to be woven into
this section OF the stocking
A placard helped TO an understanding.
Graduated thickness" was the special quail
ity put forward for the manufacture. In
short, this was ready-padded hosiery. The
calves were woven about an inch thiek-more
VI ACccf uNNOiNluS VI
buyer. II was a truly thrilling exhibition,
and the crowd was awe-struck, especially the
men. And what was the effect on the wom-
en- and girls who formed the bulk of the
gatheringl Did they acknowledge the utility
Of the inventionl Possibly. Did they crowd
into the store to buy the goodsl Not bit of
ii. Does an opium-eater purchase the drug
before a multitudel No. Does an actress
paint her face in sight OF the audiencel Nix.
Foes girl distend her stocking with falsity
in public, like boa constructor Jumping his
skin by the swallowing of a rabbiti Nein.
There are certain kinds Of traffic which "a n =
be eonductedin the open street windows and
padding hosiery is one Of them. The loom
draw big crowds, but no purchasers. The
Bowery belle had as soon be seen go into a
groggery as be seen entering that store. The
machine has already been removed.