Middletown transcript., 1896-03-07
"RIBBONs AT TWELVE CENTS,

"CUme here and speak to me. l dou't
want to leave my place, because l've
been waiting a whole age to get it,
The speaker was one of a mob of
women congregated about counter in
one of the big shops.
Especial sale" was placarded con-
spicuously above the heads of the crowd
but the goods to be sacrificed were hid
den by the, thrcng of shoppers flour
deep in lihe)surrounding the counter.
"pve been here over an hour,'' said
one of the women TO an acquaintance,
as she squeezed her way through the
crowd of customers, holding her pur-
lchase high above their shoulders and
edging her way out. Her bonnet was
awry, her hair dishevelled, her face
flushed. and her general appearance
theCworse for wear; but in her eye was
gleam of triumph. After long and
arduous contest she had at length pre-
vailed and had come out successfully
from the scrimmage.
"What is it they are selling2" asked
an interested observer of one of the
patient walters on the outer edge of
the crowd.
Ribbons, 12 cents yard" was the
reply.
'And all silk" put in bystander.
''Wide. too. Beautiful ribbonsp'
volunteered third woman. The ex-
citement Of this'special sale seemed to
promote feeling of sociability among
those who entered the lists.
After time. by dint of pushing,
squeezing and taking advantage of
every inch of ground gained, glimpse
OF the inner circle was obtained. The
counter was piled with yards of ribbon
of all shades, widths and kinds. A
gorgeous orange-colored moire piece,
almost wide enough for a sash, was
wrapped and twisted and mixed up
with satin streamer of vivid scarlet.
Blue, green, pink, violet, purple, mauve,
bronze ribbons were heaped together
in apparently hopeless confusion, and
upon one devoted salesgirl devolved the
task of getting order out of chaos and
satisfying the demands of a dozen GUS
toners at once.
81 want to change this brown gros
grain. 1t is spotted in the middle,"
says florid faced woman, obtruding
her purchase directly in the face of the
salesgirl; and before that long-suffer-
ing servitor can repeat for the tenth
Time that no goods bought at that
counter are exchanged, demure look
ing parsonage on the other side orders
.en yards of the yellow moire. Each
woman clutches the particular ribbon
hat has taken her fancy and endeav-
,rs by means of signs and beckonings,
1erbal invocatons and all the arts of
which she is mistress, to induce the
alesgirl to serve her.
"This violet piece, pleas" one shop
,er pleads, flirting the silken streamer
mpatiently in the vain effort to at
ract attention. 81 want twelve
ards of navy blue,'' another de-
nands, choosing to ignore the fact
hat the girl has only one pair of hands
nd is already on the verge of distrac-
ion.
"Wait on me uext, do. I've been
egins third; but her voice is drowned
y the stern, nasal tones of a woman
reat in girth and tall in stature, who
Wins the day by sheer force of enef
etic rudeness. The salesgirl seems to
ave solved the problem of perpetual
notion. Hands, arms, fingers never
Or one instant falter in the wearisome
ask of measuring and cutting off, ad-
ing up and jotting down, : folding,
tossing bundles up to
check" and the like. She is strung
p to high degree of nervous tension,
nd answers question after question
18th unvarying patience, meanwhile
1utting notes and coins with sharp
lick into the bobbin-like contrivance
nat shoots up to the cashier.
The onlooker wonders at the fatigue
body and aggravation of mind, the
elbowing, clawing and
lshing that go on in order to obtain
le requisite number of yards of that
ribbon. And what is true of
bbon on these bright spring days
true of silk remnants, dress patterns,
owes, handkerchief, hosiery or un-
.iwear. Any article purporiing to be
all wool' all silk "trimmed with tor
on lace" will cause women to under
hours of fatigue to secure sample.
Make Yourself Strong
you would resist pneumonia, bronchitis.