San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-08-09
SHOPllFTERS.
Merchants Have to Exercise Judgment and
Nerve i'm Dealing with Them.


Nerve i'm Dealing With Them.
had an experience, said a merchant to
The Economist, which has had a tendency
% make me go very slow with apparent shop
filters. AS ! entered the aisles where the
.ibbon department is situated | saw lady
,.ace some ribbon in hand bag. For mo-
lent did not know what to do. | did not
wish to make any fuss or noise, because 1t Is
lot always wise, but as we had lost much by
his class of thieving determined to invite
The lady to the private office and have lady
clerk examine her and demand an explana-
ion. | did not wish to have her arrested, be-
cause she looked refined and as if she be-
onged to family of Importance. Going up
% the lady, | said:
Twill you please come with met | would
ike to see you for moment" She replied,
naturally and pleasantly;
Certainly" and prepared to accompany
me- had got about half way to the office,
when was suddenly called aside by mer-
chant friend who fortunately had come in on
some business. "Do you know the ladya"
No" ''She is the wife of Judge -, and
she will take anything that is not chained
Town. If she has done anything wrong, take
40 notice of it, but send the bill to her hus-
band, land bowling TO the lady he passed on.
did not know what to do ! had invited the
lady to my Office, and clearly under the cir
,umstances | could not, nor did, wish to make
4 demonstration. In fact, was heartily glad
that need not. had to do some tall think
.ng in the few steps to the office | had no
sooner got in than | sent clerk for the sam
ole pieces of dress silks that had just arrived,
and before the lady left she felt highly pleased
TO think that she was the first to see the new
styles She appeared a little astonished that
should know her, and take the trouble OF
going to the private office to show the pat
terms, but | explained that if my rivals in
trade knew what goods had imported, they
would move heaven and earth to checkmate
ne. | am perfectly confident the lady did
not associate the taking of the ribbon with
guilt, and was entirely innocent of any wrong
intent. was fortunate in receiving hint
n time If | had not should have made
ness of the matter and my business would
nave suffered.
81 could send to prison a dozen shoplifters
f | wished to, said another merchant, but
the papers would make so much of the matter
hat ladies would be afraid to enter my store
est they be mistaken for thieves | have had
Tor damages 20 against me, and close my
eyes to many queer tricks"
At a jewelry sale recently held in one of
our largest dry goods stores, where articles of
considerable value lay around on show cases
ard counters, detective was stationed on a
raised stand where he could see and be seen.
The writer seeing the prominent position of
the detective, said to the superintendent:
Any thief who contemplates getting away
with some Of your goods will wait until the
detectives eye is turned away, and will then
ret in his work"
"Wehave arranged for all that" the SUI
Derintendent assumed. You see that lady
1T the second case! Well it has got to be
pretty sharp crook that can get the better of
her; it is on her we most depend The man
On the platform spots any crooks or suspicious
people that he knows, and a sign sets her to
watching but, bless your soul, unless we had
bright people behind the counter to sell the
goods and keep their eyes open, we would lose
much more than we do. 1t is on their watch
fuluess that We rely limited States Econo-
mist