New-York tribune., 1902-02-01
SHOPPER AND SHOP GIRL.
BOTH SIDES OF AN INTERESTING oTrEs-
TION INVESTIGATED BY A WOMAN.

Breathes there with soul so dead that he
mas not listened with his heart swelling with svm-
pa'IiS 10 the pathetic shopping stories related by
MS women foks?" said woman yesterday
Ihe women who shop are divided into two
ciasses-the buyers and the lockers. II is the for
"el class whose experiences are the most harrow
ihg' although. TO be sure, one must look and look
well oe1ore one can buy but it is. perhaps the
ones VINO are only looking with no intention Of
Duylns) who cause much of the trouble. Most
women have a horror of buying the first thing they
see even though it is suitable in every particular
II gives one such comfortable feeling be quite
sure the article has selected is the very best to
oe had IN New-York for the money. therefore wom-
en- go from shop to shop and come home with all
sorts of experiences to relate
went downtown 10 buy suit this morning
Sald woman to me the other day. and l have
never had such unsuccessful shopping tour
Every saleswoman with whom I came in contact
was horrid. Just dread buying millinery or any
'i'i"e ready TO wear. anyway In those depart
hehts the women are so exasperatingly superior.
III one store / entered the department and saw at
ledst elSht women standing, rather posing. about
the room just where the long mirrors would reflect
ther superb figures and their trailing black gowns
NOT one or them stirred. was Obliged to ask to
De waited upon. was shown one suit that I liked
very much so tried II on, and would YOU believe
that while 1 was looking the front that woman
eatnered great fold of the material up at the
oacK IN order to make the jacket smoothly
through the waist? Then she said it fitted me beau
uIuily-Wlthout alteration. l was so disgusted that
left.
THE HAT WAS JUST GRAND"
The next place went the young woman was
charming and most accommodating. The sleeves of
the Jacket was trying on were entirely too short
but she assured me they looked much better my
TAT arm than longer ones could possibly look The
shoulders were much too roomy but she was quite
sure stout person became more shapey in loose
clothing. and. for the waist line. which was
fully an inch too low. that would give the much
desired long effect that stylish.
That was the way it went for than half
DAY. BY that time had found suit and had
begun to look for hat. Now, I suppose I tried on
in the course of few hours not less than egh-
teen hats and every one of those eighteen were the
most becoming hats the millners had this
season found out that my particular colors, the
most suitable for my complexion. the ones I could
wear by day and by night. were red. white. purple
green, gray. yellow. brown. pink blue orange and
black. I could also any shape. and there was
not single instance where the prevailing color of
the hat did not harmonze beautifully with my
hair Miss Smith was inevitably appealed TO. Yes,
Miss Smith thought it looked grand-just grand.
and such stylish little hat, too. l would have well
coined anybody who would have declared positively
that I a fright
1t takes lot Of courage to come boldly out and
say that you nothing you for 1 believe
lots of weak minded purchase things
against their better judgment just to avoid the
girls display when they cannot sell goods
Another woman of my acquaintance has told
suits run cut out Of hS ttng room and slam Rs @
not buy to get Into her clothes the best way she
could
THEY HAVE TROUBLES. TOO.
to make Ks up he great Of that that
so often hear against tne people employed in ,he
two sides TO question it is unjust to allow all our
1t to hear this other side that entered
representative department store. An automobile
coat was thrown over her arm and her face was
.,".oh; I'm glad made that saler she ex-
and nd there there had be! been nothing on my book, .29i
to say. l asked. that she was your first customer
MY FIRST, sale. I've had any number Of people
Re Just wo1t 1 buy M It makes it very harS for us
day is an example. l have shown hrst one and
If they are pleasant We should be- Some OF them
seem TO think we should be; anyway. But being
girls selling goods while you are working just as
m f e9 Show b aes hsh Il IS All
and good. and nothing is said about it, but if there
spoken Of: We are put here TO sell II is sell or
get out, Doing the best you can isn't counted at
Il talked with in silk department He is
not to a salesmans advantage to be obiigng and
always ready to show goods. He smiled in a way
that puzzled me.
LOOK. BUT DO NOT BUY.
one that often happens in my department. A
wealthy woman. whose daughter is about 10 he
married, will come in to look up materials the
trousseau She will take a hour or of my time
just glancing through the stock The next day she
will come In with her daughter. That means more
time and a lot of work. You see. she wants silks
or satins with certain laces match, and If we do
not have them in stock I know Just where 20
get them on short notice For the week the
bridesmaids and the maid OF honor will be in and
out, trying this combina tion and that effect and
hnally they will decide to let figure up the
whole business. which is no easy job. following out
designs and color schemes; and after ] have spent
days working over that trousseau, the contract is
10 me.
1 suppose they think paid for just that
sort OF thing, which, to extent, is true; but
nevertheless the boss expects us to sell goods
just as like as not, after experience OF this
kind. somebody will come in and look over the
whole stock and after three-quarters of an hour
In thinking ii over will take quarter ward
or ask Tor a sample. We only human and by
that time our patience is exhausted. Then some
girl with red hair and face covered with freCkIes
Will insist on buying pink silk for evening gown
and ask me if 1t is becoming. Well, now She
would be mad If ! told her the truth. II is hard 10
distinguish between the who want 10 be
nattereo and the ones who the truth Bur
mat is part of the business The majority belong
70 the frst class 1t is pretty safe rule follow
But when we do get them mixed up suffer the
consequences. So, YOU see. 1t is all beer and
sandwiches. - 1000
RECITAL By MISS BAKER