The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-19
FORCE YOU TO BUYAH HAT
FEMALE PULLERs-IE THAT FLOUR
TsH IN THE BOWEBF.
A., 1our Among tho Millinery stores-fs-
n,iIisrity and F1attcry--A Customer
Compelled TO Purchase.

| for her new fall hatY II you do, sc
down to Division street and simply walk
through the street.-the "pullers" will
the New York Press. Division street is
small thororghfare near the Bowery,
just of of Chatham square, and about
three blocks in length. The entire one
side Of the street is devoted to millinery
stores, and it Is here that the bellies Of
the Bowery crafty their natural feml-
nine love Of hnery. Each store is sup
| piled with puller, and a puller is just
what the name signifies a woman who
| IS stationed in front Of the store and
accosts every passer-by-first she sug-
gests. then advises. then persuades and
| finally pulls you in.
/ started out a few days ago ostensibly
| 10 buy n hat on Division street, but
| really 10 learn the method Of the "puller."
! il was bright, crisp morning and al
though only $50 the street was fully
alive and the "pullers" on watch 20 see
that no straggler passed by unnoticed. /
had just turned into Division street,
when 1 felt a hand on my arm and
voice with a strong Hebrew accent say:
Wont you ak in and see some of
buy If you don't want to. only come in
and look. You better had-cheapest and
best hats in the city right there" 1
felt the hand on my arm tighten as 1
was fairly pulled nearer the door and
then pushed into the store. Immediately
two women pounced upon me- one on
either side, the elder in most familiar
manner, at the Sane time laying one
dirty hand on my shoulder, asked:
Don't you want a pretty hat this
morning, dear?"
1 replied that I did, and scarcely had
the words passed from my lips before
the younger woman made a dive for
my hat and drawing out the pins de-
posted it well out Of my reach at the
extreme end Of the counter They tried
hat after hat on me, and although each
one was, If possible, more hideOus than
the previous one. at the sight Of ii on
my head they seemed 10 be thrown into
a perfect paroxysm of admiration. Now,
don't she look lovely in that?" said one
TO the other in a st0ge whisper well
calculated for me to hear, as a choleric-
looking combination Of green, purple and
yellow was clapped on my head. The
situation was becoming pressing, and l
was wondering how 1 was going TO get
out with my hat, which looked tremend-
ously inaccessible guarded as it was by
one Of the harridans, when happy
thought came 10 me. All the hats in
the store were large. I would insist upon
having a small one. They replied to my
demand with an air intended TO convince
me that no real lady like myself would
be seen in small hat on that side Of
the Bowery. l held my point and finally
to temper their disappointment al fall
ing 10 make a sale. suggested If | couldn't
find what 1 wanted elsewhere, I would
come back and buy one Of the large
hats. But they We're not TO be caught
by any such old story as that, but pro-
posed that they make me a hat 10 order
As L imagined I saw my way out grace
fully 1 answered that would do and then
asked, "Can you make it today
Make it in an hour" answered the
elder woman.
What is the matter with you. we
can make it in a half hour" interrupted
the other
This promptness in filing orders was
an Inconvenience TO me. as il was quite
evident they intended 10 hold me as Sc
curity while they made the hat, and my
spirit decidedly sank as ] saw the young
er woman disappear behind a dirty cur
tain, with the materials In her hand
do sit down." suggested the affection
ately inclined old lady, pushing chair
toward me. Just then the puller from the
outside brought I'm another victim. Now
was my opportunity! / felt that nothing |
but q desperate run for liberty would save
me from walking out Of that store with !
a s. nightmare under my arm. l made |
a dive for my hat, a rush for the door |
and never stopped until / was half way |
up the block, when / turned around TO /
see the two women and the puller shak- |
ing their fists at me.
L escaped from the various pullers |
along the block until 1 came 20 quite a |
large double store. Here there were two
purers and they both caught hold OF my |
arms and fairly carried me in. 4 bright |
and pretty young Jewess came toward |
me, asked If 1 vented a hat for myself |
or for the trade.
For myself" ] answered
She showed me a number Of hats rang
ing I'm price from $3.50 to 81, and some |
Of them were really not bad, If you do /
not object TO some startling combinations
in color. A woman Of discrimination
might have selected a moderately fair |
hat out of the lot. Anything over four
dollars is regarded as wild extravaganza /
on Division street. Suddenly, quite
graceful little bonnet attracted my atten-
tion' picking 1t up / asked her the price.
THAT hat is for the trade but If you
don't tell any one l will sell ii to YOU
for S."
AS turned it over noticed inside the
name Madame J., Rue des Italien- |
ness Paris.
"These hats are surely not imported
at that price?" l questioned.
"Oh no." laughed the girl. ""hey are
made up wholesale for the Fourteenth |
street and Twenty-third street stores"
But where do you get these Partisan |
hat tips, and how is it that you dare
use a French name when the hat is
made here?"
Il don't know anything about that,
but know that II is done extensively.
There are places where Partisan hat tips
are made by the wholesale, right here in
New York. l used TO be in a store on
Fourteenth street, and l have sold plenty
Of hats, marked Vera and Bignen. which
are made in Division street"
SO much for the imported hat for |
which we pay an exorbitant price be-
cause we fondly imagine II first saw the
light Of day under a Partisan milliner's
ieft fingers.
The girl was quite decent. and con-
fded TO me the fact that she despised |
the pullers, but that they really did a
great deal Of business for their employers.
You see it gets the people inside and
then we are expected not 10 let them |
)ut without buying" she tritely explained |
The next place I'm front Of which / |
was bodily held was a very small shop. |
and a girl not more than twelve years
1f age acting as puller. She caught hold
IF me and hung on until, TO save myself
rom having my dress puiied off 4 went |