New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-08
ART IN FURNISHINGS.
"A Class for the Benefit of Statesmen
and Shoppers.

The large young woman in the pepper-and-salt
walking suit. who has been roaming around the up
hostery department with bit Of figured pink
chintz in hand, has al last approached clerk.
i want 10 ask your advice she says TO him
L have a bedroom home with deep red rug
on the floor. mustard colored cartridge paper on
the wcls, weathered oak Mission furniture and a
bed covt-e6 with this chintz. Do you think
would bette get rug portieres to match the car
pet try . build up the room to pink toner
A plump hide person, all dmples and moleskin'
who has been lowering uncertainty around the
counter Of poriere poles. listens with unconceale9
Interest a TIE salesman eXpounds his notions on
The subject OF pink rooms and then she turns TO
the Clerk who is showing of the poles, with:
Il had rather my heart imitation cherry
and brass balls but these brass RODS lovely
For a hail. now. DO You think the brass would be
as effective this for Observation-Disclosures UP a
deep red pole.
Every day hundreds OF women hesitate over their
purchases like this They wish 10 have their homes
beautiful; they to furnish their houses har-
Tnoniously md appropriately; they want 10 have
them artistic and in good form. but they do not
know how make them without help. So they
appeal for advice the salesman's superior taste
and experience. They expect him to tell them what
they want and why they want it.
X IS because the average woman shopper de-
rnands something more OF the clerk In a house
furnishing than that he shall be a machine
for displaying goods that a class has been formed
81 the West Side Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton TO teach statesmen the principles OF under
lying housefurnishing and interior decorating. It
IS unique class. None can recall anything just
Ike IT,
But the special significance OF the thing lies IN
The proof it gives OF the influence that women
exert upon trade conditions. Women demand more
intelligence and culture the part OF a certain
class OF employees IL the big stores and these
ployes feel the impetus. the pressure or what
ever il may be called. that is thus eXerted, so
strongly that the more clear-seeing and ambitious
among them are practically forced recognize
Ct and ADAPT themselves TO The new oroer.
public that the consumer real producer-that
one cannot buy any article without thereby bring
Ing into existence another Ike H. And he points
out how cheap and nasty things VIII continue
10 be made so long any can be found 10 buy
them. and that any demand inevitably brings its
supply. lie viii draw Illustrations from history 10
world. and he viii give Instances where their
whis or needs have created cities or impoverished
bsnkrUpted ole And II he is a social econ
moral mas ii ress with women as the great buy-
ers OF the world, 10 buy what is genuine, artistic
of yielding themselves 20 The temptations Of taw-
dry taste, imitation and the products Of the sweat
The house furnishing and decorating class at the
not originated 6y a woman. such innovations sell
dom are. Last spring salesman connected with
S. Colburn, the educational director. and said
be thought there was q great field among his fell
Investigation showed that ne was right one man
had paid large fees at various art schools trying
70 get Just that sort OF thing. Another fol-
lowed Nr. Colburn down from the fourth story OF
his big department store 70 the street in his eager
ness learn about the proposed class. and every
where the greatest interest shown. When the
class was finally launched, which was not until the
heads % all TIE big establishments had been ap-
preached on the subject the Response was gener-
eergatlve. but fourteen men came from this store
ten from that three from the other and SO on. so
that the opening night a class of forty or fifty
young men greeted Professor Frank Alvah Parsons,
the teacher. one or two employers believed so
heartily n the class an0 its teacher that they paid
the class fees OF those men il their employ who
wanted 70 join.
A few Of the Arms represented are Arnold.
Constable Co. ". g. J. Sloane. Abraham g.
efraus and b Altman e. Co.
II must not be supposed that the class was started
satisfy q sentimental yearuing. IL started
IN response 10 q definite business A man who
lxrows what is being taught in this course Of
trVenty-four lessons make more sales than the
man who does not know st. That Is to say, he can
make more sales OF the satisfactory come again.