Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1900-10-06
SHOPPING IN CHINA.
Mode of Procedure Very Different frou.
What We Are Accustomed To.


What We Are Accustomed To. Hs
Although the peculiar civilization OF
the Chinese has failed to provide the
shops OF the country with place glass
windows. mahogany counters, huge
mirrors and the seductive shop walker.
yet the tradespeople have methods Of
their own for engaging the attention of
the public worthy of notice, IL not of
Imitation. To begin with, the compe-
tition which forces down the prices of
goods In this country is unknown In
China.
The manufacturers, who own most of
the shops, to protect the interest of
themselves and their workpeople. i'm.
slst on liking all prices, and when at
tn sked with fits of greed combine to
rFise the price lists, which, to prevent
the shopkeeper overcharging, are post
ed up in the shop, All such shops be-
long to what we should cali union.
In free hous IS the prices given for an
article Is the result of prolonged hap-
gle. The Chinese are such experts at
bargaining that shops of good repute
the advertised price. .....
Why a Chinaman when hagglinp
should shout at the top of his voice in
not clear, but he does, consequently
the vociferations of several hundred
purchasers and the equally stentorian
rejoinders of the tradespeople renders
a Chinese shopping quarter, when the
public Is abroad, a veritable pandemo-
mum.
The amounts in dispute are seldom
more than a halfpenny or SO, but the
parties scream and gesticulate as IL
their entire fortunes were at stake. the
din appearing to be much louder than
1t really is owing to the narrowness of
the streets, which are seldom more than
few feet across. -"'-s1
Shops which decline all abatement
have a signboard inscribed "chen pu
URIC chin" which means fixed price"
business In China being conducted on
principles mostly unkno wn, to the outer
world, 1t Is not strange to find that
shops and warehouses are never known
by the family name of the proprietor
They are distipguishedobyI some Sign
generally the Invention of the owner,
who viii hold long and anxious consult
tation With his family and friends In
order to obtain % 'lltao (which shall ,em4;
body some fellotous idea. .,,,.,. nv. h.,n
When a new show Is opened or new,
confer comes into Possession the pub
lie IS made aware ofIlWhatt lE1s taken
place by long crimson streamers hang
ing from the sighboards. The ffiendli.
ness which exists between the shop
keeping class and theFipatrons results
In developments of which we know
nothing in this country. We should
still6 lat the tradesman who affixed a
notice In his window saying that "his
wife was not very well that day." or
that" his father was dead" In China,
In addition to- such0 written 7 amend+
ments., Increased publicity is afforded
by white or ash-colored streamers be-
Ing suspended 'front.' the sign boards o1d
tThe, signboards are also used to re-f
cord the death Of an Emperor. This is
done by putting the board with its let
tiers In gaudy red and gold into mourn
ing. The paper with which the sides
of, the board are covered Is not black,
as It would be with us, but green, ana
in order that business shall not be In !
terfered with the green paper is dotted ?
all over, with the houses, name. But
the loyalty and grief of the shopkeeper
is testified to by two streamefs, on
which is inscribed "kusnksbjo, 1.-THE
kingdom mourns"-are attached to the
board. ''3t ~ 1927 I."i'itA ~