New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-09
THE "PCLLERS-IN' or MILLINERS ROW
FEMININE CoUNTERrARTs OF THE ACTIVE
TRADE PERsUADERs OF BAXTER-sT.
EX-ATTACIIE.

FEMININE corxrrRrARTs OF THE ACTIVE
RApE-PEHsrApERs OF BAXrER-sr.
Among the characteristic sights OF the lower East
Side "Milliners' Row Is interesting example.
The Row" consists OF that part OF Divsion-st
which lies between Market-st. and the Bowery.
Every store in the row on the north side OF the
street is occupied by mlllincr whose trusty
"puler-in'' stands guard in front ready Tor the
unwary woman who may glance at bonnet
There are few millinery stores scattered farther
along Division-st which act as sort Of skrInish
line. The real business. however, begins when
Market-st is reached.
The women ''pul,crs-ln." although more gentle in
their methods. are just persuasive in manner ana
glib of tongue "a their male brethren on BaXter-st
Their scent for n customer is just as keen. though
their voices are not so loud When 4 ''puller-in
sights 4 prospective customer she darts out 81 'nc
doorway place. hand upon the arm or her
quarry. throws her head persuasvey on one siie'
AMI proceeds to sing the praises Of her mis'f'sss
"Vant TO buy a nice. cheap hat We have de best
goods and de cheapest. Step inside AMI ioog TEEN
ofor You needn't buy If YOU don't want -.
Nearly all the millincrs. and "harkers" too. are
Jowesscs. as their faces ana names pro'''l"' WI"
no uncertain voice. The "pu'lcrs-in' present an
endless variety as t. age, atractiveness ana cos
,une Some are old some young. some pretty
and tender-eved As Leah. others hdeous as Ne"h
rabbit nightmare. They are all alike III one re-
spec, however in that they wear no h'iIS''',
The very thing they want t. sll IS strictly ''o"o''
among themselves when on duty THIS gives " me
opportuni,y for the display OF artisticahy ooii"Fei
locks. which are as a rule. glossy and rAven-huei
lile The heads Of most II the children ~ Israel
Their business methods do not call for quito IL
much perspicac!,y as the duties OF h'N''
barker" He has TO distinguish between ma" anu
man and only accosts men who. IN hiS )"'S'"','''
ore ukely customers Out OF nfty paSSerHDy' nc
i,,-gD D
So the seni,ncls Of Dlvison-si Every woman o'
or voung who passes Mincrs Row Is held up
no, ny one '.pulier-in-." but by all Of them Atcr
uy i,n"ssimr holf dozen women siop?,l by every
~n',i,e~.inH along the line whom even the reporter
poor masculine judgment consid'i,l as NJ 10
unlikely customers he asked on" Olive Skh.' ~
Mecca The reason for So much waste oi p.rsn'7iN'
arguments. Tho rcnspn she gave was ~ to ..s
tlnctiv feminine nature ns the goo'S S"' ""'
trying TO sell o., 49,. 4, mn,
'Veil she said with shrue III thSy - 40 oi no,
y wan! to buy vat are trey "0''S ''"' "
Some Of the women got angry r waeg 9 ng pCr
I'm" This docs not In the lcast i'''r IN" ",M'is'
=" scni y customer inside. Even men are not
safe from the importantly OF ne t'I's - ,,,
1n". insiIo male customer a. absolutely certain
70 become a purchase unless he IS possessed oil
"' The hat. dlsplayci are all very mach iae
ever, window Ihcre are lew ,'nss ~,iG
always chef doeurs general" ry,s Hp rsn M' to-
&. or higher for hats made 20 order.
As a ruiz the girls OF rivai stores seem TO 10
very good friends although the propricii'ss docs
moi encourage friendship between her gil ana ne
one next door TWO girls VII Boz seen 'o@.H
chatting together until the "boss' puts her semitic
nose OFT Of the door wn"n they VIII shoot apart
with great CELEBRITY.
among me Haxicr-s, ''barkors' one or 'wo. men
a-o ALWAYS looked NJ 10 hv ~" i'st as beng
facl,c princeps among them. There has al"lts h.rn
a king Of tho 'hark-r4.' bat Npg cannot ma
"auc.m" among Mniners Row "puli"fe- in Ap-
rarcyfiv there ar. just many "qu'cns' hs
ih.rr are IRIS for rione Of them VIII admit 90"
superiority OF any OF her sister ~'rk'r-.
Arngefher tn women "ruli'rs-u' ere quite
an ire,i,i,,on in their way and contribute largely
n the local color OF the great East side.