New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-09
WHIMS OF DIALECT.
AN ARGUMENT FOR ANNEXATION.
SHOPPING DIFFICULTIES OF CANADIAN
WOMAN IN AN AMERICAN CITY.

WOMAN IN AN AMERICAN CITY.
81 will never forget said a Canadian woman who
lives in this city, my first efforts at shopping in this
city. went alone because my husband was busy
at his Office and had as yet made no acquantances.
ion know in that country. which really is vast
ana yet seems small, we have many different
for things from those the people called Americans
have. though why everybody on the Western IIemt,
sphere Is not called American, is hard to under.
stand.
Well. soon found myself in big store not any
bigger. however than two Of those In Montreal
Toronto that / accustomed to. / wanted
material to make sheets Of not linen but cotton sheets
Canadians call the material cotton. | asked a floor
walker where get ii and he directed a certain
counter Two three people being waited
on at the counter and awaited my turn, expecting
that when the clerk had those who
before me he would ask what wanted. I found
however, that several people who came after me
called out to him what they wanted. while he
Vet waiting on others, and when he was able he
handed down the articles required. that the rudest
and most pushing shoppers first served.
In Canada ii is the custom. Just it is here In
shops and the like, for the clerk 10 keep his
serve first the firstcome>. Thus modest woman
Is relieved Of much embarrassment and rude women
gain nothing by their 1dcness.
When | succeeded in getting the clerks attention
| asked to cotton.
"'What NUMBER he asked.
"'NO number that / know Of I replied. 1 want
white cotton reasonably fine
Forty i, medium fine he said pulling out .
drawer Of spools and selecting one for me.
~ don't want thread said. 4 want cotton,
cotton, Don't yOu know what cotton Is steam
loom qucried in despair, remembering another
word had for it.
This i, cotton he said rudcly 4 guess you
want muslin with a patronzins grim.
Now muslin with Us is the fine material called
drc~s muslin or lawn here. and | certainly did not
want that and it took the combined efforts Of the floor
walker, two three clerks (carks, pronounced
IT'D. and sundry cash girls to convince me that
muslin the American store name shop used
to call II in my provncalism) for cotton and cotton
foe thread.
"Whcn these patronizng people had sufficiently
Inundated me. and had stared at me and discussed
me with wlnks, srins, mods and gieglcs. to their
hearts content and had evidently set me down a.
some very recent arrival from a lunatic asylum. 1
For a 10y asked the clerk.
For my SELF said /.
We don't Keep ladies' boots ma am he answered.
aye no o cali 10, for Them oa de generally order the"
Riding habits said in astonishment oh.
, don mean 5 long sSqt' Of e mean Just boots like
Them, shoe he Answered not not boots, ,nd vh,.
then do YOU call thescl' and / put my hand Q
pair # what had always called shoes, A.
Then compchcndcd that what | called long
boots Americans call boots what called boots they
called shoes, ana what called shoes they called low
neckcd, no. lOw-cut shoes, or oxford ties.
IL must have some hairpns, now said with
resignation; perhaps you don't call them by that
name. but could draw You diagram of the article
II yon think YOU could recognize IT, A.. ,-,. /,
IL lie did not take my suggestion in the spirit In
which il made but snapplshly INFORMED lnc that
Motions is there.
Motions said to myself. quite pleased az my
rapid accumulation of American store language. hair
pins are be notions hereafter with YOU APP
urOachng the girls nj this counter which was hcaped
np with q miscellaneous assortment Of small wares.
said Give paper of notions. please, assorted
sizes a.. the waVy or crinkcd variety
\ look Of surprise appeared In the girls eyes and
then a smoker along their tired faces, and l
knew | had betrayed my ignorance again. 70 my
a>t,mi~hmcnt and delight discovered that hairpins
were hairpins still. They seemed like old friends
i'm a strange land and bought enough 10 last me q
wear. Notions | discovered embraced everything on
that counter. though why. no one could explain.
Finally when ! 10 give my address in order
TO have the goods sent home. spelled out my name
10 the clerk: Hazard. When ! came 70 the third
letter. which | had always been taught 10 pronounce
red he stopped and asked To have II repeated.
'2cd' reiterated.
~.Xed' he queried in puzzled way.
".Ccrtainly said. little nett'ed. Don't Won
krov vDur letters Icf the last letter of them ALL
..Oh zce.' ne laughed. That's what you meall Is
.IIave it zee II you like answered weakly With
"A eroan 4 Will 90 home. buy me an American Z
book and begin my education again at the beginning