Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1894-06-01
SHOPPING IN LONDON.
american Purchasers Find Themselves
Much in Need of Glossary,

american Purchasers ttnd themselves
Much in Need of Glossary.
Either the English salesman is an abnor.
mally tactless individual or he has been
accustomed to generations of shoppers
whose mental capacity has been of the
smallest for he invariably treats one as
though one were an idiot of the very first
water. As | have said, unless the Gus
toner knows exactly what she wants and
asks for it in language understood by this
popular people, she runs very slim chance
Of getting anything at all. Thus, she must
not ask for muslin" but for long CLOTH"
while if she wants some swiss" she must
Ask to be shown muslin" If 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 not speak 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 may
be placed before her with the Sinking
query, And the mex thing, midim? for it
may be noted that statesmen and sales
women-who, by the way, have not yet at
tanned the doubtful elevation of our sales
ladies and -'midim" their
feminine customers to the verge of eXasper-
alton. Again, if you ask for pair OF
shoes, what in America are known as
ties will be offered to you, while if you
ask for boots" you may possibly get what
you want, though it is hardly probable.
| The English boot is adapted to the English
foot. You have an American foot said
bootmaker the other day. land | haven't
boot in my shop that will really fit you"
| An American woman's only chance of get
ting what She can wear upon her feet in
this country is to 20 to a French shop, and
then she has to pay about 50per cent. more
than in New York.
You must not ask for white skirt,
but for top petticoat;" Il skirt here is
only used in describing the outer and visi-
bic garment, 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 street or other dress, the Chessmaker
will turn on one with plying smile and
remark, do you mean body or a bodlceF
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 Il
pair of stays" Don't ask for morning
wrapper" but for dressing gown"
IL YOU Ndnl IL IlilI VI Iuuptio w Sdhi'
against the London slush and mud, don't
try to buy them under that name, but ask
for "gooshes." The English have Il ira
dition that Americans all refer to the arti-
cles as gums" and declare that we ordi-
narily request visitor to wipe his gums
on the doormat" harmless double en-
tendre which affords them the keenest en-
joyment If you want some coarse Swiss"
with which to make servants caps you
must know it by the name of book mus
lin" or You will never get it, for, as | have
said, the English salesman never cares to
meet one half way and try to find out what
the customer wants
If one were To ask for paper muslin"
be would probably have n fit. He only
knows it as glazed mbric" and resents
any other nomenclature. As to things not
essentially feminine, but still in the wom-
ems department as purchasing agents,
"bedspreads' are quilts" even if not
quilted" tides" are "antimacassars"
and window shades are blinds, " wheth-
er of the roller or Venetian order matter
ing not.-London Cor Boston Transcript