Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-11-09
IN LONDON AND PARIS.
cuRtoslTIEs OF SHOPPING IN THE
TWO CAPITALS.

English and French saleswomen-Red Sand
in the Observation-Disclosures 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 III
the shops, behind the counters he would set
them down for 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 tho higher their salary,
very often. A stranger with an observing
eve will also notice that English and French
saleswomen, Or salesladies. as they are called
in New York dress in black while Oh duty.
This, however, is not mere caprice on the
part of the women; in most shops 1t IS COM
pulsory. The shopkcepers believe that shop
women look neater and better i'll black than
in colcrs, and so all of theiY wear black. The
gowns may be of any mataral, but the color
must be uniformly black. Nor are they al
lowed to wear snowy trimmings; and as for
jewelry, either real or imitation, it Is out OF
the question. In some shops they, or, rather,
they must, wear simple, plain linen collar
and linen cuffs. This is the case at Whitely's,
Tue 1dIHtSb sup III I%Olitloily anu ooAiS osAy
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 i'll 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, i'll start
ing tho horses it prevents them from slipping
on the smooth wooden pavement; third, the
red sand is strong contrast in color to the
dark wooden pavement, and being placed
with nice care on the roadway, IN oblong
shape, about ten feet by five, it gives the front
quite an ornamental appearance.
POLITENESS IN THE EXTREME.
There is such great competition in the re-
tail trade in London and Paris that dealers
are put to their wits ends to attract custom
and to keep it, The attendants carry polite
ness to the extreme, and their manners, TO
an American, 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,
thew will also thank you for taking it. If
dealer sends you a receipt it will be usually
signed aReceived payment, with best
thanks" This custom has also found its way
among New York tradesmen Of late years.
1t is no news that conductors and tickets
examiners on French and English railways
will invariably add "please" in asking for
your tickets, and just as invariably Will they
audibly ''thank" you when you pass the
ticket over. But more than this-every cab
man in London will thank you when recelv-
ing his fare, and so will every omnibus con-
ductor when you hand him penny or even
half penny lone cent for ride No mat
ter 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 half
penny fare. You will find gentlemen among
Pullman car conductors in ''the States" but
who ever heard New York street car con-
ductor utter thank you when receiving a
farce Why you would wonder what was the
matter with the man.
Speaking of competition in trade, there is
one large house in Liverpool, Lewis, cor
responding with Macys in New York, where
YOU can have your watch thoroughly
cleaned for one shilling" twenty-five cents,
and if you make ever SO small a purchase,
even a penny cake Of honey soap, you may
have your boots cleaned at Lewis without
charge.
AU BON MARcHE.
But this idea is probably carried out to
greater extent in Paris than in any other city
in the world. At the universally known Bon
Marche the husband may play billiards down
stairs while his wife is making purchases on
the floor above Both of them may indulge
in a 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 customer
will find writing materials, a library Of
standard books and supply of periodical
literature from all countries. All this. rs,,nd
you, is free. The walls of thiS>salon are
decorated with fine mc Sdtssrn French paintings.
and at one eng tine room, on high pedes-
tai, stanofa marble bust of Aristide Bouci-
caar: the founder of this great house.
The store covers a great deal of ground,
several stories, but i'll your wanderings over
the establishment you need not be burdened
with wraps or umbrellas. At any entrance
you may leave them and get metal check
for the same, of course without charge The
vast stables Of the Bon Marche are considered
one of the sights of Paris. They are shown
to visitors daily at p IN. The hotel or
boarding house where the employees live, and
where they have every comfort, is slso well
worth a visit if one has the time. Verify Au
Bon Marche is great and all tho employees
share in the profts.-Cor. Home Journal.