The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1903-04-18
WHEN SOME WOMEN SHOP.
The Trouble They Give the Tracer
of Lost Parcels Illustrated by
One Instance.

One Instance.
Who can fathom a woman's fancies
Or predict what she will do next?
She advertises her pretty apartment
for the sake of the persons it brings
to her door and she spends days in
purchasing articles for which she has
no money to pay.
A well-dressed woman will look
perhaps at handsome silks, apparent
ly with an idea of purchasing. After
great elaboration she finally decides
upon one. asks the clerk to cut off
four Or five yards, as the case may
be, gives the man an address and
requests that the silk be sent C. o.
D. Next morning the delivery wag-
on goes to the address given and
finds vacant block or perhaps no
such number in the block. The re-
turned goods become remnants, and
the little game goes on, relates the
New York Herald.
Quite as surprising episodes take
place in the ready to wear depart
ments. A woman will enter and ask
for reception gown, something
handsome. She tries on number of
them, finally decides upon one at,
say, 5000. The girl who has succeeded
in making the sale is pleased at her
good fortune and takesS>no end of
pains about it. Alterations are need
ed, and the customer asks that the
gown may be sent to her by special
messenger, as she wishes to weaf
it that evening. The girl who has
made the sale remains after hours,
taking a personal interest in it, and
as the customer has an account the
gown is sent. The next day she re-
turns, asks for the saleswoman, and
says: II wish you to send for the
gown I bought yesterday; it does
not fit and I shall not keep it, ''But,
madam" the girl exclaims, "you
tried it on yesterday, and it fitted
perfectly!" II insist upon returning
it," is the answer, and after seeing
various heads of departments she
does return it, much the worse for
the wear she, has given it the pre-
vious evening. )
Perhaps in no department = are
there more peculiar experiences than
fall to the lot of. "the tracer" the
man whose business it is to hunt lost
parcels. Such an accurate record is
kept of each article that it is an
destination, if it ever reaches there.
Then the trouble begins. A parcel
is known to have been delivered, but
the purchaser never has received it.,
and insists that it has not been sent.
Servants are questioned and know
nothing Of it. The mistress of the
house asserts that her maids have
been with her many years, and are
both truthful and honest. The tracer
is sent to the house, talks the mat
ter over and asks if he may look
about 4. bit himself. He thinks of
| Sherlock Holmes and determines not
to give up. ~ !.
An idea occurs to him, and he asks:
elias any one looked in the refriger-
ator?' They are shocked at the s1g-
gestion. 'Of course not" "Wonld
you mind looking?" To satisfy this
persistent man, some one goes, and
to. his astonishment, in the back of
the refrigerator is found the missing
roll of goods. When explained it
seemed credible enough. The cook
was preparing dinner, the housemaid
dressing. The bell, rang, cook an
swered it, took parcel from the
messenger and, intent on dinner, she
noticed her refrigerator door. open.
Absent-mindedly she placed the par
eel inside as she closed the door and
the article seemed lost. f. ;55 5. .s3.s
Is it any wonder that big shops
have stringent rules or /. that good
| natured employees are at, a premium?
| Had. tie Most sclen &c.
In responding to the toast Science
at banquet in New York recently
President Pritchett !, OF the Massachu.
| setts Institute of Technolo Old
this story: In a Boston school the
other day teacher said to q small
hoy: Who won the bal tile Of New Or
leans = Why jim Corbet I, of course
was the answer. How did TINT hap
pen q asked the teacher, thinking to
set the boy right. HE won, wa the
/ prompt reply, because. he had more
science than the other gly. 8 8 - Chi
cago Chronicle. 8