Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-10-09
THE CHINESE TAILORS.
DESCRIPTION OF THE STORE OF
ONE OF THEM IN NEW YORK.

J SO TO 5000 Each-Boots That Don't
/ Puzzle One to Put On-The Tailor Sells
Crockeryware, Tea and Knickknacks.
! There are many Chinese tailor shops in
New York Mott street is filled with them.
/ They are in cellars, where pigtailed Mon
golians sit and watch on three legged stools,
and password or detective is needed TO
pass stranger from the street. They are in
the rear of first floor shops and some are in
upper stories, through long, winding halls
that smell of dried fish, boiling birds nests
and frying pigs tails. The clothes are kept
on dingy shelves and in boxes under dark
counters and only form part of the general
stock, like nails in hardware shop. But
there is only one Poole In New York, and he
has no imitatOrs. To initiate our Celestial
Poole requires more capital than the average
| Chinaman possesses Mr.. Poole is known to
the business public as Mel Lee Wa & Co., and
is familiarly called Mr.. Mel by those who have
the honor of his personal acquaintance His
place of business is in the Bowery, where he
occupies the first floor and the basement of
one OF the largest buildings under the shadow
of the elevated road.
The tailor shop looks as little like the Gus
toInary clothing store as a Chinese laundry
does like Murray hill drawing room. 1t is
large room filed with tables piled high with
goods, and clothing seems 10 be about the
only thing that is not offered for sale At the
door, behind a small counter, generally sit
two men. One is short, stout, shrewd eyed
and smiling. He wears American clothes
with his pigral carefully coiled out of sight
under q fashionable Mackinaw straw hat.
lie Is the head salesman and a capable one,
too, If appearances count for anything. The
other is slender and melancholy. He affects
the somDer in attire, and wears a black felt
hat CT the prevailing undertaken STYLE He
spends his time lingering kindergarten
counting machine and marking up accounts
with piece of India ink or paint brush on
the long pages Of brown paper note book
He is the bookheeper, and is said to be one of
tue most expert hieroglypnic makers in the
Chinese quarter.
DESCRIPTION OF THE STORE.
The under salesman is aldermanic in form
and dresses very much as an American does
i'll hot weather, with his coat off and the
sleeves Of his white shirt rolled up to the
elbows. His knowledge of English is confined
by strictly commercial limits but his win
ming smile is broad enough to cover any lin
guistic Deficiencies he may possess.
casual caller might fancy at the door
that Mr.. Mel kept tea store. Before he had
gone twenty feet ne would credit him with
Keeping a crockery store Another half
dozen PAGES would change his opinion again,
with another change in the appearance of
the store. On the first row Of tables are kept
Chinese wares of all styles and at all prices,
from common crockery sets worth IS each to
a superb red vase valued at $1,000 On the
next row are glassware and square boxes
holding teas and spiced herbs. Behind glass
cases, against the wall, are knickknacks in
ivory and gilt, worth u weeks wages for
every square inch of surface Farther back
in the store are laundry goods and the vari-
GUS utensils used by the frugal Mongolians
for their housekeeping
Against the rear wall which conceals from
the barbarian world the living apartments
of Mr.. del and pretty Mrs Mei,i kept the
clothing. Il is all made in China and i'm
ported in bulk Here are clothes enough to
deck out the 1900 Cinnamon of New York in
holiday attire and keep them in their Sunday
clothes for year.
THE SIMPLE DAILY OUTFIT.
A Chinamans every day outfit is beauti-
full in its simplicity. 1t consists of a pair of
and entirely wanting in frills, an undershirt,
short coat that Is called Chan Sa Ten, or
something that sounds like that and an over
coat known to the initiated as a Foo Sol Sam.
The boots, called Ten San Hi, together with
the hat and hosiery, complete the wardrobe.
The undershirt does not differ materially
from that worn by native New Workers, and
is usually made of pongee silk Chinese
Ir,Ia
wear finer grades of silk The long coat is
only worn on festal occasions by the COM
mon classes of Chinese. The workingmen
usually content themselves with the short
coat. The long garment costs from $40 to
SIS, depending upon the wealth and rank
of the wearer. The lowest priced article is
made of coarse silk and is usually blue or
black in color.
The short coats sometimes cost 5000, but
the variety usually seen on the streets can
be bought for from s. to SIS. 1t is made of
silk and is often given waterproof gloss
and does double service as coat and UNI
brella
The sandal shaped boots are made of cloth
and have soles an inch thick. These soles
are fashioned of layers OF cotton pressed to-
gether, and are as impervious TO moisture as
sole leather. The tops Of the shoes are EN-
brodered, and they sell at from 81 50 to $50
pair.
AS none Of the coats have sleeves the selec-
ton of a suit of Chinese clothes is both
simple and satisfactory. The customer
simply fits the garment around his neck and
takes care not to select one that is not too
long for him and the task is done.
CLOTHING ACCORDING TO RANK
Chinese boots have no right or left and the
only care in choosing pair is to see that
they are not too tight or so loose as to rub up
and down at the heel
Mr. Meis clerks follow an admirable sys-
tenn in selling their clothing by the whole !
sale They have number Of little wooden
costumes offered for sale These are the |
samples and from them the choice is made.
The higher grades OF clothing are not /
offered for sele unfortunately. They are 4
the marks OF rank and can only be worn by 4
those entitled TO the honor. l am not certain |
about this point, but | understand from Mr. /
heas second assistant, whose knowledge of /
English is but little more extensive than ny /
with Chinese, that it is not |
permitted them 10 sell nigh grade clothing /
to a base born customer. But however that /
NAV De. | saw no rich garments IN the as /
sortment, and even the manikins wearing 1
such goods were carefully put out Of the way +
III one Of the glass cases by the door.
While there are 8 number Of Chinese cloth
ing stores in New York, there is no Chinese
tailor. All clothing IS ready made. Thanks /
10 the Celestial style of coats, every one from /
l. -