New-York tribune., 1896-10-18
HUNIN NATURES SEANY SIDE
THE SHOPKEEPERS HAVE SPECIAL OPpok
TUNfTIES TO STUDY IT-SOME THINGS
THEY MIST PIT Up WITH

shopkeepers have certain opportunities for study
ing human nature which granted to othsr
people. Yet 1t cannot be said that they apprecs1
their privileges In this direction. because II Is The
unreasonable side Of their felIow-mortals with
which they often brought into contact. Not
only Is an acquaintance Of the sort disagreeabs h
itself, but 1t usually involves what the merchant
breads more-an entry on the wrong side OF BIZ
profit and loss account.
One day last week n N an entered one OF the la!N
Broadway stores where mems clothing and general
furnishings are kept. He took of the derby hat he
was wearing and held II out to the salesman WIN
approached to wait on him.
This is a hat which bought here" he remarkd
curty "and It doesn't nit me AT all. Should thirk
the clerk might have known better when he let n
take it, want you to give me new one"
The salesman said nothing for moment, but O.
amincd the article. 1t did not require close inspee
ton 10 see that 1t had undergone great deal M
hard usage.
How long is It since you bought the hat-' h
asked.
''Oh. about three months, think. returned ~
custom er coolly whats that got TO do with II!
"Why look at it,. exclaimed the salesman, losing
patience somewhat at the mans assurance Th
brm Is worm the lining Is soiled. and. besides that
the shape IL last summers and Is all out OF styk
now We couldn't sell that You must have known
within a week so after you got 1t that 1t didn't
fit you. Yet you wear 1t around for three montot
and then expect us to change It, can't 90 IT, II
you wish to wait until the manager comes In VII
refer It to him, but hardly think IT'S worth your
while"
The customer highly indignant. He would
not walt he remarked and he would not uou'S
that store again. either.
"Therc, we've lost that mans trade said To
salesman to another customer standing nesG But
It can't be helped. He went little too far
"Do YOU have many cases Of that sort?" ,ssaA
the customer.
"Yes. n good many Of them. One OF the funn'st
happened this fall when man brought us an o'1
coat which he had bought five years before De
said the sleeve Innings were beginning TO wear os1
and ne didn't think they ought TO do that so Soaa
We put new Innings in for him. free Of charge We
Thought a man with a nerve like that was wora
special attention.
II would not be fair however. to imply that mes
are the only members OF society VINO rouois rnsas ~
shopkeepers in this MAY Most hsy desired When
would be In every respect a match for that Oh a
clothing saIers 1t Is by no means an hosa es
a Tribune reporter for woman 10 otuer n~m
some opera cloak or fur cape TO be sent s0.ts 20 ~
house and then. after wearing II on the spstn.
occasion for which it procured: bring It nact
in day or two, with some excuse for not not kesp% %
H. Usually the salespecple can tell by vanoo
little Indications that the garment has been wosr
ana sometimes the information OF its use comesw
the shOpkeepers ears through OUTSIDE cnhnn..
This trick is frequently played by persons va
could not afford to buy the article IN question ~
who apparently consider stealing the use & Q.
more respectable than Dorr0wlng or nlrlhs 1--WE
customer. . ~.
Hats and bonnets lend themselves easily 70 ths
method, for the customer, so-caled: mas ony
have them sent home ION approval, ana tnsn s.!s ~
turn them when she Is ready, with the alI-sumclsS
statement that they are unbecoming. Not sausI
with this practice Of obtaining the use OF r SIoTr
for herself without paying Tor tnsm oSSa so s,o.s .s
IN n
Il christening robe in the same manner ihis ss'x ~
like stretching the idea "A good deal. considering '.
religious ceremonies at which the stolen garmss gar
assists. but the economical mother propaDy oe,oi
to that class who do not believe III nhA'hs ="
religion and business. ..d
Ii is perhaps, in the departments wnere gov
are sold by the yard hat merchants lose nost
having purchases returned. woman bought y.
hcient silk at one store not long ago 10 lnas.n
entire dress, the price of the fabric being S%s
yard Some weeks later she came back avn yis
that there had proved 10 be defects IN the wea -
OF the silk and the gown made from IL was aas
lutely worthless TO her She demanded the setT Avn
OF the price CT the silk, and also tnat tne ~ ~
garment made. Naturally. the head Of the 81. ~ ~
partment wished 10 see the dress ana eve even IA
marked that he supposed the lady would give sN.rs, s
back. as she was to get Its fuil value IN m"'"
But this aroused her indignation at once; .u k,,
the dress. Ii would be OF no use TO you. .,,Ssr S
rather than lose a wealthy customer who se,SV.
exhibited such eccentricities. the firm consen'e'
all that she asked. .n al
"it pays in nine cases out OF ten,' said an d. d.
lose a good deal Of money by II IN the cou,sssS
the year. but not so much as We should oy o"'''
ing them and driving away their patronage
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