Evening star., 1901-07-03
sHoPMANs SECRET SIGNALS.
Study of an Interestfng System q
PFaeticed In London.
From the london Express.

study of an Interesting System as
Praetfced TN London.
From the london Express.
Did 1t ever strike you that on entering
certain shops you were being "signaIed''
as surely as any train entering a railway
station? Most probably not; yet such a
thing must often have happened In your
case. especially If you do your shopping in
or about London. and are in the habit of
going regularly to certain shops for Ger
tain things so that some OF the assistants
come to know YOU by sght-as they very
quickly do
OF course, the same code prevails in
no two establishments so that even though
you were lucky g, ough to pick up that at
one shop. the knowledge you thus acquired
would avail you nothing at the one next
door.
In this article, however we propose to
touch briefly on few Of the better known
signs, giving the meanings which attach to
them at certain large shop in the me-
tropolis. which. for obvious reasons need
not be further specified here.
Old hands can carry on sort of con-
VerSatlOn in the presence Of a third party
as expert as themselves. but ignorant of
the special code in which the two in ques-
tion are working: hence the instances we
are about to cite are only specimens Of
one of the many codes in use In the city
If. in showing you to the counter you
seek. the shopwalker In the establishment
In question extends the first two fingers
OF the right hand and grips the others.
the assistants Immediately understand
that you are Aleptomaniac-not to put
too fine point upon 1t.
A twiri OF the right Side of the mustache
upward with the Fight hand signifies that
you're sort of fool who knows nothing
and whom. consequently. it is safe to
rush for all your re wOrth-and the as
sistants charge accordingly.
IT. on the other haf1 some assistant who
has had previous expefience Of you, and
has come to the conclusion that you are a
particularly sharp customer, who cannot be
taken In on account Of your knowing the
price Of given article to the fraction of a
penny, he will let the assistant about to
watch chain about his left forefinger in an
absent minded sort OF way. the exact sig
nificance Of the sign being tartar: no good
trying bluff"
II little fiattery will work we'll with you
an assistant. knowing this. will telegraph
the fact from the opposite counter by put.
ting the finger tips of both hands together,
the significance of it being "Blarney!'
Even more explicit Instructions can be
expressed. For instance. IL an assistant
espies another bringing down particular
roll Of silk, which he knows Is dyed one OF
your favorfte cofors he win pass his fin
gers over his upper lip which means.
Raise the price Of this particular article, -
in contradistinction to putting something
on all round.
A similar movement across the lower lip
would mean that 1t is as we'll to 1Ower the
price II possible. as 1t can be made up in
raising that of the next thing you ask for.
many customers being easy to serve once
they have bought something which they
consider to be bargain.
BE cautious" is indicated by rubbing
the left eye with the back OF the fore
finger.
Appears Indifferent and she'll bite.'' is
~S,I As>y,o of3rSty
in each waistcoat pocket, while biting the
thumb nail MEANS Take no pains; she Is
only an old stager who has come to look at
something for a friend"
Postpone pressing the customer Is sig
nified by passing the hand over the fore
head from left to right.
These are only few Of the more fire.
quently used signs In one establishment In
London but there are countless others In
deed, q volume could be written on the SUBJ
ject without exhausting It.