Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-08
Snobbery in Gotham.

The New York correspondent of the
Atlanta Constitution tells something
about a dude clothing store:
We worship that which is expensive.
was reminded of this forcibly by a
firm which has won its way to the top
| rank in its own particular line by un-
blushingly and shamlessly overcharoino
for every thing they sell. They describe
themselves rs "haberdashers," and
keep what is known in the vulgar par
lance of the day as u gents furnish
ing gods" store. They have a
superb establishment. 1t is the size of
two stores; is fitted in polished mahoe-
any from floor to ceiling, and filled
with a small army of snobbish clerks.
A page in livery opens the door for
those who enter, and they never allow
a customer to take any article home
himself. If it is only neck-scarf they
will send it to him, though he lives five
miles away. They have two delivery
vans for shat 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 buv there.
This is entirely to their satisfaction, as
they do not want that kind of custom
Nothing in their shop can be bought at
the regular prices. Collars, for in
stance, which sell usually at % cents,
are so cents there and they charge 80
cents pair for cuffs that are elsewhere
So to 40. 1t is impossible to buy any
sort Of q scarf or necktie for less than
50, and the prices for smoking-iackets,
bath-robes, and articles of that sort
are positively enormous. They de-
mand $2S for Il bath-robc of Turkish
toweling which could be bought any
where else in town for $12. A few
days ago friend of mine dropped in
casually 10 order some shirts. The
door was swung open by an obsequious
attendant, who bowed and pointed to
a clerk who was leaning gracefully on
the end of the counter. The clerk
stepped forward, bent and smiled.
II want some shirts, - said my friend.
.Will you be kind enough to step
this 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 SO much ceremony, was asked
with great politeness to step upstairs,
which he did. On the way the pro-
prietor asked him if he would exchange
cards. This being accomplished, the
be richly-upholstered and heavily
carpeted 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 q sample shirt
first"
eve never make less than half a
dozen shirts, sir, and our price is $50
dozen" said the shirt-maker laconi-
calIy.
but don't care to pay $25 for
half dozen shirts, and then find that
they do not fit me and think it is an
extortionate price, anyway"
''Our customers said the proprie-
tor, grandly, never suspect us of i'll
fitting them, and never ask the price"
81 don't care whether they do or
not" said my friend, Il want one shirt
for trial and l will pay you SIS for it,
and that is the end of the whole mat
ter. If you want to do it you may; if
not, don't trouble yourself. There are
plenty of shirt-makerS in town who
charge at least reasonable figures"
The proprietor looked at him coldly,
twirled his eyeglasses in his fingers,
and said +: Our customers, sir, are not
grumblers."
Thereupon my friend freet his mind,
stalked down stairs, and out into the
street, while the turnkey opened the
door and bowed to him respectfully.
And yet. this sort Of snobbishness
takes in New York, for the firm is the
most successful one of its line.