Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-10-31
IN LONDON AND PARIS.
cuRloslTlEs OF SHOPPING IN THE
TWO CAPITALS.

English and French saieswomen-Red Sand
in the Roadway-Politeness Carried to
an Extreme-Competition In Trade--Au
Bon Marche-Employes.
If one were to judge of the physique of En-
glish women from the specimens he sees in
the shops, behind the counters, he would set
them down for a very tall race, but if he in
quires into the subject he will find that these
women are selected for their very height
the taller their figure the higher their salary,
very often A stranger with an observing
eye will also notice that English and French
saieswomen, or salesladies, as they are called
In New York, dress in black while on duty.
ms, however, is not mere caprice on the
part of the women; in most shops it is com
pulsory. The shopkeepers believe that shop
women look neater and better in black than
In colors, and so all of them wear black The
gowns may be of any material, but the color
must be uniformly black Nor are they al
lowed to wear snowy trimmings and as for
1ewelry, either real or imitation, 1t is out of
the question. In some shops they or, rather,
r,t- must, wear a simple, plain linen collar
and linen cuffs This is the case at Whitely's,
the largest shop in London, and some say
even larger than the world famous Bon
Marche of Paris
A close locker on, with an eye to detail,
will also notice that red sand is placed in the
roadway in front of the main entrance to
the largest and most fashionable London
shops. There are two or three reasons for
this: First, it serves to show where drivers of
carriages should pull up" second, in start
ing the horses it prevents them from slipping
On the smooth wooden pavement; third the
red sand is a strong contrast in color to the
ozark wooden pavement, and being placed
VIVA nice care on the roadway, in oblong
nap about ten feet by five, it gives the front
We an ornamental appearance
IT, PoLiTENEss IN THE EXTREME
tail re is such great competition in the re-
mr. aae In London and Paris that dealers
ana PuI 70 their wits ends TO attract custom
neSs 20 Keep it The attendants carry polite
nm The tsfreme and their manners, to
ala .can, seem almost obsequious. If
You hand them anything they will of course
thank you, as they should, but if they hand
you an article or some change, for instance,
they will also thank You for taking it. If q
dealer sends you receipt it Will be usually
signed Received payment, with best
thanks This custom has also found its way
among New York tradesmen of late years
Il is no news that conductors and tickets
examiners on French and English railway:
will invariably add please in asking foi
your tickets, and just invariably will they
audibly thank you when you pass the
ticket over. But more than this-every cab
Imam in London will thank you when receiv
ing his fare, and so will every omnibus con
u ductor when you hand him penny or ever
half penny lone cent for ride. No mat
ter how illiterate the conductor, just as h,
calls out, "Benk, benk, benk' English, bank
when plying for passengers, in the same tom
and style will he thank you for a hal
penny fare You will find gentlemen among
Pullman car conductors in THE States, bu
who ever heard New York street car con
ductor utter a thank you when receiving
farel Why you would wonder what was tn
matter with the man.
Speaking of competition in trade, there
one large house In Liverpool Lewis, cor
responding with Macy's in New York, wher
you can have your watch thorough,
cleaned for one shilling twenty-five cents
and if you make ever so small purchase
even penny cake of honey soap, You ma,
have your boot cleaned at Lewis withou
charge.
Az BON MARCHE.
But this idea is probably carried out to
greater extent in Paris than in any other cit,
10 the world. At the universally known Boz
Marche the husband may play billiards dow
stairs while his wife is making purchases OF
the floor above Both OF them may indulg
in q light lunch wine included, without cost
and in the center of the building there is
beautifully appointed high studded salon
twenty by fifty feet, which Is called the read
ing and writing room. Here the custome
will find writing materials, library c
standard books and supply of periodics
literature from all countries. Ali this min
you, is free The walls of this salon ar
decorated with fine modern French painting
and at one end Of the room, on high pede:
tai, stands marble bust of Aristide Bouc
caut, the founder of this great house.
The store covers a great deal of ground
fronts several streets and rises to height c
several stories, but in your wanderings owe
the establishment you need not be burdene
with wraps OF umbrellas. At any entrane
you may leave them and get metal chez
for the same. of course without charge Th
vast stables OF the Bon Marche are considere
one of the sights of Paris. They are show
to visitors daily at 8 p. m. The hotel c
boarding house where the employees live, an
where they have every comfort is also we
worth a visit il one has the time Verify 4
Bon MarChe is great and all the employ
share in the profts-Cor Home Journal