The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-20
SHOPPING IN LONDON AND PARIS
sharp Competition Causes Polit aness
to be Carried to al Extreme.

eharn Competition Causes Polit 3ness
to be Carried to al Extreme.
IF one were to judge of the physique of
ENGLISH women from the specimens he sees
=, the shops behind the counters, writes
Morris Phillips, the genial editor of the
Home Journal, who, with his two accom-
nlished daughters, has just returned from
E,rone he would set them down for very
toII race. but if he inquiries into the subject
he will find that these women are selected
Cor their very helght-the taller their figure
tIa HIGHER their salary, very often. A
stranger with an observing eve will also no.
tice that English and Fiench saleswomen,
or salesladies, as they are called in New
work dress in black while on duty. This,
however. is not mere caprice on the part
If the woman; in most shops it is compul-
s1rv The shopkeepers believe that shop
women look heater and better in black than
in colors and so all OF them wear black.
The gown may be of any material, but the
color must be uniformly black. Nor are
thew allowed to wear snowy trimmings; and
ss for iewelry, either real or imitation, it is
ont of the question. In some shops they
NAV. or rather, they must wear
simnIe. plain linen collar and
linen cuffs. This is the case at Whitelys,
the largest shop in London, and some say
aven larger than the world famous Bon
Uarcbe of Paris. A close lookeron, with an
eve to detail, will also notice that red sand is
n}ace in the roadway in front of the main
entrance to the largest and most fashiona-
HE London shops. There are two or three
reasons for this. First it serves to show
where drivers of carriages should pull up"
sec md. in starting the ho ses it prevents
them from slipping on the smooth wooden
pavement; third, the red sand is strong
contrast in color to the dark wooden pave
meut. and being placed with nice care on
the roadway, in oblong shape, about ten
feet by five, it gives the tront quite an or
namental appearance.
There is such great competition i'll the re-
tail trade in London and Paris that dealers
are put to their wits end to attract custom
and to keep it. The attendants carry po-
likeness to the extreme, and their manners,
TO an American, seem almost Obsequious. Ii
YOU hand them anything they will of course
thank you, as they should; but II they hand
YOU an article or some change for instance
thev will also thank you for taking it. If
dealer sends you receipt it will be usually
signed received payment, with best
thanks.n This custom has found its way
among New York tradesmen of late years.
Il is no news that conductors and ticket ex-
aminers on French and English railways
will invariably add 'please" i'll asking for
your tickets, and just as invariably will they
audibly "thank you" when you pass the
tickets over. But more than this-every
cabman in London will thank you when re-
ceiving his fare, and so will every omnibus
conductor when you hand him a penny or
even a half-penny u cent? for a ride. No
matter how illiterate the conductor; just as
he calls out, "benk, benk, benk.' English,
bank when plying for passengers, in the
same tone and style will he thank you for a
half-penny fare You will find gentlemen
among Pullman car conductors in 1.-The
States" but who ever heard New York
street car conductor utter thank you when
receiving a fares Why, you would wonder
what was the matter with the man. Street
car conductors have many duties to perform
and are kept constantly on the alert. Only
a fool would expect drawing-room manners
from them while they are handling the bell
punch, but there is no good reason why
they should be SO cross and glum, for it can
not be denied that they exhibit, as a rule,
very irritable tempers. This may be owing
to the severe duties they have to perform
l am not seeking for the cause, only record
ing the result.
Speaking of competition IN trade, there
is one large house in Liverpool, Lewis. cor
responding with Macy's in New York,
where YOU can have your watch "thor-
oughly cleaned for l shilling" Us cents, and
if you make ever SO small purchase, even
penny cake of honey soap, you may have
your boots cleaned at Lewis without
charUa