New-York tribune., 1900-07-02
THAT COLD CLOTHES MAN
HIS CUSTOMERS ARE NOT CONFINED EN-
TRELY TO THE POORER CLASSES
FROM PARIS TO THE
KLONDIKE

TIE Old clothes business has burst the confines Of
BsEte--sr. upon which Il conferred distinction for
70 long. and has moved uptown. keeping pace with
ne c.1ys growth Z has developed and expanded
u--i- one suspects that the next thing will be the
formation OF . r-ust-rhat sure Indication OF what
social aspirant would cali arriving
There are grades IN the old clothes business Just
aE there are IL any other division Of The CONNER
cial world There Is the dark little shop where you
ge- instant Impression Of things bought IN
lots and dumped down IN the most convenient
spc- without order OF arrangement: but there are
ot1e-s which are almost as well equipped as the
new clothes stores. They have great tables with
deep drawers 10 hold the more perishable articles
Tardrobes With sliding glass doors where gorgeous
six and satin gowns displayed 10 coverous
eyes ard upon the tables are piles OF coats and
-ousers- pressed and creased IN punctIious con
t0raity 70 the requirements OF fashion. The old
cothes business IS conducted on Z cash basis and
Il some instances requires the services Of e book
keeper. not 70 mention the tailors and sewing
z9uen.
TAe ve-v IA purse which the old clothes dealer
displays az the crucial moment when you reluctant
r accept his offer for your goods and chattels IS
thing not 10 be forgotten 7 haunrs you in dreams
s16 II idle moments you find yourself wondering
ss rns how and why, and, Incidentally, whether
T. s always 50 well filed This IS the beginning Of
yo1- old clothes wisdom. and II eventually leads
knowledge OF the extent Of the business. which
-cC ind very surprising
One dealer. in whose well ordered store almost
eve-yJhtng IN rae way Of wearing apparel may be
hzG OF for the KIondtke last year with
twelve hundred pounds OF old clothes. Here was
a. example Of that business foresight which has
laid tle foundation ot many American fortunes
L Il thing which appeals u the Imagination and
Eets -ze 70 thinking some entirely new thoughts.
Th-s nan left his wife and family in charge Of
his Eev-Tork store anc his trip was 50 success
u that he has this year opened q branch store
II New-Torz and provided himself with castle
ir Spain IN the way Of three mining claims in the
E-o1dike Already his wife is dreaming OF the
days when she can retire from the doing over Of
clothes 20 little place in the country which
VII remind ner OF Poland.
DESTINY OF CLOTHES
Clothes become vastly more interesting when one
heglrs ro speculate upon their ultimate destiny
a1d rne number and manner Of the incarnatiors
r1ro-g- which they viii pass before they reach the
NtrFs-a Il complete worroutness. With the posi-
oL-- r1ar French imported gown may end us
career az rae best dress OF Klondike belle OF an
Esg-lE5 princess IT becomes q sentimental thing,
a1c Cu= han1les Il with respect and consideration
Thar. there Is the element Of chance which plays
a. intensely interesting part in the disposal OF old
clothes ard starts the seller 10 wondering when
and where ne viii again meet Up, as they say
tr Virginia with the garments which he is selling
a woman sold velvet cape which was almost
lev. but which was decidedly unbecoming. II her
ignorance o. Old clothes lore and the part thar
o1a1ce SO often plays in ir. size supposed she had
seen thar cape for the last time. Three months
-ster. In -re cIn light of 4 spring twilight her
carnage STOPPED al q -'77-7'
As sle looked dreamiIy our al crowd or people
On tLe zzIk near by. the pattern Of the lace on q
E-ap carried oy well dressed woman caught her
eye and seemed 70 insist upon recognition Why
&C she keep looking a. that lace and what CID II
Tsr.l1E her OF And then she leaned forward and
boxed was the cape she had sold three
months before and from the citys thousands II
nae crifred back across her path
The smaller dealer buys AT PaWn3rokers sales
s1c ct me poorer people those SAD ana jadea
clothes mat one sees hanging Imply n the WIN
COWS rolled ir tight bundles but the more sue
oessfu. has MS regular clientele ike any otler
professional nan. He receives a note ASKING MN
70 cali a. some fixed hour and his client Wl7 2e
tarefG rEaf the coast clear for him lHdeeor ile
S--l-S ~ clothes is much more common pa
Lst suppose. There Is many wei dressed "oilii1
80 spends generous sums Tor aeI syEtIl7 - 60
Years them only few times, clscaTclIH men
--+E rLtE practically new IN many t1lSt1
are -rtlre-E inapproprlate % E-Fe .o NJ re
y 70 servants. and she dtspOses nt tneTn 20 IHs
-ts-ers H-LA z 1Ltle glow Of delight ll ne Holsy
acquired Bur she IS carefLl 10 E-Au MN 70 -
stcs- ard would probably deny Il 10 heI 49,
s-.s1c were she accused though one SeaIce-S
I Size is hard and unfeeItng in her dealings WIN
lressT-ak kpr she il turn meets her " aLei'oo
Nle1 sh- faces the old clothes man f1ls was
as1g-ty. and MS c-ers leave generous Zee
- IoT prCrt
y is the woman with money VINO makes things
e-er difficult for her less fortunate sls.tIE r.
--s u The buying of gowns. but III il-f -. i-
e,siAg " old ones The woman VINO mas a AIot-
.--e gown which does not sGir her. D1l "lL-ti NH
cannot afford 70 give away l4lLlhS tt.r ~ -
- 10 sell IT, Possibly IL IS gown "i1N -