The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-02-19
What a "Looker" Means.

Here comes locker" said one
saleswoman to another so loudly that
her remark, was overheard by NeaOs
reporter, who was standing at counter
near by.
Yes" said the person addressed.
''and she's got fellow with her, too"
maybe she will buy something then,
just to show her young man what an
economical shopper she is" said the
first speaker.
The young lady who was evidently
meant by the salesgirls was fine-look-
ing, neatly dressed, and, as far as ap-
pearance went, was certainly unob-
jectionable. So, with some curiosity
the reporter asked the pretty girl wait
ing on him what was meant by calling
that young lady COOKER"
why, don't you know?" said she
smiling. How green you men are
about shopping! Every woman knows
that locker is woman who simply
looks at goods. doesn't expect to buy
any, puts you to all the trouble she
can, asks you to cut off a sample, and
then says she will come again tO-mor-
row. And so she does to bother some
one else.
"A .looker," continued the salesgirl
loquaciously, lis usually to be found
frequenting the large dry goods stores.
Her visit is timed to that portion of
the day when you are most busy and
desirous of making your sales as large
as possible in order to stand in well
! with the powers that be-
''Then in comes a locker and wants
to be shown all the goods at once.
How we hate her. Oh" said the girl
1c1r +O +h0
only dared talk to her as she deserved
wouldn't she Just catch it, though"
At this thought the shop girls eyes
how she would get square for once and
she had but half chance given her.
The locker, resumed the girl, lis
generally making a crazy quilt, or
something or other, and belongs to the
same class of young women who go
around bothering young men for their
neckties, and who feel deeply aggrieved
if they don't instantly promise them
their very best ties before they have
done wearing them.
''She comes here for samples of silks
and dress goods. Mamma wanted
sample and couldn't come herself Or,
Papa wanted to see what the goods
would look like before l ordered the
Dress and so on. Finally we hit upon
scheme that put an end to the lockers
using our samples of goods for fancy
work. We cut the samples as narrow
as possible and then clip little piece
out of the center of the same, telling
the locker when she says: oh, what
did YOU do that for?' that we were only
cutting our trademark into the goods
in order that she might know from
what store she procured them. That
generally has the desired effect, and
gives the locker to understand that we
are perfectly aware of what she wants
the samples for, and don't intend to let
any one make crazy-quilts at our ex-
penSe.
Another species of locker IS one
who comes from a well-to-do family.
and has nothing to do but kill time.
She is not intellectual enough to read,
1t makes her head ache, Calling is q
bore she yawns. and then she 'guesses'
she will go shopping, She expects us
to be pleasant and amiable, and so OBJ
liging. Show me this. Now show
me that Everything must be hauled
out for her inspection. Rarely she
buys; makes us provoked, cross, angry
and mad, until we wish that the whole
tribe of lockers could be turned, like
Lots wife, into pillar of salt, and we
could turn the hose on it and put an
end to her forever. ~. Y. NejCs.