The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-05-08
a Piece Of +
+: Red Calico.

l was going into town the other morning
when my wife handed me piece of rec
calico and asked me if | would have tim
during the day to buy her two yards and
half Of calico like that. | assured her tina
it would be no trouble at all, and putin,
the piece of calico in my pocket took tn
train for the city.
At lunch time stopped in large DIR,
goods store to execute my wifes commits
sion. | saw well-dressed man walkin,
the floor between the counters where Ions
lines of girls were waiting on much longe
lines OF customers, and asked where l coulC
see some red calico.
''This way, sir, " and he led up the store
'Miss Stone said he to a young lady
show the gentleman some red calico"
''What shade do you WANT" asked Miss
Stone.
1 showed her the little piece Of calico my
wife had given to me. Then she took
down great roll of red calico and spread
it out on the counter.
"Why, this isn't the shade, )" said |.
''No not exactly said she, "but, you
see, it is prcttier than your sample"
"That may be- said |, "but you see |
want to match this piece. There is some
thing already made of this kind of calico
which needs to he 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 she.
Eyes" ! replied, "but its striped"
''Stripes are more worn than anything
else in calicoes - said she.
eyes, but this isn't to be worn. Its for
furniture, think. At any rate, want
perfectly plain stuff to match something
already in use"
"Well, don't think you can find it per.
fectly plain, unless you get Turkey red, -
said she.
"What is Turkey redo" / asked
"Turkey red is perfectly plain in cali,
Goes" she answered.
"Let me see some"
eve haven any Turkey red calico left, y
she said, "but we have plain calico i'll other
colors."
81 don't want any other color. want
stuff to match this"
cts hard to match cheap calico like
that, =" she, and so | left her.
| next went into store few steps fur
her up Broadway. When | entered ap
preached the floOr-w walker and handing him
my sample, said:
"Have you any calico like this?"
eyes, sir" said he. "Third counter OF
the right"
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
eve haven't any Of this"
''The gentleman said you had," l re-
piled.
eve had it but we're out of it now
You'll get that goods at an upholsterer's, y
he answered.
went across the street to an upholster
er's
"Have you any stuff like this?" l en-
quired.
"No," said the salesman, 1--WE haven't
Is it for furniture?"
eyes" I replied
"Then Turkey red is what you want
SIS Turkey red just like this?'' replied
"No,N said he, "but its much BETTER
''That makes no difference to me" | re-
piled. 81 want something just like this. y
"But they don't use that for furniture
he said.
81 should think people could use any,
thing they wanted for furniture, " | replied
somewhat sharply.
"They can, but they don't" he said
quite calmly. They don't use red like
that They use Turkey red"
| said no more, hut left The next place
visited was very large dry goods store
OF the first salesman | enquired if they
kept red calico like that sample.
you'll find that on the second story
said he.
l went upstairs Then l asked man
''Where will | find red calico?"
''In the far room to the left. Right owe
there" and ne pointed to distant corner
l walked through the crowds of pur
chasers and statesmen, and around thu
counters and tables filed with goods to the
far room to the left. When got there
asked for red calico
"The second counter down this side,
said the man.
l went there and produced my sample.
"Calicoes down stairs" said the sales
man.
"They told me they were up here"
aid
"Not these plain goods. You'll flint
them down stairs at the back of the store
went down stairs to the back of tn
store.
"Where will find red calico like ths?'
asked