The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-22
IN A DEPARTMENT STORE.
of Buyers and Sorely
Tried Clerks

(From the New York Tnbune.)
why. the abuse that the innocent adj
juster gets because she cannot always do
just what people want her 10 makes a
position of this kind anything but sine
cure. l used to have only one room, but
/ found that as people listened to each
others complaints it added constant fuel
to the flames. and there were times when
there was danger of a general stampede.
Now, l see only one at time, while the
others wait outside.
People would not believe US if We
told them all the funny things that
happen here. Why, only yesterday a
woman paid 10 cents car fare to come
down here to complain that scent article
had been omitted from her bundle. A
penny postal card would have brought it
to her.
n woman in Widows weeds appeared
here last week. Her husband, it seems,
had died about two months before, and,
wishing TO have seat near his grave,
she had purchased from our household de-
partment a common bench made for wash
tubs. This she had had painted green,
with her name upon it. and our wagon de-
livered it at her plot in the cemetery. After
using it two weeks. however, the authori-
ties decided not to allow wooden benches
on the grounds and ordered her TO remove
it. So she came to me and asked to have
us take the bench back and refund her the
As cents she had paid for il. / told her
that it would be of no use TO US, since
it had been painted with her name upon
it, She cried and argued, and finally left,
lamenting that anyone could treat in such
a heartless manner woman in such trou-
Bile as she.
Another woman bought bird and a
Accent box OF bird gravel. By the time
the gravel was half used the poor bird
died. and the customer brought back the
gravel and asked for a credit check for
its original price. Still another demanded
4 new sponge for her bottle of shoe black
ing. and when | told her that we did not
have them she declared that the manu-
facturers ought to furnish extra ones,
then.
There are many women who win
prizes at church and charity euchre parties
and bring them to us. fairly demanding the
money for them. If the articles were
really bought here We allow them cash
value on goods in any part of the house,
but this does not satisfy them. One day
when told woman, who was particularly
urgent in her request for the money that
she was guilty OF gambling, she replied
in good old homely phrase that that was
not any OF my business.
Holiday anu NtuuluB presents we are
always exchanging. but their owners fly
into the most ridiculous passions because
they cannot get the money for them. Often
it happens that for the most exquisite
silver, china, and cut glass women will
take in exchange hosiery, underwear. etc.
During a sale of gloves not long ago,
WREN hundreds of dozens were mixed up
in a long tray and hundreds of women
were hauling them over two women fran
ticaily seized the same pair and tore them
apart. each retaining one glove. Hanging
onto their prizes they faced each other
and fairly shrieked back and forth,
They're mine!' l tell you, l got them
frst! and They're mine,' until one of
the women too tired for continued COM
bat. sank to a stool. while the other stood
her ground in front of her The fray be-
gan at 10 O'Clock in the morning and the
tug of-war continued until 2:30 in the aft
ernoon. when the one that was standing
gave out. and. taking the glove she had
been holding to the tray. stirred 1t in very
thoroughly. exclaiming: There. you can
find iti' and flounced out of the store.
'Middle-aged women make the most
trouble. and young girls are pretty sauey,
but real old ladies are the pleasantest Gus
tonIesS-