The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-05-14
A PIECE OF RED CALICO.

shall prove ofany advantage to any who
may read it, | shall be glad.
l was going into town the Other
morning, when my wife handed me 8
piece of red calico, and asked me if
would have time during the day tc
buy her two yardsand half Of calico
like that. | assured her that it would
be no trouble at all, and putting the
piece of calico in my pocket, l took the
train for the city.
At lunch time l stopped in large
dry goods store to execute my wife
commission. | saw well-dressed
man walking the floors between the
counters, where long lines of girls
We're waiting on much longer lines of
customers, and asked where l could
see some red calico.
"This way, SIR" and he led me up
the store. "Miss Stonc,' said he to a
young lady, "show the gentleman some
red Calico
"What shade do you want?" asked
Miss Stone.
| showed her the little pi Gee of cal
co my wife had given to me. Then
she took down a great roll cf red cali
leo and spr a | it out on the counter.
"Why, this isn't the shade,' said I.
"No, not exactly, said she; ''but,
you see, it is prettier than your sam
pie"
THAT may be-" said I; "but you see
l want to mach this piece There is
something already made of this kind of
calico which needs to be made larger
or mended or something. want some
calico of this shade
The girl made no answer but, took
down another roll.
THAT'S the shade," said size.
YES" l replied; but it's striped" ;"
"Stripes are more worn than any
thing else in calicoes," she said
Eyes, but this isn't to be worn. It's
for furniture, | think. At any rate, l
want perfectly plain stuff, to match
something already in use"
"Well, l don't think you can find it
perfectly plain, unless you get Turkey
red," said she.
"What is Turkey red?'' | asked.
Turkey red is perfectly plain in cal
icoes," she answered.
"Let me see some"
"We haven't any Turkey red calico
left" she said, "but we have plain
calico in other colors."
81 don't want any other color. l
want stuff to match this"
"It's hard to match cheap calico like
that" she said, and so | left her.
l next went into a store few steps
further up Broadway. When l enter
ed approached the hoor-walkcr, and
handing him my sample, said:
"Have you any calico like this?"
"Yes, sir,' said he. "Third counter
on the right"
l went to the third counter on the
right and showed my sample to the
salesman in attendance there He
looked at it on both Sides Then he
said:
"We haven't any Of this"
"The gentleman said you had,' |
replied.
ave had it, but we're out of it now.
You'll get that goods a, an upholster-
er's," he answered.
went across the street to an uphol-
sterer's.
"Have you any stuff like this?" en-
quired.
no." said the salesman, "we haven't
| is 1T tor furnlture."
eyes" l replied,
"Then Turkey red is what you
want
as Turkey red just like this?"I re-
J piled.
no. said he, "but it's much bet
ter"
"That makes no difference to me-"
| replied. II want something just
like this
"But they don't use that for furni-
ture,' he said.
81 should think people could use
anything they wanted for furniture" ,"
| | replied somewhat sharply.
"Thcy can, but they DON'T" he said,
quite calmly. "They don't use red
like that. They use Turkey red
| said no more, but left. The next
place visited was a very large dry
goods store OF the first salesman |
inquired if they kept red calico like
that sample.
you'll find that on second story"
said he.
| went up stairs. Then | asked a
man:
"Where will | find red calco?"
ain the far room to the left. Right
over there" and he pointed to dis
tant corner.
walked through the crowds of pur-
chascrs and statesmen, and around the
counters and tables filled with goods
to the far room to the left. When | got
there | asked for red calico.
"Thc second counter down this side"
said the man.
! went there and produced my sam