The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-01
WORRIES OF CLOTHING MAKERS
A TniIor's Confcssion Concerning
Ways of Customers.
(From the Boston Herald.

Yes, there is time for throwing out
ones chest, just as there is a time for
everything else" said the tailor. as he
read out one Of the measurements for the
| customers coat. while the latter stood be-
fore him on the little pedestal.
Now you probably have no idea," the
tailor continued, as he stretched the tape
| over the shoulder and down under the
| armpit. what lot of trouble is made
for us by deceitful customers-I mean
those who, unconsciously or otherwise,
seem to think they must stand very erect
to be fitted properly. / am not telling
you this for your benefit, Mr.. Jones. as
you are always most natural in your
standing
Jones smiles, and the tailor notes that
Mr.. Jones' figure straightens q little.
You see," continued the measurer,
the customer is not always frank with
us, any more than the patient is always
frank with telling physician about him
self There are opportunities for decep-
ton in both cases. For instance, 1t very
often occurs that a man with sloping
shoulders comes up to be measured and
instead of allowing us to size him up as he
really is he throws himself all out of posi-
ton. and there is the deuce to pay gener-
ally when ii comes around TO trying on the
garment, for he cannot always strike the
Some men would more admit that their
shoulders needed raising or lifting as
We say, than they would be ready to con-
fess that their calves needed little re-
enforcement. Imagine what We occasional
ly get from new customer-and it is Incl
dentally true that these deceivers are the
ones who do the most shifting from one
tailor to another as result of this lack of
personal franknessi They are the ones
who seldom get suited anywhere
''0f course. there is an opportunity OF
using tact with this sort as well as in many
other ways of OUT business 1t, OF course,
would never do in the world for us to say
to some men: Shall / not put little in
the shoulder. just to fill it out bit?'
To be sure, we can say, and with per-
feet sincerity, that coats are being cut
this season to set as squarely as posgi-
Bile on the shoulder. but there are men
who won't stand for that sort of thing,
as they know what they want At any
rate, they would have us believe they
know, and 1t is temptation TO give a
man what he wants, even II one realizes
there may be loss OF business ON account
of 1t in the long run; but it is not always
loss of business, for there are kinds of
customers that are almost perpetually a
loss-in wear and tear on our nerves. If
not in actual work Tailors have nerves,
by the way, although they are sometimes
not given credit for having any.
1T is the best all-round method to give
the man what We think he wants, or. at
least, what We think he should have, TAX
ing down all the WHILE with the nod OF
respectful and obedient understanding all |
that he prescribes for himself. That's |
confession, sir, but one has to meet the |
grand bluff with the same brand once in |
while.
This man who throws out his chest |
comes in many different species. One may |
owe Us trifle too much TO be exactly on |
the level, and his financial dignity comes |
TO the surface, something by way of a |
very ready help In time of present trou- |
BILE. He doesn't want US to assume any !
undue pressure, and he needs some clothes |
We can tell him as soon as he heaves in |
sight. But We respect him by comparison !
with the vaing'orious ones who twist them |
selves out of shape We get the frs. of |
the trouble when he is on the stand and |
1t shows up when he tries on the coat.
When up before the three sided reflector,
he usually expands the limit and the
cutter may have to tell him to stand !
perfectly natural. please After doing the |
best we can. and the coat is all made Up,
he will find something wrong; or, per-
haps 1t may not crop out until his wife
sees him as he Is There are SO many
parts that show poor fit. The shoulders |
may sag. the back wrinkle. and, worse
than all things else, the collar may rag
down. The collar obviously may set in
perfect position when he has his chest out |
and his head erect; and when he falls
into his customary lag or stoop, the thing
doesn't hang snug-and he is back upon
us with grievances"