The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-09
MEN DO THEIR BUYING.
Christmas Season Produces Novelty
 in Chicago.

m Su1CaSV.
 Chicago Tribune.
 The season of Christmas shopping just passed has produced something which the humorist would have believed impossible the man shopper.
 It Is declared that there have been at least three times as many men shoppers in State Street during the last week as there were last year. What Is more, unmarried men no longer invoke the as- sistance of a woman when they have to do shopping. They plunge boldly into the stores and do their buying them selves.
 The other day in one of the State Street stores at the black silk counter there sat three men. each intent on buying A silk dress. Each was alone and intent on making his purchase. And none was long in doing 1t.
 The advent of the new shoppers hailed with some delight by the store employees. The man. they say, is more easily waited on. does not think so long about what he is to buy, does not waste time, and Is more courteous. One of them remarked: ]:
 "As Q matter of fact, few men really shop. as that word is usaully understood. Generally speaking. men come in with their minds made up as to what they want to buy, and they know, too, how much money they mean to spend.
 Let a man see what he wants in the first store visited and at once. he says: I will take that and puts down the money for it; whereas most women will want to look at tho same kind of goods in at least two or three stores before buying. So as to be sure to get tho best bargain possible.
 Many times this Is wise thing to do. A.a it. simply mean that men act differ- ently, and that, consequently, they are much easier to wait on. Now let me Illustrate:
 This morning a man came up and ask ed to see a jar for holding cigars, the kind. you know. that has a silver cover, adding; I don't want 1t to cost more than g.
 T brought out three at that price. say. ing: I have some others at S2.5O and 8 5C in different patterns But no. he showed no desire whatever to see them and iu five minutes or less picked out one of the three told me to have 1t marked with a certain monogram, put down 8. and walked out.
 "In less than half hour, had wo. man customer for a jar of the same sort She did not say what price she wanted to pay. though. and was not satisfied un. til had shown her every variety we hay, tn stock, and that is good many. After looking at every one and debating long time, she finally said.
 Well, I guess I will come in again can't seem to decide just now which t, take'
 "of course knew perfectly well tha she meant to look elsewhere. And sh, did, for in Tess than two hours, back sh, came, and after inspecting the jars al over again chose a duplicate of what tn man had bought with the remark: 'Tha Is the prettiest jar for the money I hay, seen anywhere
 Now. that woman spent three hour at least in buying what it took the vnaI less than five minutes to get, and couit have sold half dozen articles to as man, men in the time it took to sell one to tha woman.'
 Another saleswoman of experience sait that men were less nervous and mor, amiable about their shopping.
 That is perhaps one reason" said sh.. why things apparently go more smooth, ly with them when they enter a store ant why some people think men get more at. tention than women.
 "A man seldom speaks sharply or uuer, ulously to a saIeswoman, and naturally when customers make a point of being polite to Us We try to reciprocate. Even If men are hard to please-and every man doesn't take the first thing offered to him-they are not as rule so irritatinG as women.
 Yes, We have good many more men customers this season than last and 10, my part I hope they will go on increas- ing