The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-30
READS LIKE A ROMANCE.
Rich Merchant and the Salesman
Who Displayed Common Sense.

"ho DlSpldyeu SOlhhiOi oeheo'
From the Chicago Timcs.IIcrad
One of the proprietors of big de-
partment store decided the other day
to find out how customers were treated
in his establishment. He is so seldom
seen around the place that few of the
clerks know him by sight hence it
was not necessary for him to assume
a disguise or formulate an elaborate
plan for the success of his undertake
ing.
Going into the shoe department he
sat down to be waited on. A clerk
who had been in the store only few
weeks hurried forward and asked:
May l show you a pair of shoes?"
Yes" the merchant said, 81 would
like to look at some, but l don't know
as I'm ready to buy pair today"
Very WE'LL" said the clerk, well
see what we can find"
Then he made some inquiries as to
the style his employer preferred and
the size he wore, and began taking
| down boxes.
one shoe after another was tried on,
but the customer could not be suited.
| The toes were not right, or the shape
was wrong, or 1t didn't fit, or there was
something else about every shoe the
| clerk produced that was not as It
| should be.
Three or four times the proprietor
| said he guessed he would have to give
| 1t up and try again at some future
| time, but the clerk always persuaded
| him to wait Just a moment. Then he
| would get another pair and make a
| new effort to suit the gentleman, set
| ting forth as eloquently as he could
| the merits of the shoes and expressing;
| confidence in his ability to find what
| was wanted sooner or later.
At last the merchant looked up at his
employee and said:
You don't seem to be worried over
the fact that you have wasted an hour
here with me-"
"Oh, ] don't think I've wasted the
time" the clerk replied. "Peope are
invited to come here and do business ii
they see what they want. If they
can't be suited they ought to have as
| much right to complain as We"
Still you have left 1t all to me
Don't you think you ought to know
more about it than 1 do? You sell
shoes every day, you know"
81 sell shoes every day." the clerk
said, "but l can't wear yours for you
and I shall not try to persuade you tc
buy something you don't want"
The proprietor went out saying HI
might return at some future time anC
try again. After he was gone the hea(
Of the shoe department went over t
the new clerk and whispered something
to him. The latter turned little pail
along the sides of his nose and said:
Then / suppose l may as we'll begll
hunting around for another job"
On the following morning the mana
ger of the store called the saddeneC
clerk into the office and said: =
"The president of this company wen
to the shoe department yesterday t
get a pair of shoes"
Yes, know it," the clerk replied.
"He couldn't get what he wanted"
The clerk gave a long sigh and locke
at the floor.
"You told him you were not anxiou
to sell goods if people didn't show prop
er eagerness to buy" the manager wen
on.
The clerk nodded that it was so.
"Wen, do you think it would pay Il
to keep a man like you in our shoe de
, partment?"
Feeling that it would profit him moth
, ing to be abject, since he was to b
discharged anyway, the miserable cler
replied:
Il suppose not. But If I had 1t to d
again l would do as l did yesterday"
: "Very well. We need a man to tax
> charge Of our clothing department, an
2 Mr.. - wishes you to have the plaC
because you were kind enough to CIV
: him credit for knowing what he wante
= better than you did"