The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-07-25
WOMEN TRADE-PERSuADERS.
sPullers-In" for the Milliners In Certain
New York Streets,

sPullers-In" for the MiIliners in Certain
New York Streets.
Among the characteristic sights of
the lower East side, "Milliners' row"
is an interesting example. The row
consists of that part of Division street
which lies between Market street and
the Bowery. Every store in the row
on the north side of the street is occu-
pied by d milhner, whose trusty pull
erin" stands guard in front ready for
the unwary woman who may glance
at bonnet. There are few millinery
stores scattered farther along Division
street which act as a sort of sltirmish
line. The real business, however, be-
gins when Market street is reached.
The women ''pullers-in," although
more gentle in their methods, are just
as persuasive in manner and glib of
tongue as their male brethren on Bax-
ter street. Their scent for customer
is Just as keen, though Their voices are
not SO loud. When a ''puller-in' sights
a prospective customer she darts out
of the doorway, places a hand upon the
arm of her quarry, throws her head
persuasivcly on one side, and proceeds
to sing the praises of her mistress
wares.
Want to buy {. nice, cheap hat? We
have de best goods and de cheapest.
Step inside and loog them Offer. You
needn't buy if you don't want to"
Nearly all the milliners and bark
Eai
and names proclaim, with no uncertain
voice. The ''pullers-in" present an
goddess variety as to age, attractive
ness and costume. Some are old, some
are young, some pretty and tender
eyed as Leah, Others hideous as a
Welsh rabbit nigh nare. They are all
alike in one respect, however, in that
they wear no headgear. The very
thing they want to sell is strictly ia
booed among'themselves when on duty.
This gives a fine opportunity for the
display of artistically coiffured locks
which are, as rule, glossy and raven
hued, like the heads of most of the
children of Israel.
Their business methods do not cal
for quite as much perspicuity as the
duties of Baxter street barker" He
has 10 distinguish between man and
mau, and only acc0sts men who, in his
Judgment, are likely customers. Out OF
fifty passersby he probably only trles
his wiles on half dozen. Not SO the
sentinels of Division street. Livery
woman, old or young, who passes Mil
liners row is held up, not by one
'puller-ip," but by all of them. After
witnessing half a dozen women stoppef
by every ''puller-in" along the line
whom even the reporters poor mascu
line Judgment considered as extremely
unlikely customers, he asked one olive
skinned Rebecca the reason for Sc
much waste of persuasive arguments
The reason she gave was of as distinct
ly feminine nature as the goods
she was trying to sell.
We'll" she said, with shrug, 81:
they do not want to buy, vat are they
doing down here, anyvayP
Some of the women get angry wher
;mportuned, I'D impatiently shake of
the hand of the ''puller-in." This doe.
not in the least deter the others, how
ever. who, if anything, increase theil
efforts to send customer inside. Ever
men are not safe from the importantly
Of the girls, who entreat them to pur
chase mice hat for your wife" Once
inside, male customer is absolutely
certain to become purchaser unless
he is possessed of unusual strength o
mind.
The hats displayed are all very mucl
the same in every window. There arr
few black, few white, and a gOo(
many colored ones, with always che
d'oeuvre, generally huge white hat
in the middle. The prices range from
one dollar to five dollars, or higher TO
hats made to order.
AS a rule, the girls of rival store
seem to be very good friends, although
1 the proprietress does not encourag
friendship between her girl and TIL
one next door. Two girls will be seel
cozily chatting together until til
boss" puts her Semitic nose out of tn
door, when they will shoot apart wit
great celebrity.
Among the Baxter street "barkers
one or two men are always looked u
to by the rest as being facile princep
among them. There has always bee
king Of the "barkers," but yo
cannot end a queen" among Milliner
row ''pullers-in." Apparently Their
are just as many queens" as there ar
girls, for none of them will admit tn
superiority of any of her sister workers
Al together, the women ''pullers-in
are quite an institution in their wal
and contribute largely to the loci
color of the great East side.-N. !
Tribune.