St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-12
SHOPPING IN THE RAIN.
Nicollet Avenue When Chr1stInas
Purchasers Wade Through Slush.
how Various Merchants Regard the
Change to Chicago Weather.

Almost all branches of mercantile busi-
ness report greatly increased December
trade over last year. The beginning OF the
week found the merchants of NicOllet ave-
nue. Minneapolis, with smiling faces and a
rapidlv increasing bank account; the thaw
came. and yesterday a Chicago driZZle was
nnon lis. and the clerks rested and like
wise The bank account. The milliners'
stores. which early in the week
were the scenes of greatest ac-
tivity. were yesterday quite deserted; a
leading dealer in Milliners' row said, AL
the ladies who really NJ lst buy are coming
out in spite of the rain, Dat the shopper is
staving at home and reading novels and
chewing tatfy to-day" And then she
launched forth into a racy and very inter
esting description of that bane of BUS ness.
the professional shopper, who "only comes
in 20 look" and who takes bonnet only 70
Ietuln them; who absorbs the time and
tries beyond control the patience of the
clerk-aud meanwhile the young lady
clerks sitting about in poses best adapted
to their several styles of beauty, chorus an
EMPHATIC ASSENT
10 their tried employers trite remarks.
But the dry goods men were not daunted
by rain or slush: why should they be when
their clerks were busy with buyers? The
rainy dav is not without its advantages; the
legion of women to whom the purchase OF
an all-wool dress pattern Is an event OF
great Importance, Invariably choose the
rainy day for shopping. They know mat
the shopper will not venture out, and they
are certain that the woman who always has
10 have the advice of the dresS-gOodS clerk
ut
absolutely no danger OF being
compelled to wait an hour while an over
dressed person secures samples, and there
Is equal immunity from the species that
don't know what she wants but just must
have something And so the honest
buyer, having fully planned just how she
will spend her little capital, takes possess
sion of the dry goods stores on the rainy
day. And the clerks welcome her gladly;
;hev show her their best bargains and treat
her. whatever her social position, with an
honest consideration of which the sunny
day shoppers see but the semblance, and all
day long the dealer sees in his store
AFAIRLY GOOD CROWD,
and the nights balance shows more cash
and less book accounts than pleasant
weather brings. The cloak and shawl de-
partments are peculiarly well patronized on
rainy days If the choice of dress is a
weighty matter, the selection of a wrap Is
the greatest burden known to the female
mind. it must be becoming, it must look
well i'll itself and above all, it must wea
we'll woman will pay more for wraI
than any other article of Dress and so she
pOnders long and earnestly over
the purchase, and will choose a
day when she can have all
aF
cloak clerks experience. And these rainy
day buyers are sure to get, if any one does.
the bargain they are i'll quest of. Yester-
day. in a downtown store. three Indian
women attracted the attention of several
spectators They bought shawls and
dresses One was quite young. and was
doubtless a belle among her dusky friends
for she daintily threw large checked red
and black shawl over her stopped shoulders
and paraded with evident satisfaction be-
fore the pier mirror. The colors were evil
IDENTIFY becoming to her peculiar beauty. for
purchase was quickly cOnsummated.
Then the maiden examined dresses, and
A RED BRoCADE GOWN,
with pleated skirt, apron front and full
back draperies struck her esthetic fancy;
she carefully held the dress before her to
measure the length. and, falling to see
how much too short the front width was.
calmly bought it, despite the honest clerks
Z objection. After such display of kn0wl-
edge of the mysteries of the fashionable
toilette, who shall doubt the rapid progress
of the civilization of the noble red women?
The shoe men are blue; everybody bought
rubbers six weeks ago. and those that did
not have purchased Overshoes since.
so that neither man. woman nor child has
use for the tempting bargains he has to
Offer Likewise doth the brio a-brac and
crockery dealer mourn. These two slushy
days has caused a loss of $1,000 clear
profit" said one. and our ideas of the
mighty per cents of these thriving dealers
are confirmed. Nor can the clothing man
greet the dry goods man with an answer
ing smile-men never buy clothes till they
must, and they hasten through the ordeal
when it comes, choosing bright day be
cause of their tendency to color blindness.
And so of all the NicOllet avenue mer-
chants: those slept best last night who sold
dry goods. and they also will give thanks
to-day for tangible mercies.