Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-08-26
SHOPS In JAPAN.
ANAMERlCAN WoMAN'S EXPERE.
ENCE IN THE ORIENT.
When a Certain Amount Is Purchased
the Shopper Becomes the Mere
chants Guest-Tea, Gifts
and Attention.

chants Guest-Tea, Gifts
and Attention.
| IC HOPPING is safer in Japan, "
eeN said woman just returned
y from the Land of the Ris.
ing San, MS she escaped
from one of New York's big stores on
bargain day. When she had recov-
cred her breath sufficiently she said to
Press reporter:"
stlt is like going on picnic to shop
there. It is one of the most restful
enioyments know of. When I was
tired out with work in my school ]
used to take a holiday among the
shops. Two or three days shopping
would do wonders for my nerves.
would return to my classes in capital
trim for teaching. I don't believe that
many of the teachers in the schoois
here would start out for day on
Fourteenth or Twenty-third streets il
it were rest they were looking for
SIN the first place, people are III DO
hurry in japan. There is plenty OF
time and that simpli6es shopping won
derfully. Shops are cool and comtor-
table and wide open. The whole side
of the building is doorway. Fires are
so frequent and spread rapidly in the
light frame building that tradesmen
keep their goods stored away in l,ura
or freproof buildings in the rear oil the
shops, whence they are brought out
when called for: This means deal of
trottt1ng to and fro. But there is
plenty OF time.
81 did not know what to make OF
my reception the first time / went
shopping. I wanted kimono, native
robes, and I went to Dai Maru, one oi
the great Toxic shops. AS I entered
every one bowed low, quite to the
floor, and called out 'frashai" "-wel.
come! thought it ell was for my
companion, who was of distinguished
native family, or that they thought
me the visiting Duchess of Connsught.
But, no, all the bowing was only the
ordinary greeting to any one that en-.
tered the shop. The good people had
never heard of either OF US before, and
did not know that tho Duchess oi
Connsught was in town.
"We scarcely were seated on the
edge of the bamboo platform on which
the clerks glide about with rolls OF
cloth in response to calls, when q
handsome yoath in blue-striped ki.
mono, with blue.back apron salaamed
before us and pushed toward us two
cups on tiny trays. He poured tea,
and salaamed again while we slipped
slowly and were refreshed. When we
pnt down the cups of exquisite ware
he filled them again, and with another
bow begged to know what he might
have the honor of showing us.
"We said that I was tired OF 20
fuku-foreign dress-and wished to
get lot of silk kimono. He clapped
his hands, and two youngsters clad
like himself answered with shrill hal,
and dropped on their knees before
him. He told them what to bring.
"In three minutes there was small
mountain of silks before us, all oil
such exquisite texture that it made me
faint to think that I could not pur-
| chase everything. As / had deter
mined to be regular Japanese in
dress, at least, bought pretty good
assortment. My bill was 101. 10 Jap
anese silver dollars. and I was able tto
give the exact change, / haaa loo.
yen bill, silver .'cart Wheel with q
chrysanthemum on one side, four 20.
sen pieces, 1O-sen script, 5-sen nickle,
long brass pieces called temps, with
square holes in them, worth eight Tin
apiece, and thin, round coin, also
with a square hole, worth fifteen
tenths of rim.
"This paid for having the goods
made up for doing which even the
cost of thread to be used was known
to a nicely. A clerk made out an
itemized bill that measured exactly
eighteen feet, and having stamped it
with the great Dai Maru seal and Of
fixed revenue stamp, he pushed ii
toward me, at the same time recitins
speech literally punctuated with
salaams.
"I did not understand, but my gen
tie companion said it was the custom
of Dai Maru to invite all customers
whose purchases amounted to 100 yen
to dine on the floor above. The bob
bing clerk had been inviting me.
81 was charmed. of course, Hand
eager for the experience, but lcouldn't
accept that afternoon. That made no
difference, / was told. IfmY August
Eess would condescend to designate q
day on which I would partake of hum
BILE fare in the unworthy upstairs room
the house would be forever honored.
Ny Augustness condescended f.nd had
feast that was wonderful, indeed. ]
was too new to Japan to care much
for the food, but the dishes on which
it was served were of priceless ware.
"The Dai Maru people noticed my
ecstacies over the porcelain and when
I rose to go they urged me to eccept q
bowl as a momento. I couldn't do it,
but finally I compromised on roll OF
silk, such as is used for an under sash.
ga Dai Mrru jinriksha was waiting
for mo and l was taken home Ni-rin
biki-that is with two runners, at a
rate of six miles an hoas through the
crowded streets.
"Think of such treatment, and then
think OF the supsrciliousness OF sales.
ladies of New York shops!"
A Twc.IIundred Foot Airship.
John F. Cooley, once of Hornells.