The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-28

ana handed forth a blue handkerchief.
then. pink one, a red one and bright
yellow.
But" said I, 81 want a black one"
These are very petty" she murmured.
tentatively.
Il presume they are,' was my reply,
shut | wish TO get plain black one"
"Oh, well, we have no black ones"
She knew that in the beginning, but
wasted fifteen minutes OF my time and OF
her own showing me things did notwant.
/ left that store ana entered another.
where [ stated my errand. this time to a
man. He produced long. black-fringed
scarf. Here is something better than
handkerchief" he said.
Now. it was not better for my purpose.
as could not possibly have put 1t In my
pocket when not in use, so explained to
him that wanted a handkerchief. "Only
this and nothing more"
With a smile of pity he sat forth large
box of assorted cOlors. all brilliantly bro
caded-every tint of the rainbnw-but not
back one among them.
Said | with an air Of severity: Have
you no black ones?'
"Oh. no; we have only the scarfs in
black"
Can any one tell me why he showed me
the rain bOw-hued assortment
shook the dust of the place from my
feet and departed into another establish
ment
"Have you." said, in an uncompromis-
Ing tone to the waiting saleslady. have
you any black silk neck handkerchefs ?"
I'VE have SOM very pretty striped
ones" she said, waving a hand toward a
row of gay objects suspended from line
over the counter.
/ would not have worn one of those
objects to a Chinese funeral.
Then you have no black Ones?' / asked.
She shook her head and departed
Again | sought another store, and accost-
ing he clerk, l said, slowly, distinctly
and firmly:
II wish 10 purchase a black silk neck
handkerchief"
She looked at me pityingly. and then:
"Wouidn't you like nice white one?"
she asked.
Nc" said 1, in a decided voice, and
with determined mien. Il would not
like a nice white one, nor pretty blue one,
nor stylish yellow one. l want black
one"
I'VE have no black ones" she said, in
an awe-stricken whisper. and l left the
place. walked into Gents Furnishings"
store and said:
Il want black silk handkerchief"
In the twinkling of an eye several lay
before me. l took my choice, paid my
money, received my parcel and took my
IeaVe. Inc business occupied less than
nVe minutes, but the fools in the other
stores had wasted nearly an hour for me.
a ne" uayS later L wished TO purchase
Hamlin Garland's then latest novel. "a
Spoil of Office" With this end in view.
l repaired to a leading bookstore and
asked for the WORK
Never heard of it," said the clerk
who's il by?" l mentioned the authors
name. Never heard of him." repeated The
human parrot. with an expressi n that
seemed to indicate that such colossal igno-
rance OF tie business he professed TO fol-
low was rather 10 his credit than other
wise.
L left the store and entered another
imposing literary depot not lar away,
where [ again stated my errand.
'Wha, is the book. novel? 2" asked the
attendant. Yes" | explained. "a novel
by Bamlin Garland"
lob. well, we haven't got it. but here's a
later novel than that" and with the bland
est of smiles he handed forth a paper
covered reprint, translation of a certain
French writer's latest realistic effusion.
left the store feeling that the golden
&sse must be near at hand, when one could
see, without paying any admission price,
such a curio as that clerk.
After long hunt / finally succee ded in
finding my ''Spoil of Office" though only
In paper covers.
My next adventure was also In the book
buying line. l wished to secure q copy ola
certain work on evolution, by Grant Allen.
but apparently that genial and most