The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-09
WHERE MAN MUST NOT LINGER
IN THE SHOPPING DISTRICT HE
SHOULD KEEP MOVING.

II He Looks in the Shop windows or Stand
At the Curb He Is Apt to Have En-
periences Like Those OF This Fusban
Who Had Arranged TO Meet HIS Wit
"A few DAYS ago gained new idea Of tn
sense and safety Of the move-on policy 70
male persons living in little old New York,
said well groomed but wholly unobtrusiv
man OF IS. Before I left for the Office OF
that morning my wife directed me to b
sure to meet her at certain crowded oorne
in the shopping district at 2 O'Clock tina
afternoon, to help her pick out tailore'
suit for herself.
@Clever little plan OF my wife's that
by the way. asking me to help her selec
hor things, and her professed relianc
upon my judgment In such matters n,
doubt costs me pretty extra penny oil
the wardrobe and millinery accounts ever!
year. But that hasn't anything to do will
the necessity for a man to keep a-movinl
when he's in the shopping district.
Il was on the corner, in front OF one o.
the big department stores, on the minute
My wife, OF course, wasn't As I hadn'
expected her to be there promptly wasn'
much disappointed.
-Aimlessly. to put in the time Of wait
ing for her and without really seeing will
the eyes of understanding any Of the de,
tails Of the garments ! was looking at
l began to gaze into a window cluttered
with bilowy array OF muslin, linen and
lawn garments, with trimmings Of lace
and ribbon and fluffy stuff.
Il didn't know that I was doing any
thing wrong, you understand, in casting
unseeing, mountaineering glances over these
things. But it seems that was.
Il first became aware OF my bold and I'M
blushing impertinence when a group of
three middle aged shopping women ranged
themselves in front Of the lingerie window
for tnat, as you may have surmised, if
what 1t was-and began to hurl dagger
glances in my direction.
Common creaturev was amazed to
hear one Of them excaim.
81 spose he ina ginee he's a gentleman
shifted No. 2.
Its wonder he wouldn't tend to his
own businessl' said the third
1t was only then that became aware
distinctly aware, that is-of the nature
of the window display toward which had
been directing nv impudent glances.
i hurried away from that window. In
my confusion, and utterly without any
vicious intent, halted before the hosiery
window display. in which were exhibited
many seemingly correct models Of the
female limb, draped with fancy stockings
l only stopped there for the purpose Of
gathering myself together and to take
peek at my watch, and soemnly asseverate
that didn't rubber at those hosiery draped
limb models even out of the tail OF my eye.
But it soon appeared that had no right
in front of that window. either. noticed
three or four parties Of shopping women
staring pretty hard at me as they passed
saw tneir stares in the mirror back of the
snow wlndow-but couldn't make out
what I'd done to earn those glares Of dis
approval until three strapping athletic
girls. with sort Of independent coed look
about them, lined up at the window and eyed
me with expressions OF the most sinister
dislike.
Il went right anyway from there. 1
made up my mind that If / wanted to keep
myself from being despised by the feminine
OF the populaoe passing that store,
I'd better not take a chance on looking into
any more of the windows.
$50 hiked away from the windows and
took up position near the curb, so that
could command view Of the main entrance
to the store, in case my wife should.
after while, remember that she was stand
ing me up on an appointment.
Il hadn't been standing there long be-
fore / became vaguely aware that some-
numbers of men and women passing by,
the women, scowled at me.
With some little alarm, too, noticed that
the big cop on the corner was beetowing
decidedly vindiotive glances upon me.
Il took furtiye look over my clothes
to see II everything was all right, and l
found that no placard had been pinned on
me calculated to arouse the disesteem OF
he passing folks
when I looked up from this inspection
happened to catch couple OF hveried
'ootmen, standing beside the doors of their |
carriages, pointing at me, and was mys-
,ified to note that there were sneers on the |
of both of them.
'The situation. was becoming serious. |
And was becoming sore.
doing, to these people that they should |
appear to detest me sof' began grouohily |
o inquire OF myself.
There was no making 1t out. I looked
iround to see IL any universally despised |
character happened to be standing near
n my throat, but pretended to swing my
,ane jauntily and to hum an air In order to
,eep myself from running amuck and at
aoking a few Of those folks who appeared
o hate me without sense or reason.
But swinging my cane and humming an
ir didn't appear TO mend matters any.
appeared to hate me worse
han ever for that, II anything. A bunch
{ five young chaps strolled by and they
II looked at me, positively, as II they felt
Ike punching me.
Huh, thinks he's a winner, hey2'
card one Of the young chaps say to the
theirs, nodding his head back in my direc-
ion.
But even then couldn't make out what
lied me. After they passed. the big corner
op began slowly to edge over in my direc-
on, regarding me darkly, and as he drew
ear to where ! stood he several times
pened his mouth as II to address me. But
e didn't say anything, contenting him
slf with keeping a lowering eye upon me
II the time.
Il was Just about to open up and AJAX