The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-28
SHOPPING In OLD ENGLAND
yoU MUST co IN TO BUY. NOT To
SEE Is YOU WANT TO BUY.
Maybe They'll Try on Things for You,
Maybe Not, and III They Don't Suit
You Can't Take Them Back.
Rcsion TRANSCRIPT.

kctlCdiiy INTO Il SuOp, We'll knowing
II no purchase is made an exit must be
managed in discomfort. even IL not under,
fire of insults of manner and word. 1 am
not weak woman. but it takes something
more than courage or bravery or self-re-
speet to face the insolence and ignorance
OF the average British shopkeeper or his
empioye- Experiences multiply in half
dozen years. but none has made a more per-
manent impression me than those of the
first days when curiosity really began to
crave the raison d'etre II English shopkeep-
Ing could not decide that it was done for
the health OF those thus engaged: philan-
throphy was clearly not the reason: nor
could / discover any serious intention to
sell what people wanted to the people who
wanted 1t.
At last learned never to try to buy any
thing which 1 did not displayed Gin the
window when possible) with its price at
tached- II the only one OF its kind. as is
too often the case, is the one displayed it
will probably not be removed; under these
circumstances 1t is comparatively easy to
escape from the shop. especially II your
conscience Is clear that you would buy Il
were IL on sale; or, II the price card looks
To be eonspicuously placed on what you
article carefully tucked under or beside it.
IL IL not hard for a native-born American
TO make brave exit. as her outraged sense
or honesty makes good motive power.
Not one English woman in ten has the
moral courage TO leave without buying
something. nor does she feel inclined to
revolt at the custom OF making the cost
OF goods -Four shillings three farth.ngs."
or ten shIlIings. ha'penny. farthing." as
the salesgirl win glibIy recite. when, II
one has the temerity to wait for the
change. q piece of paper containing a
coarsest pins that can be magined-is
given 10 the customer instead OF her
farthing and with all the air that would
accompany them had she purchased pins;
I have latterly spared myself the small
annoyance OF choice OF being practically
Cheated out or several pence a day, or &C
Gepng ,s,b lot OF Sad pins by supplying
ural TO suppose that such a custom could
not prevail out OF Whitechapel. but this
is not the case--it is usual in many OF the
most sought shops on oxford street.
This habit OF lacking on a bit becomes
cou,ical when one Is told that the price OF
a piano Is eighty pounds and sixpeDce.
price which was actually quoted to me-
reformed" Englishman, who loves his
country enough TO own UP 20 and hope TO
suppress such absurdities, was secretary
or one OF the largest LOCOMOTIVES building
works In Great Britain. and having his
attention directed to this point he said:
which would surprise you Americans. 1
remember one OF 5000 pounds, two shil-
nngs and two pence Imagine an Amer
lean firm sending in bill OF $45,OO05!
DIFFICULTY AS TO PRICES
Prices not as flexible as they were
some years ago. but in one of the smartest
millinery stores on Regent street L failed
through many years to once elicit accurate
Information as to the price of hat, and
under ordinary circumstances believe that
Il is not possible to do so until one has re-
moved ones hat and been seated in a coy
corner, from which it is next to impossible
to escape without buying. At first this
place annoyed. then it angered me. and for
many seasons have made IL point TO go
IN there as regularly as the violets come
and price various hats which fancied and
which / hoped TO buy il 1 found they had
price and IL i thought them worth 1t, but
never have 1 learned the asking price of
any headgear In that neutrality-suspicious.
have heard any reply to my inquiry but
this. oh, so enticingly, so graciously, de-
''That hat2 Aouwi VIII madame take a
seat? The price? Will madame step this
wye? Aouw! That hat? What would ma
dame like to pey? Aouw! The price? IL
madame will take seat Smoving hypnotic
ally toward a far corner) I'll show her some
hats
wonder how many more have weathered
taken that seat. My nearest relative once
did. but she has something OF the spirit of
warrior; and she got away without paying
So for bonnet for which she sent a coat
aild-skirt English girl the next day, and
for which the girl paid $50
One Of the most amusing shopping expert
ences L ever had was in buying CD shoes
on New Oxford street. where windowful
OF pretty ones were advertised as Yankee
Notions L went in to buy. and selected
three pairs of boots and shoes of the sort
i wanted. when, to my surprise, the man
began to tie them into parcel. and when
j said that I must try them on 10 see If they
gust. saying desperately: That's the trou-
bic with you Americans-you come into a
shop and don't know what you want! Got
to try things onr Don't you know your size
What do you suppose our display window 8
for but so you can decide on the street
surely it is customary for you TO try on
shoes?" Certainly not" he bawled. "our
people know what they want and they buy
II and keep II whether IL fits or not" BY
this time / was not angry. only pleased and
happy. and / turned TO my companion. say
ing in the tone OF a discoverer: "Oh, how
interesting; that's what makes thei- feet
look as they dol wondered" The man
went on: I'VE want to be obligin'. but it's a
great trouble to have you people comm in
takin' our time: then IL they don't fit you,
you won't take EN-" 1T does look unrea-
sonabIe," said. land shall endeavor to
see that in future no American whom 1 can
warn will trouble YOU.
NO EXCHANGING OF GOODS.
In visiting English friends. have often
heard them say, Isn't It botherl sBut
can't get those gloves on that bought yes
terday. / must go back to-day and buy
some others" And one day a lady told me
that she had just bought two pairs of
boots, which she found she couldn't wear,
and which she must give to some one. The
thought OF exchanging or returning the
goods never seems TO occur 10 them.
One Monday 1 bought half dozen fine
paste buttons. at what consider the most
accommodating establishment In London.
discovered they were too large for the
purpose for which they had been purcha sed,
and l remembered old credit slips and
money returned days In my own fair-deal-
Ing country, and i set my teeth hard, and
on Tuesday morning took them back, ex-
had been bought few hours before, and
asked her Tor n credit slip or my money, IL
they preferred.
The girls aInazement almost amounted
&C horror "Aouw, neaouw!' handing me
the parcel again--they couldn't take goods
back "Aouw, neaouw. they never did: they
wouldn't be any use TO them" Then laid
them solemnly or the counter and said:
well. como from q country where goods
are not valusless IL returned in good condi-
ton the day after they are purchased,
where twelve shillings' worth OF regular
stock buttons arc worth the same on Tues
day morning that they are on Monday night
and as these buttons are OF TO me.