Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-03
SHOPPING IN LONDON.
American Purchasers Find Themselye
Much in Need of a Glossary

American Purchasers Find Themselves
Much in Need of a Glossary.
London Letter to Boston Transcript.
Either the English salesman is an abnor-
mally tactlcss individual or he has been ac-
customed to generations of shoppers whose
mental capacity has been of the smallest,
Tor he invariably treats one as though one
were an idiot of the very first water As
have said unless the customer knows exactly
what she wants and asks for it in language
understood by this popular people rhe
runs very slim chance of getting ANYTHING
at all. Thus she must not ask for "mus-
lin, but for ..long cloth" while if she wants
some Swiss" she must ask to be shown 'nus-
lin. IT she wants some calico for her
servants dresses she must not ask for that, but
for print Calico" on the other hand
must be asked for if one wants some cotton or
twill sheeting. She must notspea of spool Of
cotton unless she wants to be greeted with
the stony stare OF vacuous ignorance, but
for a reel Of thread" and then it NAV be
placed before her with the Sinking query,
And the mex thing, midim.'' for it may be
noted that statesmen and saleswOmen-who, by
they way, have not vet attained the doubtful ele-
walton OF our sales ''ladies' and ''gentlemen"-
''midlm" their feminine customers to the verge
evaporation. Again, If you ask for q pair
OF shoes, what IN America are known as ''ties"
will be offered to you. while if you ssk for
boots you may possibly get what you want.
is adapted to the English foot. You have an
American foot" said bootmaker the other
day, "and haven't a boot in my shop that will
really fit you" An American woman's only
chance OF getting what she can wear upon her
feet in this country is to go to French shop.
and then she has to pay about so per cent more
than in New York One gives guineas or elO,
for pair Of shoes such as Alexander or Slater
would let one have for 81. H. however, one
goes to one of the very best Bond street houses.
where they make only to order and like to have
a customer bring an introduction" one really
gets better value for ones money, for the prices
range a little below those Of kindred New York
establishments.
But to return to the shoppers glossary of
terms. You must not ask for n white skirt"
but for top petticoat;" skirt here is only
used in describing the outer and visible gar
ment, the inner and more spiritual affairs are
all ''petticoats." Similarly if one speaks Of "a
waist, as Transatlantic phrase is wont to term
the upper portion Of q street or other dress.
the dressmaker will turn on one with plying
smile and remark, DO you mean body or a
bodice?" while the American bodice is here
an ''underwaist." While if a reference is made
to ''corsets'' she will correct one in the same
tender fashion: "Oh, you mean q pair of
stays" Don't ask for a morning wrapper"
but for dressing gown" II you want pair
VI rupoers 70 guard against the London
slush and mud don't try to buy them under
that name, but ask for "goloshes." The Eng
lish have tradition that Americans all refer
to the articles as gums" and declare that we
ordinarily request visitor to ''wipe his gums
on the door mat" harmless double entender
which affords them the keenest enjoyment. II
you want some coarse "Swiss'' with which to
make servants caps you must know it by the
name Of "book muslin" or You will never get
it, for, asI have said, the English salesman
never cares to meet one half way and try to
find out what the customer wants. II one were
to ask for paper muslin he would probably
have ht He only knows it. as glazed cam
brio" and resents any other nomenclature. As
to things not essentially feminine, but still in
the women's department Is purchasing agents,
'.bed spreads" are quilts" even il not
quilted" "tidies" are ''anti-macassars" and
window shades" are ''blinds," whether of the
roller or Venetian order mattering not.